Zhang Ziyi opens up about breast engorgement issue

7 Jan – A few days after announcing the birth of her second child, Zhang Ziyi took to social media to open up about her issues with breast engorgement, which she first experienced after giving birth to first child Xing Xing.

On 5 January, the actress published a long post about the issue, saying that breast engorgement is the most torturing thing to happen to breastfeeding mothers.

According to UOFM Health, breast engorgement is when a mother's breasts are painfully overfull of milk and become firm and swollen. This usually occurs when a mother makes more milk than her baby uses. It can also make it hard for your baby to breastfeed.

"I experienced it with Xing Xing and I was so anxious that I didn't delay it at all after giving birth and immediately fed my baby. This is the only way to solve it," she said.

Zhang stated that whenever it happened, the breasts would feel as hard as "two indestructible rocks that can't even be chiselled with a hammer".

"The milk inside needs to be sucked out or squeezed out little by little. Because of the painful experience from the last time, it really traumatised me. This time, I consulted with a breastfeeding expert early on, who taught me how to [manage]," she said.

Zhang also shared some of the tips she learned, like compressing hot towel on the chest for ten minutes before feeding, and something cold for 20 to 30 minutes after, and to massage it gently during the compression and feeding.

She also stated that a mother with such an issue should avoid food that would induce more milk like chicken soup, pork trotters and radish soup, as well as food with high water content and high nutritional value.

(Photo Source: Sina CN)