What is up with multiple plugged ducts?

[k13]

My left boob feels like a bag of marbles. The whole underneath side seems to be plugged up. I have oversupply and this breast is always prone to plugged ducts and mastitis (three kids later) but this major pluggage seems to be a new development. It's happened twice now with this baby. It always happens when I get busy, miss a feeding etc. I'm doing all the usual things (compresses, massage, lecithin, nursing nursing nursing etc.) but everything I read is geared toward a single plugged duct. What is up with me getting so plugged up??? Anyone else have this happen?

[PatioGardener]

Oh dear! I hope you get it resolved soon. Hmmmm... any chance you have a new bra? Carrying shopping so your breast got squished? A new baby carrier?

[pbjmama]

I have had it happen and for me it seems related to thrush.

[Panserbjorne]

Have you at any point sustained any trauma to the breast in that area? Sometimes even old injuries can affect ductal tissue enough to create problems (inflammation, scar tissue or just narrowing of the ducts.) It could also be from a bra-the compression could be an issue that would result in inflammation or narrowing of the ducts.

I hope you have it figured out soon and get comfortable! One of the things that I can recommend you look into would be castor oil packs on the site. Castor oil is anti-inflammatory and encourages lymphatic drainage. It can make a real difference especially if you can catch it at the plugged stage. Good luck!

[k13]

Thanks, I hadn't heard about castor oil for plugged ducts, I'll try it!

I think they are finally un-plugging but it's been a rough couple of days.

I've always had trouble with this one breast - it did have trauma once in that the nipple was burned (long story) not badly but I've always wondered if there was scar tissue in the nipple that prevents good flow in that breast somehow. It is usually the low producing breast. I also had nipple trouble with it when this baby was small - severe cracking etc. only on the one nipple. It is really odd, I guess maybe it's my bad-luck boobie

[Panserbjorne]

Just making sure I was clear that it's castor oil PACKS applied EXTERNALLY. Lest you go drinking it, being miserable and wondering why the breast still hurt! All you do to make a pack is saturate a cloth with castor oil, warm it and apply to the area for about an hour. I just tuck them in bras if needed. However be warned that it will stain clothing and you do NOT want to wash them. We have dedicated packs in this house that just sit in the fridge in ziploc bags. They would totally coat your washing machine if you tried to wash them. Good Luck! And I am sending all kinds of healing vibes to the bad luck boob! I hope her luck changes soon!

[k13]

Good point! It would take a lot to get me to drink castor oil again.. I drank it to get my second labor started! Yuck. Check - castor oil PACKS for the boob!

[mom2allofthem]

I have oversupply on some days and if the baby goes more than a couple hours without a feed, I get hard lumps that won't go away unless I pump.
Pumping seems to remedy it and I just freeze what I pump in case I need it for later use.