clogged duct or ...?

[audmommy]

I have been having pain in my right breast in one area and it seems tender there as well. I am thinking I just have a clogged duct - but hoping it is not something more serious like Mastitis.

I have had my LO nurse on that side and pointed his chin in the direction of where it hurts - I had this cool icy hot sensation and my breast felt much better but now it is hurting again (2 hrs later). If I pump on the right side I dont get near as much out as I used to (before the pain started). I also took a hot bath and massaged on the firm lump I found.

I don't have a fever, or feel like it is turning into something worse, but is there anything else I can do to help this heal?

Thanks!
Angie
Ephram - born 7/4/09

[FullMetalMom]

Sounds like you are doing great already. If you are not having flu-like symptoms or a fever, you most likely do not have Mastitis (although is sounds like you already know to keep an eye out for this). Here are the things I did to help when I got a clog:

- Nursing and pumping on the affected side frequently

- Massaging the area while nursing/pumping and pushing from the soreness toward the nipple

- Applying warm heating pad and taking hot showers

- Nursing your baby while you are on all fours to get gravity on your side

- taking a soy lecithin supplement (this really helped me!)

- Not wearing a bra or any restrictive tops

Also try to rest! If you start feeling sick and suspect you have Mastitis it is best to contact your hcp.

Good luck and congratulations on your little guy!

[averlee]

I agree with everything Full Metal said.
Last time i got a plugged duct, it did get worse, and I did start to feel a little sick, with red on the breast. I took my daughter to bed, we watched cartoons and ate granola bars and drank juice boxes all day (she's 27 months) and we nursed a lot. I rubbed it good in a hot shower, used warm compresses, and generally babied myself all day. It started clearing up, and I was fine with no doctor visits or anything, also my daughter's feeding was not impacted.

[veedeepee]

:

For me, using a heating pad (a sock filled with rice) several times and day and massaging it out any chance I get always clears these up.

[aricha]

If you can take a hot shower or use a hot compress just before nursing, that is helpful. Start nursing on that side every time (unless baby only nurses one side each nursing, then just nurse that side more frequently). You can try nursing baby in different positions. Also make sure your bra isn't restrictive.

My midwife recommends cabbage or white potato compresses... maybe you could google that one because I didn't try it!

[audmommy]

Thanks everyone! It became unclogged yesterday night. I did constantly nurse on that side and pumped the other breast, as well as a hot bath before I nursed. I feel sooo much better today! Thanks for everyone's helpful advice.

Angie

[paulamc]

Glad it resolved! I got one in the night. Every time it happens, I'm convinced it'll never resolve and that I'm going to get mastitis. But then I steel myself to do all the things you have to do. I ran hot water over it, then nursed. Then later on did the same thing again, dangle position and voila! Milk came spurting out and I then pumped 3 ounces because the little guy didn't want to nurse anymore. Yay!!!!!

[BirthKathy]

This happened to me a few weeks ago and again today. Last time i used a heat pack, massaged and showered. I also made a hot bowl of water and immersed my breast in it. I then basically hand expressed the milk into the bowl to relieve it. I had red spots on my breast last time, but not yet today. Hopefully I can relieve this before it gets much worse.

Does anyone know what causes this?