Feel scared...Blocked duct? Mastitis?

[Beene]

Hi mamas,

I have been breastfeeding for 5 months with no problems and today - bam! It has been hot as heck, and I don't know if sweat can cause it, but I think I have a plugged duct. My breast is red on one side and I feel a series of lumps inside, not just one. Is that bad? Overall, I still feel ok, although exhausted from the heat. I have been nursing and pumping extra much, but it is becoming more tender for sure. I don't have health insurance and in the process of applying for it. Am I going to have to go see a doc? What are some homeopathic treatments that worked for you? I don't want mastitis....It sounds horrible...

[FiveLittleMonkeys]

I've unplugged many a duct by aiming the baby's chin towards the red spot. You might have to lay baby down on a bed/blanket on the floor and hover over baby to accomplish it, but it really works!

Hope you feel better soon.

[Lucia's mama]

Hey
I had Mastitis twice and got real solid advice. Its important to really drain the breast that is infected,so even after baby nurses, pump the rest of the milk off. Even massage those lumpy bits while babe is nursing to encourage them to "melt" way. You can off set the extra milk that comes in with the extra pumping, to avoid becoming engorged, by taking one cup of garden sage tea. Only one cup, as this stuff will dry your milk supply if overused. But in moderation and in the presence of nusing and pumping you will be fine.
Also, use fresh cabbage leaves in your bra and around your breasts-this has an anti-inflammatory action.
Lastly, the homeopathic I used was phytolacca, and was reccomended by a homeopathic Nurse Practitioner

And of course,plenty of fluids and rest.

As an aside,it does sound alot like MAstitis. ALthough I had the flu like symptoms and a temperature. Have you taken yours to see if its even a bit elevated.

Either way, all the things I have suggested are completely harmless in themselves.

good luck

[savithny]

I had repeated plugged ducts on one side because of previous breast biopsy.

I managed to clear them all and never got mastitis out of it.

Some of what I did -- hot washcloths over the clog and have baby nurse (the chin towards the plug is important too).

Breast massage - running thumbs along the breast above the clog, working it towards the nipple (like you're milking yourself like a cow, frankly).

Soaking -- Filled a tub with water as hot as I could stand, suspended the clogged breast in the hot water. Soak and massage and soak and massage and soak and massage.

[Beene]

Thanks! Sounds like I'm in for some fun. Have been pumping a lot. Haven't tried the chin to clog yet because he's down for the night. DH is drawing hot bath right now. Have been massaging it like a madwoman...........I have hope though.

[Heba]

Great advice - also, assuming you don't have a raised temperature yourself (i.e. fever), home treatment includes the measures outline by pps, bedrest (with baby), good nutrition and lots of fluids.

However, if it is infected (as opposed to non-infective mastitis, which can lead to infective mastitis), you would probably need antibiotics. Untreated mastitis can lead to a breast abscess which is far more serious, so if your symptoms don't go away within a day or two or if your temperature goes up, please don't delay medical treatment.

Good luck, and I hope you're already feeling better by the time you read this.

Heba

[paulamc]

Don't worry, you'll get past this! I've never had mastitis but seem to get a plugged duct once every few weeks. I frequently try hot compresses (hot, wet wash cloth) and running hot water over my breast, but in the end what works every time (always well within 24 hours of noticing the problem) is taking a long hot shower to get the breast completely heated, followed immediately by nursing. I frequently try dangle nursing and sometimes that does it. I do massage the lump while nursing, but usually only a little, and very gently, because it hurts to do it a lot.

I've never had the redness on my breast, so it does sound to me like yours might be mastitis rather than just a plugged duct. Have you been to kellymom to read up on plugged ducts & mastitis?

http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html

Good luck!

[Heba]

How are you today, hun?

[Beene]

Thank you thank you thank you thank you everyone (and thanks for asking how I am!). I feel better. I tried all of the above like a madwoman (well, almost all!) and I think it's working. It's definitely less red, if any red left at all. It still feels "lumpy" in that area, but less painful. No fever or anything. Will continue to massage and the hot shower thing (that REALLY helped, I think). I really appreciate the love.

[ArcticRose]

I had a Dr. recommend cold, which worked really well. The theory was that once the tissue gets inflamed the lump doesn't move very well. I don't know if that's true or not, but cold packs worked for me!

I also massaged the affected area while in the shower (ouch!) and tried cabbage leaves in my bra. Be aware that prolonged use of cabbage leaves will reduce milk production.

Good luck!