Clogged Duct??

[Lil'Momma]

My right side feels swollen, engorged, and painful... my dd (5 mo) nurses on that side first, but it didn't help, so I pulled out my pump and not even a drop is coming out. Is that a clogged duct? What do I do? I'm scared to death of mastitis or something like that.... Help!

[3lilpunkins]

I think a warm compress should help some. I never had one that bad, but when my 3rd LO was newborn, one part of my breast kept getting all hard & backed up with milk, I ended up getting some success with holding in the "football" hold, I think they just need to stimulate diff. ducts sometimes....

[paulamc]

Sounds like it. I get them every couple of months or so. I try the warm compresses, but in the end what really resolves the problem for me is to take a long, hot shower, letting the hot water run over the breast. Then, nurse afterwards. And while nursing, straddle your babe so you are dangling your breast over him. Sounds weird, I know, but it works every time where nothing else does. Good luck, I know it's scary the first time. You'll be fine.

[jojoboy]

I like to soak in the bath, with the boob and nipple under the water. Sometimes (not always) you actually have some dried milk near the outside of the nipple that the water helps dissolve. I hand express milk (just squeeze milk out by hand) in the bath until it looks like it's coming out, and then I try to BF the baby (again in the bath).

Most importantly to keep it from going into mastitis - keep warmth on it, keep BFing on that side first, and often, and rest, rest, rest!!! Cancel everything else and make that your "project" for right now.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Lil'Momma]

Thanks so much for the advice. This is baby number three and I have been blessed to have never gone through this before!

[Lil'Momma]

Okay, now my breast looks and feels seriously engorged. There are red, inflamed spots on it and I feel like I have the flu. Could this be turning into Mastitis?

[Tee25]

Sounds like what I had....chills, fever, feels like the flu. I caught it right away, doc put me on antibiotics and I felt better in a day or two. (I know there are natural treatments too without going the antibiotic route) FWIW, the doc said I did not have to stay on the antibiotics until I finished the bottle, just for about 5-7 days. Worked for me and I still have half the bottle. Also, all I had to do was call the doctor and describe my symptoms and she phoned in a perscription.

One thing that helped me unclog was just putting the breast in a sink full of HOT water and soaking it. I would have never been able to bathe in that hot of water but my breast could tolerate it. Then right after, pump and massage at the same time.

Hope that helps

[jojoboy]

Sounds like it's turning to mastitis to me too.

If you have a Dr you can see today, and if you think you want to go the antibiotics route, don't wait.

I've been at that point before (fluish, sore, red, etc) and I got into bed, kept warmth on the breast at all times (I used a sock filled with rice. Heat up in microwave for 2-3 minutes until warm), and nursed, nursed, nursed. I tried hand massaging, pumping, nursing different positions. Ate well, drank lots of fluids, and mine did get better. But at that point, it was easier to do the resting than to get me and my two kids to the doctor.

If you're taking care of 3 little ones, it might be hard to get the kind of rest you need for it to get better on its own. You might be better off trying antibiotics. The antibiotics work quick.

Sorry. Sometimes BFing sucks. But I still think it's worth it.

[Lil'Momma]

Okay, I tried to go w/o the antibiotics, and it seemed to clear up within about 18 hours... but now it's back, everything the same... only this time my letdown is absolutely excruciating... should I give in and get antibiotics? Is it that I am not getting rid of an infection or is really that I just can't manage to drain the breast?

[jojoboy]

If you felt better and now worse, you might want to go the antibiotics route just to be sure it clears up. I think it's possible it never really cleared up, or it might just be a recurring plugged duct.

I've had recurring plugged ducts myself and they are a pain. For me, stress and my overall health made a big difference. You need to be getting enough sleep, eating and drinking well. This can be hard to do with several children. I only have 2, and some days I'm not doing so hot.

Can you tell if the plugged duct is in a specific recurring location? Or does your entire boob just hurt?

See if you can identify some way that the duct might be getting plugged. For example, clothes/bra tight across your boob. I had an issue when I was wearing baby on my back in the sling. The sling would put pressure on the front on my boob and I had several plugged ducts before I figured out that I should stop doing that.

Check your position, or baby's latch. I had an instance where kiddo #2 was not latched correctly when I was laying down, so the part of my boob that was laying on the bed (basically the side of my boob closest to my armpit) had several plugged ducts in a row. I mostly worked to make sure he was latched correctly in that position, and now I don't have problems anymore.

I also had better luck if I wore a good nursing bra during the day. I had trouble with those ones that don't unlatch, they just stretch back out of the way of the boob. But I know other people use the stretch kind without trouble. Definitely see if you can figure out what's going on.

Wow! I can't believe I have so many examples of plugged ducts. I hadn't put all that together before now. Anyway, if you're like me, and have a few of them, you eventually figure out how to treat yourself when you get one, and you can get rid of them more easily.

So sorry. It can definitely be painful. Hope you feel better.

[Lil'Momma]

Thank you so much! I think the clogged duct part is on the top of my breast, that's where I feel the masses, but the whole breast is engorged and swollen and hurts.

I thought it might be my bra because it doesn't fit that great, but it's loose, not tight... I am going to be fitted for the proper size tomorrow so that may help. I am rather stressed and haven't been getting enough sleep lately. I guess that might have something to do with it as well. I definately drink plenty of water... who knows... I just wish it would stop.

I think I might give in and get some antibiotics just to make sure... My fever hit 103.5 today and everything ached so bad... Would Ibuprophen help with the pain and swelling?

Thanks again for the advice.

[pastrygirl]

Lecithin is great for prevention, once you get it cleared up -- I have to take it daily the whole time I breastfeed. If I stop for a day or two, things get clogged again.

[jojoboy]

Or tylenol will also help reduce your fever so you feel a little less fluish until you get antibiotics. Antibiotics should do the trick. I took them once and felt better really fast. The second time, I just stayed home because I felt so bad and I didn't want to drag myself and 2 kids to the doctor.

Feel better.

[paulamc]

Ugg. Now I have one too, and the usual tricks don't seem to be working. Good luck to you!

Oh, pastrygirl, thanks for the tip regarding Lecithin. Is that available at health food stores or Whole Foods?

[ASusan]

I have to second and third lechithin. Health food store, most likely. It is an emulsifier and will break up the fats and allow them to release from the duct wall.

And, eat garlic, as much as you can stand, in any form that you can get it in. It has antibiotic properties.

Please watch out for mis-fitting bras, seat belts, even a purse held on your shoulder. Now that I'm producing a lot less (DS is 23 mos), it is something like one of these that will give me a plugged duct very quickly.

[pastrygirl]

Originally Posted by paulamc

Oh, pastrygirl, thanks for the tip regarding Lecithin. Is that available at health food stores or Whole Foods?

Yup! I bought a huge jar at Whole Foods. I take 3/day while very actively breastfeeding, then down to 1/day for maintenance when it really cuts down, after 18 months or so.