Sudden oversupply and engorgement at 13 months. What's going on?

[riverscout]

So my son is about 13.5 months, and out of nowhere I woke up this morning with an engorged breast. I haven't had engorgement issues since like week one. Nursing has relieved most of the hardness, but it has been super full of milk all day. I am so lopsided it is embarrassing, and my breast is tender and uncomfortable.

And at naptime he couldn't fall asleep nursing because he couldn't empty the breast and just comfort nurse (it's his favorite side and the one he likes to fall asleep on). He kept getting milk when he didn't want anymore, so I just rocked him to sleep.

I don't really understand what is going on. He seems to be nursing the same amount as usual, and I can't think of why my body might be doing this. I haven't been doing anything to actively increase my supply.

Any ideas?

[pbjmama]

Even if it doesn't seem like he has been nursing less he might be or maybe his latch has changed so the breast isn't draining as well. Do you have any symptoms of thrush?

[riverscout]

Originally Posted by pbjmama

Even if it doesn't seem like he has been nursing less he might be or maybe his latch has changed so the breast isn't draining as well. Do you have any symptoms of thrush?

His latch has actually improved over the past few weeks. He went through a phase where he was resting his top teeth on my nipple, and it was not very comfortable. But now he seems back to normal. I don't have any symptoms of thrush nor does he best I can tell.

I'm wondering now if I might have plugged duct. I don't know if it's a result of what's going on or the cause. But there is this area that seems to stay sort of hardish even after he nurses and it's quite tender.

This is just sort weird and out of the blue for me, and I don't know quite what to do. I nursed my first child for three years without issue and the past 13 months with this one has been uneventful as well.

[pbjmama]

Oh, I agree it is probably a plugged duct, got that from your first post. I was thinking thrush because it is often the cause of plugged ducts. Hope you feel better soon. Not sure what the cause could be - no stress or illness for you either?

[riverscout]

Originally Posted by pbjmama

Oh, I agree it is probably a plugged duct, got that from your first post. I was thinking thrush because it is often the cause of plugged ducts. Hope you feel better soon. Not sure what the cause could be - no stress or illness for you either?

Oooh, I didn't know thrush could cause plugged ducts. I hope that's not it. But everything appears normal I guess...no redness or burning and his mouth looks fine, no white stuff.

As far as stress or illness, we both had swine flu but that was like a month and half ago. I have been majorly stressed though the past couple of weeks just due to a whole bunch of stuff happening all at once. Not bad stuff, just too much going on for me. Things are calming down though, but it's taking me while to relax.

Maybe I just need to take it easy. I hope this doesn't turn into mastitis .

[at_the_hip]

Hi Mama,
Yes it sounds like a plugged duct...for me personally it can shift to mastitis pretty quickly, so I try to resolve it ASAP.

Suggestions:
nurse almost exclusively from that breast - you will find that your other breast will slow down milk production naturally. When your other breast starts filling more, that's a great sign that the clogged one is on its way to health again!

cabbage leaves - you can put one in your bra, and change once it warms up/wilts. It should help a lot.

nurse so toddler's chin is at the clogged duct - often this is somewhat acrobatic!!

emergen-C, vit D

hot shower with breast massage/expression - you can use a wide tooth comb over the clogged area of your breast (toward the nipple) after you have soaped up.

Homeopathic remedy Phytolacca 30c is a great remedy for clogged ducts/mastitis.

Acidophilus for maintenance if you think there is a thrust issue, as well as lecithin granules for maintenance to prevent clogged ducts by emulsifying fat in your milk (especially if this is a repeat issue - for me it is, but that isn't always the case and you may not have a need).

[riverscout]

Thank you so much for all those tips! I had forgotten all about cabbage leaves.

The chin on the clogged duct might be challenge since it's on the top. But he's a crazy nurser, so I bet I could get him to do it...just swing him over my shoulder .

This is just too weird though. I feel like I'm back in week one.

[LauraN]

Originally Posted by riverscout

Thank you so much for all those tips! I had forgotten all about cabbage leaves.

The chin on the clogged duct might be challenge since it's on the top. But he's a crazy nurser, so I bet I could get him to do it...just swing him over my shoulder .

This is just too weird though. I feel like I'm back in week one.

The best way to accomplish it, actually, is to lie on your side on the bed, and have him lie on his side upside down, with his feet above your head.

I went through plugged duct torture when DD was a few months old. Luckily I was still nursing DS who was about 3 at the time and was more than happy to oblige my request for strange nursing positions!

As painful as it is, the best thing to do is to push that lump out (besides all those other suggestions, of course). Grit your teeth and get it out! I did it in the shower with warm water pouring over it and just pushed and kneaded until the milk from it just started squirting out like crazy. It hurts like heck, but once it's out it's such a relief!

[riverscout]

Originally Posted by LauraN

The best way to accomplish it, actually, is to lie on your side on the bed, and have him lie on his side upside down, with his feet above your head.

Great idea! I don't know why I didn't think about that . I guess because we rarely nurse in bed anymore, and I was trying to think of way to do this while sitting on the sofa where we usually are. For the life of me I couldn't come up with a way.