Plugged duct, now pain (xposed in bf'ing)

[JamesMama]

I get plugged ducts all the time, if my nursing schedule gets thrown off in the slightest my body doesn't copensate and I get a plugged duct.

Anyway, we were out and about at Thanksgiving stuff yesterday so DS didn't nurse as much and I got a plug. I was able to nurse through it and the plug is gone now. But my problem is now my breast hurts so bad! I usually have the bruised feeling, but this is different. When my milk lets down it hurts so bad where the plug was. I'm one of those lucky people that always feels letdown, and it's always slighly uncomfortable, but this hurts really bad.

I don't feel sick at all so I'm not thinking it's Mastisis or anything. The lump is totally gone, but if I press on my breast where the plug was it hurts really bad like a bruise, but it always does after a plug. (Did I mention I get a lot of these? This is my 10th one at least)

So my questions are- Why does it hurt so bad? What can I do to fix it? and Is it bad? Should I call the dr?

[mammafish78]

for a second there i thought you were talking about me!

i get them ALL THE TIME too

sometimes i get the pain you describe, sometimes i dont.

i think if you just keep nursing firs on that side it will get better. most likely there is some milk blocked there.

does it feel like someone used your breast as a punching bag? that is how i describe the pain/tenderness i feel.


i have a question about this also...

after your get that plug loose, do you get that thick *old* dried up milk coming out? after i have a plugged duct i have white stuff coming out of me for a week or so. it takes it that long to work its way out. if i pick it, sometimes i can get it out, sometimes it hurts really bad and my nipples are sore.

do you experience this?

[JamesMama]

Thanks!

Yeah, I get that too. Sometimes I'll get a little milk blister on my nipple that hurts so bad! If I pump through a plug the milk is stringy and different colored. I usually dump that milk cuz it looks weird.

Guess I'll just nurse through it some more. Thanks!

[mammafish78]

my milk doesnt come out stringy or thick really.

it blocks in the nipple and i cant get it out for days. it starts out a white color and turns yellowish. i went to the doctor(not my reg doctor) about it the first time i saw it but she really didnt have much to say other than it looks like your duct is coming out. i took that as your blocked duct is coming out.

do you experience this?

i soak in water and spary my nipples while in the shower as much as i can stand to try to break it up. i also sit at work with a heating pad on my boobs to try to loosen it up.

i have thought about taking a picture and posting it : because it seems like nobody else has it like this

i dont really get milk blisters, ive had only one and that was when ds was first born.

[JamesMama]

I think that thing on your nipple is a milk blister or 'bleb' they are pretty common after a block actually, you can check Kellymom there is a big write up on 'bleb'

[mammafish78]

ok i will thanks

[mammafish78]

OMG! i have been experiencing this off and on for a long time, ive been nursing almost 8 months now and have had this from the start.

it shows a picture of a bleb and that is what i have, except mine is a lot bigger.

i have to read up more about mommies with oversupply, that link touched on it a little.
ive never looked up over supply because i thought it was going to tell me ways to reduce my milk and i am so afraid of having low supply, thats why i never looked.

thanks for the post!

[JamesMama]

NP, I almost always get a bleb after a plug, they seem to go hand in hand for some reason. Hope you are able to get it out! I had to use a needle last time...that hurt sooo bad!