[laralou]

Sometime yesterday my breast got sore on the side. By nighttime I had really hard knots all over the side and it hurts to move or to be touched. Is it a plugged duct? I tried putting hot moist compresses on it, I tried massage, I tried pumping (nothing came out despite feeling extremely full), and I have tried only nursing both babies on it for hours. Nothing is working and I woke up this morning in severe pain.

So I just need to know what it is and what to do about it. If I could avoid the doctor that would be great. Since dh lost his job we don't have insurance (I can't get on Medicaid because his unemployment puts us over the income limit).

Thanks in advance!
Lara

 

[wombat]

Certainly sounds like the plugged ducts I've had. Just a warning - if you start to get a fever and feel like you have the flu, could be mastitis and you'll need to go to a Dr. pronto for antibiotics. However I'm sure you be able to clear it. Mine have lasted anywhere from a few hours to 3 days and I've never got mastitis.

Kellymom.com has really comprehensive info on plugged ducts.
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...-mastitis.html

What I found most useful use hot packs on sore area for about 10 mins before nursing or pumping. When nursing, make sure gravity is working for you, bend over... massage behind the sore area, pushing towards your nipple. After nursing/pumping, apply cold packs to reduce inflammation and swelling.

Take max. dose of ibuprufen around the clock til it clears to reduce inflammation and keep taking it for several days after it clears. Once the duct clears, there will be inflammation around it and that makes it easy to get another plugged duct in the same area. Plus the ibuprufen will help with the pain.

Massaging in a hot shower is very helpful.

You have babIES? more than one? Perfect, two mouths will certainly be more helpful than one

Nursing is more effective than pumping for clearing plugs. But if your babies are sleeping all night or not nursing at least every 2 hours then you might wanna use the pump in between.

 

[laralou]

Thanks so much wombat!

I have twin 10 month olds that don't ever plan on sleeping all night. We nurse at least 4 or 5 times each a night. I have had several plugged ducts in the past but I have been able to "nurse them away" in less than 24 hours with the double team action, so I freaked when I woke up worse than ever. I will try all those things and hopefully I can kick it today.

 

[laralou]

Update: your advice worked and I have my normal boob back. Thanks so much!

 

[ja mama]

One more thing for 'next time' hopefully you won't need it. If at all possible point the babies chin toward the plugged duct, it has the most suction that direction. If the plugged duct is at the top of your breast, I'm not sure how effective it'd be to sling your baby over the shoulder, it'd be funny though!

 

[laralou]

Quote:

Originally posted by ja mama If the plugged duct is at the top of your breast, I'm not sure how effective it'd be to sling your baby over the shoulder, it'd be funny though!

That made me laugh!!

I had several (as many as 6) all along the outside and top, so I did try to rotate her to nurse "around the clock". It wasn't fun, but I am sure it helped, so I'll keep it in mind for the unfortunate chance it happens again.

 

[bloodrayne]

Even though you've already gotten this resoved - it happened to me a couple months ago and I wanted to post what worked for me.

I started taking echinacea and bee propolis. And soaked both breasts (had two in one, one in another) in marshmallow root. There's good info in Susun Weed's Wisewoman Herbal for the Childbearing Year.

 

[Peppamint]

Quote:

Originally posted by ja mama One more thing for 'next time' hopefully you won't need it. If at all possible point the babies chin toward the plugged duct, it has the most suction that direction. If the plugged duct is at the top of your breast, I'm not sure how effective it'd be to sling your baby over the shoulder, it'd be funny though!

Funny as it sounds, this really works! My dd started sleepign through the night at 2w old and I went back to work at 8w and was always so full and frequently had plugged ducts. I would point dd's chin towards the plugged ducts and massage it gently and that always took care of it.

Oh, if the duct was at the top, just nurse lying down with the babies feet pointing towards your head.