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Blocked milk duct

Argh! Have just discovered a blocked milk duct in my left breast. Just as I thought we had sorted the latching on issues we had and were beginning to get into some sort of rhythm with feeding, this happens. I am terrified of developing mastitis - I have found establishing bfing exhausting and stressful enough so far. So does anyone have any advice on how to treat this before it develops into something worse?

Thanks.

Replies

  • Is there a white spot at all on your nipple? If it is a true blocked duct there probably is, otherwise it may be engorgement which is causing the duct to be temporarily blocked. Anyway, no-one ever tells you this but I suffered from blocked ducts a couple of times and found this advice on the web. If you sterilise a needle and pop the white spot (it shouldn't hurt at all as it is just where a tiny bit of skin has grown over a milk duct) then it should spurt milk out and then you will be able to express and it should be sorted straight away. If it is engorgement it tends to take a bit longer, using hot and cold, but the above was the best advice I ever read. Sometimes the white spot takes some time to appear once the duct is blocked so keep checking. Hope this helps as it was a God send to me!! xxx
  • Never heard of the above advice, but a blocked duct does not always have a white spot on the end of your nipple as the actual milk ducts themselves are embedded into your breast tissue, not the nipple.

    Whereabouts is it blocked? Close to the nipple or deeper in?
    You could try massaging the harder part whilst feeding, or expressing whilst massaging it - something warm against it should help to release the milk flow - some of the info from the links below should help, but could you speak to your HV or a bf supporter in your area?

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

    http://www.breastfeeding-mom.com/blocked-milk-ducts.html

    http://forums.llli.org/showthread.php?t=765

    http://www.llli.org/NB/NBMarApr06p68.html

    http://www.babycenter.com/0_clogged-milk-ducts_8494.bc

    http://www.babycenter.com/i/breastfeed/breastmap.gif


    http://www.babycenter.com/0_making-breast-milk-how-your-body-produces-natures-perfect-ba_8785.bc
    http://www.wikieducator.org/Image:Breastanatomy2.jpg



    When I had blocked ducts I used to feed from that side as much as possible and express from the other side as i found Ollie could empty the blocked breast faster and better than the pump could - but it took a week or so for it all to settle down again.

    Its not what you need when you've just got established with bf, but if you can cope with this and get through it then you should be able to weather any bf problem.

    Hope it clears for you quickly! And paracetamol and ibuprofen are ok to take for any pain you might have.
    xxx
  • hey,

    I have suffered a few times with this. I did find a white spot twice, I found they were easy to scratch off with a finger nail and then I expressed and cleared the blockage.

    If there is no white spot then massaging it while feeding, feeding lots from that side help. I also used to use my breastpump while still very warm to help try to clear it.

    Ibuprofin can help to releive the inflammation and pain and help to prevent mastitus.

    Hope you get it sorted soon

    Lisa
  • Many thanks for all the advice, ladies. No white spot yet, just a red inflamed lump but it is softening a bit. I will try all your advice, and keep my eye out for a white spot developing.

    Stephe, thanks so much for pointing out that it takes some time to go down. I will keep on feeding from that side and massaging the spot and try not to worry about it - although I am seeing the midwife tomorrow so will mention it to her then.

    Thankfully everything else with the bfing seems to be improving. Now if he would just put on some weight...

  • Stephe, thanks so much for pointing out that it takes some time to go down. I will keep on feeding from that side and massaging the spot and try not to worry about it - although I am seeing the midwife tomorrow so will mention it to her then.


    Argh - I havent upset you saying that have I? I didnt mean to, just found that it took a while to clear for me so doesnt always go as soon as its been cleared the once...

    the other thing to bear in mind is that the affected side might go into an overproduction then underproduction cycle, but if you continue to feed when your lo would normally then it should come back to the routine.
    xxx
  • I can't speak from experience but my mw advised coming down gently towards the nipple with a normal hair comb. Hope you're more comfortable soon.

  • Stephe, thanks so much for pointing out that it takes some time to go down. I will keep on feeding from that side and massaging the spot and try not to worry about it - although I am seeing the midwife tomorrow so will mention it to her then.


    Argh - I havent upset you saying that have I? I didnt mean to, just found that it took a while to clear for me so doesnt always go as soon as its been cleared the once...

    the other thing to bear in mind is that the affected side might go into an overproduction then underproduction cycle, but if you continue to feed when your lo would normally then it should come back to the routine.
    xxx

    No, you haven't upset me at all! Quite the opposite, in fact. I'm the sort to start panicking if I don't see immediate results, so knowing that it can take a while to settle has made me much, much calmer. :\)

    PinkToothbrush, that has to be the best tip yet! image I may have to try it just to see what it feels like!
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