Anyone Had Clogged Milk Ducts?

Yes, it's called Mastitis I believe and I had to get medicine from the doctor to get rid of it. I actually got it from my Ob at that time because I didn't know what it was. It was very painful and the meds helped significantly.

When I had them, I did massage with warm water before nursing, massaged in the shower and applied a heating pad while I pumped in between feedings. I tried nursing at different angles to release the clogged duct. I also took two packets of Emergen-C's per day and doubled up on my probiotics to prevent mastitis and any other infections during the clogged duct and about 5 days after it cleared. Mine was gone in 5 days. Try wearing a loose fitting bra without underwires, I wore my nursing tank until it was gone too.

Good luck, I know it is not fun.

Warm compress before nursing, use the clogged side first, and try to put your babies chin in the direction of the clogged duct. While nursing, massage any lumps. Try to get your husband to massage the lump when your nursing. I know it sounds wierd, but he can put a little more pressure on it.

good advice from everyone. I just wanted to add you might want to see a dr. or LC just to verify. I thought I had one too and it ended up being thrush.

Good advice from others. In addition to massaging in the shower, I would gently press down on the clogged area with my fingertips WHILE nursing to encourage that blockage to release.

Good luck!

Hi C.,
I had a unique situation in that I had a duct running through my areola that got plugged. I tried to express it in the shower, and used compresses, but it got infected and abcessed. It was not a pleasant experience, but I got through it and continue to nurse my son today. I hope you are able to get yours unclogged. You might want to call a lactation consultant to give you some guidance. Kellymom.com is also a great source of support.

Good luck to you!
T.

Hi,

I've had them off and on. Drink lots of fluid, take ibuprofen 600 mg every 4-6 hours because if you can bring down the inflammation in the ducts, the clogs can clear more quickly. Sometimes taking lecithin can help prevent them. Is your baby or 2 1/2 year old a strong nurser? I'd put a moist heating pad on for a few minutes or as long as I could stand and then have my baby/toddler nurse up a storm; sometimes I felt she'd just suck the clog right out.

Good luck!!--
J.

The best thing to do is to nurse as often a possible. It is just like a cow who gets a clogged utter the farmer massages the cows utter as often as possible to loosen and break up the clog. As long as you do not have a fever or the area is getting hot you are ok, just nurse as often as possible
If you get a fever or the duct area starts to get really hot you may have Masitius.
Mastitis is a breast infection that can leave you feeling as if you've come down with the flu. You may notice areas of redness, hardness, soreness, or heat in your breast, and swelling of the affected milk duct. Common, and more serious, signs of the infection include chills, a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, and fatigue.

If you find yourself with a breast infection, you're not alone: About one in 20 nursing moms get one, and some non-nursing mothers do, too. And although you can get mastitis more than once, it's very unlikely that you'll get it in both breasts at the same time.
You treat Mastitus by applying moist heat to your breasts, feeding your baby more frequently, and taking ibuprofen to ease the pain. See your doctor if your symptoms don't improve within 12 to 24 hours for a prescription of antibiotics. When the antibiotics kick in during the next 48 hours, you'll start feeling better.

Another way to ease the pain: Nurse frequently to keep the affected breast empty, which may help clear up the infection faster

I hope you feel better really soon.
S.