BF plugged duct - HELP!

[noodleoo]

I think I have a plugged duct and I am in so much pain. It started with some hard lumps in my breast yesterday that didn't hurt too much. Today, the top of my breast is very firm and painful. It basically aches and throbs horribly, like engorgement pain. I have tried all the remedies I've read online: nursing on that side first, heating pad, hot shower, massage, massage with comb in the shower, dangle feed, etc. it still hurts like hell and the breast is still firm and full. Last time I tried to nurse, the baby kept pulling off and crying, I think because she isn't getting much milk. I tried pumping after that and barely got a teaspoon. 

Any advice? I have no idea what to do And I doubt I'll even be able to sleep tonight from the pain. I'm really scared of what will happen if I can't clear it! It already hurts so bad!

[JayhawkGirl]

Keep doing what you're doing. Do you have a pump? Pump that side after a hot shower/massage/combing. I had one that cleared when I was pumping. It was instant relief. Warm washcloths and Motrin can help too.

If it persists or you get a fever call your OB.

I hope you get relief soon.

[dcn]

So sorry . I would take some ibuprofen to help the pain, and then what worked best for me was to take a super hot shower and massage and then nurse immediately after.

I also would get a diaper and fill it with hot water and put it on my boob at night, or sleep with a heating pad. Baby always had the best luck clearing them.

Also check your nipple for a tiny white spot, you may have a bleb.

Just keep trying, I had a few stubborn ones that took a few days to clear. Hang in there!

[teatimefor2]

I had one once that sounds like that, it was horrible. Lots of hot showers, and I would just massage my breast until it was painful. I got it out whilst having him nurse with a heating pad on it after a painful shower session. It was horrible. Take a pain killer.

I hope you get relief soon.

[azurely]

Can you hook yourself up to the pump on that side and massage/use the comb/apply heat while the pump is going? Eventually the clog has to break free right? I know you can take lecithin to keep your ducts clear, but I'm not sure if that would help you with this clog.

Do you have a fever? Is the spot red or hot to the touch? If so, you might have mastitis and should call your dr right away in the morning.

Hope you feel better soon!

[noodleoo]

Jun 29, 2015 22:53:22 GMT -5 dcn said:

So sorry . I would take some ibuprofen to help the pain, and then what worked best for me was to take a super hot shower and massage and then nurse immediately after.

I also would get a diaper and fill it with hot water and put it on my boob at night, or sleep with a heating pad. Baby always had the best luck clearing them.

Also check your nipple for a tiny white spot, you may have a bleb.

Just keep trying, I had a few stubborn ones that took a few days to clear. Hang in there!

I might have a tiny white spot... How do I fix that if I have a bleb? 

[redpenmama]

Try to position baby's latch so that she's nursing toward the pain. So, if it's on the right side of your boob, angle her toward the right side. I have had clogged ducts several time w/both kids, and they have always "sucked" it out (and it is INSTANT relief).

Keep doing the warm compresses for the discomfort and try to push through the nursing (or pumping) if you can because that has always done the trick for me. I know your pain ... literally.

[dcn]

Jun 29, 2015 23:01:18 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Jun 29, 2015 22:53:22 GMT -5 dcn said:

So sorry . I would take some ibuprofen to help the pain, and then what worked best for me was to take a super hot shower and massage and then nurse immediately after.

I also would get a diaper and fill it with hot water and put it on my boob at night, or sleep with a heating pad. Baby always had the best luck clearing them.

Also check your nipple for a tiny white spot, you may have a bleb.

Just keep trying, I had a few stubborn ones that took a few days to clear. Hang in there!

I might have a tiny white spot... How do I fix that if I have a bleb? 

I used to just scrape them with my fingernail in the shower to get it to open up. You can soak in warm water and Epsom salt too before nursing to hopefully get it to soften. Once I scraped there was sometimes a hard white ball of solidified milk? Once that was gone milk would just spurt out and i had instant relief.

You could try a sterilized needle? I was never brave enough, but your dr could do it if you can't get it.

If that does it, they tend to reoccur so keep an eye on it. I think I used grapefruit seed extract too and that helped.

[lilac05]

Keep doing what you're doing. Hopefully it'll clear soon. I got some relief sitting in a really hot bath and leaning over into the tub & hand expressing milk into the water. If you're really desperate, the moms on my crunchy BFing site swear by having their husbands suck it out.

Also keep in mind that you don't have to have fever/chills to have mastitis. If the pain is that bad, call your OB in the morning and ask to be seen. I've had painful plugged ducts (uncomfortable pain) and I've had mastitis with an abscess (holy shit, literally biting my fist when he nursed & barely ably to help DS1 get dressed for fear that he might touch my boob because it hurt so bad). Take something for the pain & keep a close eye on it.

[jewel]

Do you have a hand pump? I would do a super hot shower, comb the shit out of it, and pump IN the shower. Do that as often, and for as long as you can take it.

But also, call your OB in the morning if you're still in pain.

[celiacmom]

If you have a vibrator you can use it on your breast while you pump/hand express/nurse to help break it up.

[Deleted]

I have had a ton of plugs (and have one that's not so bad now). They are not a good time.

I would suggest putting ice on it in between pumps/feedings. I take Ibuprofen to help the swelling too. I would suggest trying to pump since the baby isn't able to feed very well anymore, but definitely putting the baby on that side may help clear it.

While you pump, really just massage the hell out of it. Massaging in the shower beforehand and doing hand expression may help a little bit. This doesn't do much for me most of the time but helps once in a while.

For me, a lot of the time they will last about 12 hours and usually clear in the middle of the night, no idea why:). Before that it's usually a battle of pumping and getting a little milk out, it'll feel a little better, get worse, reappeat until I want to cry from putting my arm down own my chest to blessed relief in the middle of the night.

You can lecithin to prevent moving forward. And whatever you do, keep at it. Even getting 1/2 ounce out each time will keep things moving in the right direction

[noodleoo]

It finally cleared!!! OMG thank goodness! It was so painful! So much better now. Not what exactly worked as I tried almost everything suggested! But baby finally cleared it. It was funny, she was nursing and started thrashing stound like she was sttuggling snd the finally calmed down and I could hear her gulping. Then I felt the area start to soften. I'm so glad!

I just ordered s hand pump and lecithin. I really hope that I can prevent them going forward.

One question: in order to prevent them, I need to empty both breasts frequently right? Lately baby gets full on just one breast and then falls asleep. So the other side gets very full and I'm only nursing each breast every other time. Is that bad? I'm guessing I shouldn't take her off one side early to switch sides before she falls asleep right?

[momin2013]

Glad to hear you got it cleared! I don't think you need to empty both breasts every session (DS often nursed only one side when he was younger). I think one thing that causes problems is an underwire/tight bra, and you need to remember to keep very well hydrated. Some people are just more prone to clogs than others.

I got clogs fairly often clogs in the early days and found that lecithin worked wonders for me. I took the max dose for several weeks and scaled back a bit when I noticed the clogs were happening less frequently.

[lilac05]

I'm so glad it cleared for you!

Your supply will adjust to feeding only on one side. That's what both of my boys did almost the entire time they nursed.

[JayhawkGirl]

So glad it cleared!

[zarapipe]

Yay! That is the best feeling ever!!

[celiacmom]

As others have said your supply will regulate. You are still really early in bf. I would NOT pull her off and switch sides as that can cause a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance. If it gets too painful on the other side you can hand express a bit to relieve pain.

[simpsongal]

Jun 29, 2015 23:01:18 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Jun 29, 2015 22:53:22 GMT -5 dcn said:

So sorry . I would take some ibuprofen to help the pain, and then what worked best for me was to take a super hot shower and massage and then nurse immediately after.

I also would get a diaper and fill it with hot water and put it on my boob at night, or sleep with a heating pad. Baby always had the best luck clearing them.

Also check your nipple for a tiny white spot, you may have a bleb.

Just keep trying, I had a few stubborn ones that took a few days to clear. Hang in there!

I might have a tiny white spot... How do I fix that if I have a bleb? 

I hate milk blisters (blebs) -I kept getting them on the right side.  The only help was a sharp needle.  The relief was immediate though.

Here was my approach - massage and treat it like a plugged duct, express until the bleb "bulges" and becomes apparent.  Use a sterilized needle to pop, and the milk (and a little blood) will really start flowin.

[noodleoo]

Jun 30, 2015 11:38:47 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

Jun 29, 2015 23:01:18 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

I might have a tiny white spot... How do I fix that if I have a bleb? 

I hate milk blisters (blebs) -I kept getting them on the right side.  The only help was a sharp needle.  The relief was immediate though.

Here was my approach - massage and treat it like a plugged duct, express until the bleb "bulges" and becomes apparent.  Use a sterilized needle to pop, and the milk (and a little blood) will really start flowin.

I kind of picked at the white spot with a finger and then nursed and I think that may be what cleared it.  Are the blebs always white?  I have a transparent spot that looks weird that I can't tell if it is another one or if that's just nipple skin.  So confusing!  But my breast feels soft so I think it is okay...

[simpsongal]

Jun 30, 2015 11:41:16 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Jun 30, 2015 11:38:47 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

I hate milk blisters (blebs) -I kept getting them on the right side.  The only help was a sharp needle.  The relief was immediate though.

Here was my approach - massage and treat it like a plugged duct, express until the bleb "bulges" and becomes apparent.  Use a sterilized needle to pop, and the milk (and a little blood) will really start flowin.

I kind of picked at the white spot with a finger and then nursed and I think that may be what cleared it.  Are the blebs always white?  I have a transparent spot that looks weird that I can't tell if it is another one or if that's just nipple skin.  So confusing!  But my breast feels soft so I think it is okay...

Usually white, but it could be a transluscent skin color.  It's just like a blister, for some reason your skin is healing over your duct.  I had to use the needle b/c my bleb was a little inside the nipple (KWIM?) - it's NBD b/c the relief is so worth it.

Definitely beware, I had recurring blisters on one side for about 2 months.  Your skin just keep trying to heal, so definitely nurse on both sides (or at least express a little on one side to keep things clear).  Mine would form overnight since DS was STTN.  I think I got them when he was 8-9 months old.  I'm still nursing at 17 months though