HELP! I have a clogged duct!

Alison - posted on 04/12/2009

i know your supposed to pump and/or nurse as often as possible
both times i've had a clogged duct w/ baby#2, i found a very small white spot (kind of like a white head) on my nip...i know this sounds ew but i kind of sqeezed it w/ my fingernails and it 'popped' and problem solved- milk came squirting out of a VERY clogged duct

Sarah - posted on 04/12/2009

Good idea to head to the dr. soon just to be safe. I haven't had to deal with this but my friend just did, she had a fever and was feeling really terrable. She went to the dr. and got some meds, but she had left it for to long and the meds didn't work. She had to go to the hospital and they had to admit her for a week. Luckily they put her in the mat ward though so she could take her baby with her. Good luck and I hope you don't have to go thru this. Deffinately try to submerge your breast in hot water, my public health nurse told me to fill a bowl of water and lean over it for a few minutes to help with letdown when my milk came in and I was sooo engorged at the time, then massage as much as you can handle, that is what my friend said she had to do.

Anca - posted on 04/10/2009

Hot showers. Pumop right after shower. Massage while pumping. If you can bear the pain of a deeper tissue massage, try it, insist on the painful spot, regardless of pain. Never allow more than 6 hours between pumpings or feedings. Use baby to drain the breast with the clogged duct. If baby does not empty the breast, use the pump to empty the breast fully. Between showers and pumps/feedings, use hot compresses over the clogged duct. Wear loose bras, nothing with wires, nothing tight, even if this means less support for the breast. Get enough rest. Keep the nipples very clean to avoid any possibility of infection. Clogged ducts may come and go, but if you get used to doing all these measures you'll be safe from infections and you'll become quite capable of massaging and pumping it away in a matter of 1 day since it first forms. Don't panic, just know that you need to be extra careful by doing all of the above. Take care.

Hannah - posted on 04/10/2009

i had that when i wasnt even breastfeeding when my engorgment happened. try getting in a hot bath and submerge your breasts for a bit as the heat always encourages milk to run. then when you get out whilst they are still tender massage the spot where it hurts and then try and express some milk either using a pump or by yourself. it shold help a little and should make the pain a little less painful!! xx

Melissa - posted on 04/10/2009

Best to pop along to the doc and get anitbiotics to clear up the infection.

Renee - posted on 04/09/2009

I know the feeling.  You have some good advice here, and I hope this adds to it. Try nursing the baby on that side as much as possible.  Even if you have to pump on the other side, I have found that the baby is much better at relieving the clog than any pump.

Jaclyn - posted on 03/25/2009

sympathize with your pain hun... went through it and the only thing that helped me was hot showers and a hot compress mixed with gentle (and I stress GENTLE) massage; I went over-board with the massage and it became more painful than relieving. After a few days the blockage began to clear and the engorged breast began subsiding. Be sure to drink plenty of water, aprox 4L a day. Hope this helps, and Good Luck!

Ashley - posted on 03/25/2009

i had that too and ended up gettin an infection and had a real high fever my doc put me on some anitbiotics and they seemed to do the trick along with pumpin every 2 hours and making sure i massaged the spot it was really good before i pumped, hope this helps