Megadodo
10-19-2007, 05:08 PM
Posted by Onyx Rose (Member # 3716) on December 10, 2003 01:39 PM December 10, 2003 01:39 PM :
I received this information from a LC who I'm going to see tomorrow. Because I saw questions about this I wanted to post this here for you. I hope this helps someone, becaue it did help me out a bit [Smile]
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Signs of a plugged or blocked milk duct:
Tender firm lump in the breast, still there after nursing
May also have:
Signs of inflammation:
area of pink or red blush to the skin over the tender area
breast may feel hot
Signs that may suggest that the blockage is moving through the nipple
pain in the nipple, or even brief shooting pains in the breast, while nursing
white bleb on the end of the nipple
Untreated, a plugged duct can go onto mastitis, a breast infection:
Same tender firm lump in the breast, just like a plugged duct.
PLUS fever, usually high (102-104F)
AND sick, achy all over, feels like “the flu”
May also have any of the symptoms listed above of inflammation or nipple involvement:
red blush, hot breast, nipple pain or bleb
Causes (usually several of these combined):
Leaving breast unnursed for longer than usual
(for example: baby slept longer than usual, going back to work, unusual time away from baby or pump, new “schedule,” rapid or irregular weaning, trying to slow down an abundant supply, etc.)
Difficulty managing an abundant milk supply
Busy, active, hectic days, not enough rest
Stress and fatigue
Breastfeeding is not leisurely, but in a hurry--
Either mother or baby quits feed early
Baby tugs and pulls and twists at nipple (related to high milk supply)
Ill-fitting bras, underwire bras, or “demi-cup” bras
What is a plugged duct?
One milk duct, as it narrows and passes through the nipple, gets “sticky” and plugged or blocked with a “plug” of dried milk, calcium crystals, shed cells, etc.
The milk behind this duct backs up and can’t get out, creating a big firm lump
Even when the baby nurses this duct cannot be emptied because of the “plug”, so it becomes tender as it stretches with more and more milk.
Pumping only empties the “unblocked” ducts, (and can help prevent plugged ducts) because the pump pulls on the nipple, narrowing it, tightening the plug
The nipple may hurt, or have a white bleb on the end of it. This is caused by the plug of dried sticky milk inside the nipple. The nipple is extremely pain sensitive to even these tiny “grains of sand” sized plugs. The sensation in the nipple can cause “referred pain”-- shooting pains to the breast, which are really from the nipple but feel like they are in the breast.
Treatment: (This is quickly solved!)
If a plugged duct is caught early, it can be unplugged quickly, often in a few hours or less. If there have already been several days of tenderness, it may take a few days or even a week to completely clear, but you should make some progress and feel better in the first day or so.
1. First, if you haven’t found the lump, find it. There is always a lump: It often can take two hands to find it, one to press against, so it doesn’t float away.
It can be quite big, (as bog as your thumb, or as big as our fist!--extending all the way into the armpit (a common site).
Or small and pea-sized and close behind the nipple.
There can be several in different places. Can be anywhere in the breast.
Check where the breast generally hurts, or under the red blush if you have one.
2. REST! Get help! No errands, no other tasks until this is starting to get better!
(Pretend you already have the fever of 103 that will come if you don’t treat this!)
3. Very frequent hot showers or baths.
Each shower or bath about 5 to 15 minutes long (could be longer if you want).
Start with 2 showers an hour apart; followed if necessary by showers every 2 - 3 hrs for half a day or so, until you notice improvement; then about every 4 - 6 hrs til clear.
Hot baths or showers are the best--but when you can’t do either, try hot compresses--
A paper baby diaper filled with hot water makes a great hot compress. Since it will actually be “too dry,” use it over a hot wet washcloth to hold the heat in.
4. Firm “directed massage,” in the shower, after the shower, under the compresses:
Press hand or thumb in a kneading movement from behind the lump, toward the nipple, as if trying to push the lump out the nipple.
Other hand on the other side of the breast to press against.
Firm pressure (“the good kind of pain”)-- DO NOT TORTURE YOURSELF!
5. Nurse a lot more often than usual. Nursing usually works much better than pumping for this.
Nurse right after the shower, if possible
If possible, point baby’s chin or nose toward the lump
Continue firm directed massage while nursing, if you can
If you can’t nurse, pump instead, while using “directed massage” with your other hand
6. Don’t forget the other breast-- don’t get a new plugged duct!
7. When you notice the lump is softer, smaller, and not as painful, this is great news.
You’ve pushed a little of the milk past the “plug,” and have opened it up a little.
Now you’ll still need to keep working until it’s fully cleared, but just not quite so often..
8. The baby usually finishes the job clearing the plug while suckling. Then you’re totally fine.
Call if you get a fever, or start feeling ill.
Treatment for mastitis:
All of the above, plus:
Antibiotics, usually dicloxacillin, for ten days
Closed off infections can become abscesses, requiring aspiration, or surgical lancing
Prevention:
Rest, minimize stress, easy schedule, don’t try to be super-mom
Keep breasts comfortable--”pump to comfort” or hand massage when overfull
If you have a big milk supply, do not pump to “empty” just to get comfortable.
If weaning, or baby changing schedule, check breasts frequently for surprise lumps
Wear comfortable, well fitting bras
Take care of yourself—eat, drink and rest well.
I received this information from a LC who I'm going to see tomorrow. Because I saw questions about this I wanted to post this here for you. I hope this helps someone, becaue it did help me out a bit [Smile]
-------------------------------------------------
Signs of a plugged or blocked milk duct:
Tender firm lump in the breast, still there after nursing
May also have:
Signs of inflammation:
area of pink or red blush to the skin over the tender area
breast may feel hot
Signs that may suggest that the blockage is moving through the nipple
pain in the nipple, or even brief shooting pains in the breast, while nursing
white bleb on the end of the nipple
Untreated, a plugged duct can go onto mastitis, a breast infection:
Same tender firm lump in the breast, just like a plugged duct.
PLUS fever, usually high (102-104F)
AND sick, achy all over, feels like “the flu”
May also have any of the symptoms listed above of inflammation or nipple involvement:
red blush, hot breast, nipple pain or bleb
Causes (usually several of these combined):
Leaving breast unnursed for longer than usual
(for example: baby slept longer than usual, going back to work, unusual time away from baby or pump, new “schedule,” rapid or irregular weaning, trying to slow down an abundant supply, etc.)
Difficulty managing an abundant milk supply
Busy, active, hectic days, not enough rest
Stress and fatigue
Breastfeeding is not leisurely, but in a hurry--
Either mother or baby quits feed early
Baby tugs and pulls and twists at nipple (related to high milk supply)
Ill-fitting bras, underwire bras, or “demi-cup” bras
What is a plugged duct?
One milk duct, as it narrows and passes through the nipple, gets “sticky” and plugged or blocked with a “plug” of dried milk, calcium crystals, shed cells, etc.
The milk behind this duct backs up and can’t get out, creating a big firm lump
Even when the baby nurses this duct cannot be emptied because of the “plug”, so it becomes tender as it stretches with more and more milk.
Pumping only empties the “unblocked” ducts, (and can help prevent plugged ducts) because the pump pulls on the nipple, narrowing it, tightening the plug
The nipple may hurt, or have a white bleb on the end of it. This is caused by the plug of dried sticky milk inside the nipple. The nipple is extremely pain sensitive to even these tiny “grains of sand” sized plugs. The sensation in the nipple can cause “referred pain”-- shooting pains to the breast, which are really from the nipple but feel like they are in the breast.
Treatment: (This is quickly solved!)
If a plugged duct is caught early, it can be unplugged quickly, often in a few hours or less. If there have already been several days of tenderness, it may take a few days or even a week to completely clear, but you should make some progress and feel better in the first day or so.
1. First, if you haven’t found the lump, find it. There is always a lump: It often can take two hands to find it, one to press against, so it doesn’t float away.
It can be quite big, (as bog as your thumb, or as big as our fist!--extending all the way into the armpit (a common site).
Or small and pea-sized and close behind the nipple.
There can be several in different places. Can be anywhere in the breast.
Check where the breast generally hurts, or under the red blush if you have one.
2. REST! Get help! No errands, no other tasks until this is starting to get better!
(Pretend you already have the fever of 103 that will come if you don’t treat this!)
3. Very frequent hot showers or baths.
Each shower or bath about 5 to 15 minutes long (could be longer if you want).
Start with 2 showers an hour apart; followed if necessary by showers every 2 - 3 hrs for half a day or so, until you notice improvement; then about every 4 - 6 hrs til clear.
Hot baths or showers are the best--but when you can’t do either, try hot compresses--
A paper baby diaper filled with hot water makes a great hot compress. Since it will actually be “too dry,” use it over a hot wet washcloth to hold the heat in.
4. Firm “directed massage,” in the shower, after the shower, under the compresses:
Press hand or thumb in a kneading movement from behind the lump, toward the nipple, as if trying to push the lump out the nipple.
Other hand on the other side of the breast to press against.
Firm pressure (“the good kind of pain”)-- DO NOT TORTURE YOURSELF!
5. Nurse a lot more often than usual. Nursing usually works much better than pumping for this.
Nurse right after the shower, if possible
If possible, point baby’s chin or nose toward the lump
Continue firm directed massage while nursing, if you can
If you can’t nurse, pump instead, while using “directed massage” with your other hand
6. Don’t forget the other breast-- don’t get a new plugged duct!
7. When you notice the lump is softer, smaller, and not as painful, this is great news.
You’ve pushed a little of the milk past the “plug,” and have opened it up a little.
Now you’ll still need to keep working until it’s fully cleared, but just not quite so often..
8. The baby usually finishes the job clearing the plug while suckling. Then you’re totally fine.
Call if you get a fever, or start feeling ill.
Treatment for mastitis:
All of the above, plus:
Antibiotics, usually dicloxacillin, for ten days
Closed off infections can become abscesses, requiring aspiration, or surgical lancing
Prevention:
Rest, minimize stress, easy schedule, don’t try to be super-mom
Keep breasts comfortable--”pump to comfort” or hand massage when overfull
If you have a big milk supply, do not pump to “empty” just to get comfortable.
If weaning, or baby changing schedule, check breasts frequently for surprise lumps
Wear comfortable, well fitting bras
Take care of yourself—eat, drink and rest well.