SO Frustrated - plugged duct again!!!

[suzabanana]

This is my 3rd bout with a plugged duct in 2 weeks - same location of the same breast! What is going on here? It's never developed into mastitis & always resolves itself same-day. But today DD has yet to have a normal nursing session as she's in a wicked mood and has been screaming/sleeping half the day. I am tired, frustrated and fearful that this will continue into tomorrow. I don't have a fever, but the area is very tender & unless the duct is cleared via pumping tonight I'm concerned it will become mastitis.
Additionally, why does this re-occur? I'm not sleeping on my stomach, wear tight clothes or bras, skip feedings etc. We had such a problem-free 4 months of nursing & now all this in the past 2 weeks! This sucks! Grrrr....:mad:

[madelsmama]

You might double check her latch on that breast or rotate the way that she feeds (if she usually feeds in the cradle hold, try football hold every once in a while.

Also, check the tip of your nipple for a milk bleb or blister. When they develop, they do not allow the milk to drain for the affected ducts.

Have you considered taking a lecithin supplement?

[KatieLou]

I did the same exact thing with DS. 3 plugged ducts in the same location within 2 weeks. It was not fun. Mine was the result of a nursing strike he was having due to a cold/stuffy nose.

IA with Cheyl change her nursing postion and see if that helps. Is she still nursing as much as she was?

[suzabanana]

She's nursing exactly the same amount/times of day because we have a regular schedule for feeding, naps, wake-up & bedtime. I always pump before I go to bed to keep up supply & so I'm not uncomfortable overnight since she usually sleeps 8 hours or more at night. She's not sick & all day I've tried to nurse her on that side in different positions & she won't have any of it - she just screams & comes off. The plugged area is at the top of my breast near my breast plate, so it'd be hard to point her in that position. I don't see any blister on my nipple & I don't know much about the lecithin supplement option.
Keep the suggestions coming!
Anyone know how long the duct can be plugged before infection/mastitis is inevitable?

[KMR]

I'm having the exact same problem, on the same breast, same spot. I try to work it out right away because I fear an infection. (I had three with my first daughter).

This may not be the best advice, but I fill a baby sock with rice, microwave it for 20 seconds, apply it to the plugged area to make it nice and warm, then massage the area until the plug comes unplugged. My massage is often rather hard and deep - which causes a little bruising pain for a day or so afterwards, but I can typically unplug the area. I know when it is unplugged when the milk sprays across the room!

I believe I have this problem due to a severe oversupply issue I am fighting. She rarely empties my breasts.

I take 3-4 lecithin pills a day (1200 mg each). I've been doing this since week 2 and she is now 12 weeks old. I don't know if it is really helping, but I fear not taking them and having many more plugged areas. Good luck.

[KatieLou]

Mine never went into mastitis, but one whole side of my breast looked like a big ball. It wa snasty, and blue and brusied looking, and as sore as all get out.

I talked to a LC when i was going trhough this, and after it lasting 2 wks Iwas so afraid it would be the end of our nursing relationship. It was not. Don't give up hope Momma.

The advice the LC gave me was:

*Nurse often, even more than usall (considering DS was on a strike that was not very helpful tome, but it may be to you)
* Massage the breast very often to lossen up the possible dried milk that could be clogging the duct. (my hard massage also brusied my breast and made me very sore, but it did help.)

* Hot showers ( I took 3 a day)
*rest rest rest. she stressed that sometimes a plugged duct is your own body's way of telling you that you are doin to much.
*Apply heat.


(((hug))) you will get through this hun.

[suzabanana]

Ok, this is going to sound insane, but...Any chance I can ask my husband to try to suck the damn thing out? Is that f-ed up? I just want this thing cleared up ASAP!

[jenny815]

how can you tell if you have one...my right boob been hurt on the side for a week or two now

[suzabanana]

If your breast is like a pie, it feels like a slice of it is engorged & won't let down.

[madelsmama]

Are you pumping that breast after nursing the baby (every time)? Offering that breast to her first until things cleared up?

[suzabanana]

I honestly don't have time to pump after every feed - she's not that mellow of a baby & needs stimulation. I have been pumping in the morning after nursing, at bedtime after nursing & before I got to bed. I do offer that breast 1st at every feed.
I can feel the plug & I've been massaging it during feeds, after showers & putting warm washcloths to no avail thus far.

[Stephanie]

I second the rice sock idea. I wear one in my bra all the time when I have one.

Speaking of bras, I swear I had a bra that caused plugged ducts. I was getting them again and again, and finally I tossed it and stopped getting them. Have you noticed you get it when you have been wearing a certain bra?

I seem to get them in cycles. I will get one, and it will seem like it is gone, only to come back again in a few days. Sometimes I wonder if it wasn't unplugged all the way and maybe just builds back up after a couple of days. I have no idea if there is any truth to that, must my thought.