Blocked ducts help!

[Littleblueowl]

Hi

I'm not sure if this is the right board to post on?

I have a 6 month who is exclusively on expressed Breast milk (and beginning of weaning).

The last few day have been utter hell - a couple of days of barely producing enough to feed DS, and today constantly engorged and I now have what I think is a blocked duct - very tender, hard lump. Ive tried massaging it out whilst expressing, and I'm now sitting with a hot water bottle to ease pain.

Ive got no explanation for the decrease in milk, then the crazy increase in milk, nor do I know how to get rid of this blocked duct, other than methods already tried!

Any suggestions regarding what on earth is going on?!

Thanks in advance.

[startwig1982]

No explanation, but feed, feed, feed. The best way to clear the duct is heat before/while feeding, combing the lump in the shower/bath and putting your boob in a bowl of hot water and expressing.
Your milk flow should be ok if you carry on feeding lots.

[Littleblueowl]

Thanks startwig will try the heat whilst expressing.

madrigals nope no white bit but have developed a couple of very painful small spot type lumps on areola. Ive taken the pump apart and can't identify any problems although stressing about not producing enough probably didn't help. It's all very odd!

[ColdCottage]

Have you tried hand expressing in the bath? The head should help. In the shower too but couldn't collect the milk.

Call the breastfeeding network for advice. They are very helpful. Good luck.

[Littleblueowl]

Just been googling - I think I may have an infected Montgomery gland which is causing the pain/lumps. Has anyone heard of this?

[Littleblueowl]

Thanks coldcottage I'll see how I go overnight and may have to call tomorrow!

[HungerKunstler]

I had blocked ducts earlier this week. It's so painful! Similar situation where DD (3 months) was in a feeding frenzy and I could barely keep up with her demand and then she randomly started sleeping longer at night. I woke up in the morning really engorged with two hard lumps on the left side of my left breast.

What worked for me eventually after about 24 hours of trying different tactics was feeding in different positions trying to point baby's chin towards the blockage site. Took some creative gymnastics at times(!) but that along with a warm compress and massaging while feeding cleared both blockages. I also had a really hot shower both mornings and went bra-free for s few hours to let the excess milk leak out.

Good luck - I hope it clears soon!

[passthewineplz]

Warm compress, such as a warm flannel and try massage and hand expression to unblock the dust hun.
www.unicef.org.uk/BabyFriendly/Health-Professionals/Care-Pathways/Breastfeeding/First-days/Hand-expressing/

Also take some of your usual over the counter pain relief, to help with the pain and any temperature

[passthewineplz]

Duct not dust lol!

[HungerKunstler]

Oh sorry, just saw that you are expressing so my advice was probably not that helpful!

I did read one article online when I was looking for info on how to unblock ducts and the writer was expressing only too. She suggested having as hot a shower as you can bear and then pumping at the highest setting on the pump for a few minutes. Maybe worth a try?