Why does a blocked duct make me feel flu like?

[hermionieweasley]

I've had this a few times since I've been breastfeeding, a very very sore part of one breast, and an overwhelming feeling of being tired, shivery, and achey. It always happens at the same time, and after a warm shower and trying to clear the duct and my son feeding, I feel better the next day. But why does this happen? What's the science lol?

[Fedfedfedup]

Mastitis?

[Somethingsnappy]

Is your baby still very new? Milk fever is common in the early days while your milk supply is still regulating and breasts feel very engorged. The fluey feeling you describe is probably hormonal. It's good it goes away after feeding.

As the PP said, keep an eye out for mastitis though. If a hard, painful, red shiny lump forms that doesn't go away after a good feed, it can be the beginning of mastitis. The fact yours disappears after a feed does simply suggest the usual engorgment before your supply regulates though.

[hermionieweasley]

Hi, no sorry should have said, baby is 14 months lol

[Somethingsnappy]

Does it coincide with growth spurts?

[Patty101]

I suffer with this quite a bit so I did some reading up on it...
Apparently the milk duct gets blocked for whatever reason, then the milk starts backing up a little, forcing some milk particles into the blood stream. The immune system realises there is a foreign body knocking about in the blood, but doesn't know the difference between a bit of milk and an infection, so the body goes into attack mode to kill the 'infection', hence the flu symptoms.

It made a lot of sense to me once I'd discovered this, because like you, after a hot shower and a bit of block feeding on the blocked side my 'flu' disappears almost straight away!

[Somethingsnappy]

That's very interesting and good to know! Thanks, @Patty101.

[hermionieweasley]

@Patty101 that's fascinating, thank you!