Any suggestions for clearing blocked duct?

[sjcmum]

Have had blocked ducts a few times, and they normally clear after a couple of days, but can't seem to shift this one, and have tried the usual things like massaging with warm flannel, changing the position when feeding, hand expressing etc - any suggestions of other things to try would be welcome, as it is getting pretty painful and tender...

Thanks

[fishie]

a comb, a wide tooth if you have one, in the shower or bath. will fix. or try with the baby's chin pointing in the direction of the duct. i have heard that there may be a tiny blocked pore on the areaoododlaa which can be unblocked and will correspond to duct but not seen it myself.

[StealthPolarBear]

massage worked for me - probably same tip as the comb, as was told to do the same actions with fingertips

[sjcmum]

Thanks - now turned into mastitis and been given antibiotics by doctor - so really want to get it cleared......

fishie - do you just use the comb to massage the affected bit then? Not heard that before - will give it a go...

[sheeplikessleep]

whether i should have done this but i got a white spot (blocked duct) when i was breastfeeding. i used to run a needle under boiled water from kettle, let it cool down and then pierce ever so slightly. got straight in bath and massaged and fed baby.

sounds horrible writing it down, but i could see the white blockage. and it worked.

have you tied feeding from 'above', i.e. lying your lo on a bed and 'hanging over' them?

[Scorps]

I had a blocked duct, and after everything, I knew I needed something harder than a baby to shift the blockage. DH got it out and I managed to escape meds.

Hope you clear it soon, horrid for you.

[lowrib]

I found gently expressing in a hot bath helped. I could see the white spot too.

I've heard about the comb thing too, it was recommended at the antenatal classes we went to.

[sjcmum]

Thanks - still a bit tender, but fever seems to have gone and seems blockage just about cleared...... a hot water bottle under my arm for an hour or so, followed my hot bath and lots of massaging seemed to do the trick (plus the antibiotics probably helped too)....