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Original poster

HELP - Blocked duct and in AGONY what can I do?

26 replies

Hogiabach · 26/04/2008 16:24

I'm BF my 3.5 month and have had no probs at all, but all of a sudden I have a hard large lumpy area in my boob, it's agony! I've tried feeding him on that side and massaging whilst feeding. Just tried warm flannel and massage - still nothing, it just seems to be getting sorer and I feel sick with the pain.

Any other suggestions please?

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oldwomanwholivedinashoe · 26/04/2008 16:28

shower with direction on boob, continue massage, feed through it (from that side) and get to the doctor if it gets any worse or you may develop mastitis.

LIZS · 26/04/2008 16:39

comb in bath , hot/cold flannels and gel packs, think you can take ibruprofen iirc, feed that side first

FluffyMummy123 · 26/04/2008 16:40

Message withdrawn

mankymummy · 26/04/2008 16:41

go to A&E for antibiotics if its very bad. if it is mastitis it can get bad very quickly including a fever and feeling absolutely dreadful.

juuule · 26/04/2008 16:53

Keep feeding from that side. If possible angle the baby so that his chin is lined with the lump, ie: lump, chin, mouth, nose etc.

Original poster
Hogiabach · 26/04/2008 17:16

comb? I'm I really stupid? I have no idea what this means.
DS1 has just fallen asleep and DS1 has had a feed - so will try and have a bath now - thanks

OP posts:
LIZS · 26/04/2008 17:55

I used an old afro comb . Instead of massaging with fingers just gently run a comb towards the nipple (wet boob first and use soap to reduce friction)

2wasgood3isbetter · 26/04/2008 18:10

I suffered with this a few weeks ago - agony. Get a bowl, fill with the hottest water you can bear, and dangle boob in. Don't overfill bowl or the floor gets v wet! I tried using a pudding basin first, but couldn't fit. Had forgotten that my A cup had grown significantly!! Otherwise lie on front in hot bath - it's very soothing. Ibuprofen worked a treat too.

Good luck

Original poster
Hogiabach · 26/04/2008 18:11

aah! thanks lizs...

OP posts:
soremummy · 26/04/2008 18:17

Also it sometimes helps if you lay baby down and feed with you above baby iykwim, if not try lying on your side and feed baby. Do your best to get it moving I had mastitis and its very painful and fed through tears hence my name lol this was when i joined. You will get lots more info and help from here but the main thing is to keep feeding from that side.

I got 2 gel things from boots that you put on before and after feeding one hot as you can bare and the other from the fridge think they are £12.99 but they did help a lot with the discomfort. It might be worth sending someone out to get you some if possible. It was more convenient than hot water ther are only so many baths you have time to have

soremummy · 26/04/2008 18:22

I couldnt get a link for gel things but they are called breast nurse

soremummy · 26/04/2008 18:23

same as these I still find I use them now and again

JiminyCricket · 26/04/2008 18:33

all of the above plus if you have a pump express a bit in the bath you might see a spaghetti type bit come out that helped me

Original poster
Hogiabach · 26/04/2008 18:46

Ok, had hot bath with very hot flannel, have tried massaging, it's so uncomfortable! No change as yet DS2 is screaming the place down, so I'm thinking he's not getting much milk from affected boob.

I'll have to take ibuprufen I think....

Thanks soremummy lol glad you're not sore anymore, will get the gels tomorrow

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theosmummy · 26/04/2008 21:44

okay can you see a small white spot on your nipple? if so it means it's blocked right there. After 3 hours of agony, I finally managed to get rid of it by taking a hot bath, massaging boob with a flannel and - wait for it - asking my husband to suck on it. it suddenly popped 'open' in about 3 seconds and I managed to express 4 or 5 ounces out of a single milk duct!
Baby obviously didn't have enough suction power.
Good luck!!

Original poster
Hogiabach · 26/04/2008 22:18

theosmummy lol, yes I do have a white spot on my nipple and have been trying to squeeze it out without much luck, and ditto DS2 hasn't enough suction! Have also tried using expressing machine which brought me to tears.....DH is working so can't ask him!
I'm going to try and express again and see what happens...

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dorisofdevon · 26/04/2008 22:38

Would recomend paracetomol ( although you can use concurrently with brufen if the pain is bad) rather than ibruprofen, and i'd second hot and cold alternated compresses.

littone · 26/04/2008 22:53

When I had this I stuck a needle (sewing not knitting!) into the white spot - the thought of doing it was a bit scary but it honestly didn't hurt. Once i had done this I was able to massage a bit of milk out and then on the next few feeds I think my DS managed to suck the built up milk out and things got more comfortable

B1977 · 26/04/2008 22:54

try a breast pump too with the massage

JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 26/04/2008 23:03

article of blocked ducts here

"Some women notice a small white spot at the end of their nipple, which is a sign of a duct that has become blocked with skin cells growing over it. True blocked ducts are easily treated. If you have one, you can usually remove it by piercing the end of it with a sterile needle or clean fingernail. Do this after your baby has fed when the skin on your nipple is softer."

If you're going to do that please be careful, I'd hate to cause you more pain! hth.

JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 26/04/2008 23:04

x posts littone, sorry

verylittlecarrot · 26/04/2008 23:15

Hogi - you need to ping that plug out of your nipple, trust me. It will be a blockage about the size of a grain of sand, stuck at the pore. With the pads of your thumb and forefinger, squeeze from the base of your nipple near the areola, (think of squeezing a tube of toothpaste), and force the little bugger to pop out. Don't use fingernails, obv! You may need to be quite firm with it, but the pressure from behind the plug should make it pop, and you will get instant relief. Hand express to clear the backed up milk when it pops.

Persevere. You don't want it to persist.

Good luck!

verylittlecarrot · 26/04/2008 23:17

WAIT!!!!!

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NIPPLE BLISTER AND A BLOCKED NIPPLE PORE!

One is a blister which can be pierced - carefully.

The other is a hard plug of calcified milk which blocks a pore like a cork - it is much tinier and can be "pinged" out - should not be pierced with a needle!!!!

Sounds like you have a plug though.

Original poster
Hogiabach · 27/04/2008 08:52

Okay ladies...update, Took paracetamol and brufen, used the breast pump to no avail. Can clearly see the white blocked spot on nipple but nothing shifting - will persevere today. Pain killers do help though! Thanks for all the advice - plan to use he pin today (ouch)

OP posts:
JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 27/04/2008 09:44

I think it's just a matter of lifting the tiny bit of skin covering the white spot, not "popping" it by the sound of things. Keeping a hot wet face flannel or one of those microwave warmy things on it first might help. Best of luck, hope it buggers off soon!