positions to clear ducts cleavage side...

[NumptyMum]

So it would seem I have plugged or blocked ducts, I can feel threads inside the breast on the cleavage side of both breasts. I usually feed cross cradle, so can't massage when feeding in this position. I'm going to try rugby hold, and have also tried the 'dangle' method (!) but can anyone recommend a position that might help drain these ducts? I've noticed them since Weds so they've had a few feeds (and massages) since then...

I find rugby hold great in general but also feeding lying down as you can angle yourself and baby in a few different ways to drain different parts if the boob and also once set up have both hands free. Good luck.

And it's worth bearing in mind that it's not that simple. It never worked for me and I read somewhere when suffering with repeated blocked ducts that it's because the actual path from the blockage to the nipple isn't in a straight line, it's much, much more complicated and feeding in different positions doesn't necessarily make a difference in a lot of cases.

Have you tried lots of other methods? Combing? Compresses? Expressing?

My brilliant HV recommends lying the baby in the middle of the bed and breastfeeding him hovering over him on all fours -- you can get into any position that way!

But I also have to do a lot of self-massage in the bath to clear mine, and I also express the remainder of the affected breast after the baby has finished his feed.

You could try lying down and have baby "upside down" to you. So his bum towards your arm.

Thanks everyone - I've never figured out how to do lying down feeds properly, though I tried it last night (got my hand trapped under me though!). I have also tried combing, warm compress and expressing (in the bath) - but because I can only feel the threads and not the actual block, I think the block must be pretty much under the nipple itself, so not sure how much I dare massage that - I can feel a pea-sized lump, can I just massage that between fingers/thumb or will I do damage?

I'm not actually feeling any pain from the block, and it's not swollen or red, just that I'm worried about there being these threads and them leading to something more.

Better go feed again!