blocked duct

[Woodlands]

i have a hot, tender lump on my right breast that i first noticed at lunchtime but seems to have got worse since. ds is 3 months. it's making me feel all squeamish/panicky when i try to massage it. just got some advice from the nct helpline but would appreciate some sympathy/reassurance that it will clear up soon! any magic tricks?

kellymom has info on blocked ducts and mastitis.
Try not to worry about it too much, for me it's taken about 3-4 days of massaging etc to clear a blocked duct and to begin with it felt like there was no improvement. If you start getting flu like symptoms call a doctor as you may need antibiotics and it's best to get them asap.
Don't worry though, if you keep feeding lots of that side it's unlikely to develop into mastitis.
Hope you feel better soon x

Nothing much to add really apart from feeding more frequently if you can and have you tried massaging whilst feeding or in the bath or shower?

Put something warm on it before you feed (I have a wheatie that goes in the microwave) and try using different feeding positions such as rugby hold if you usually hold him across your tummy. Keep an eye that you don't get a temp. or flu-like symptoms and if you do get to dr asap. I had mastitis recently and the nurse told me to do 2 feeds from the infected side to 1 of the ok one.

Thanks - I won't worry then if it takes a few days. I will go and feed him lying down in bed as that way his chin will be pointing towards the blockage, or at least it will be a different angle.

massaging with a hot flannel doesn't make me as squeamish as with my bare hand!

Put baby chin as close to the hot spot as poss, use cushions or lie down as that is a great way to clear it.
Also express if you have a pump
And get in hot bath and put hot flannels on it keep putting them back in water to keep it hot, then feed as above with chin!
Def get to doc if you feel a tiny bit flu like

I always found a warm shower and then feeding straight after helped unblock it.

Hope it feels better soon.

Hi,

Have you tried changing the feeding position? .g. if the blockage is on the inner part of your breast try the rugby hold.

I have mastitis at 8 weeks and it wasn't until my HV suggested I tried this that I managed to unblock my ducts.

Good luck.

it's cleared! hooray! thanks for all your advice, sorry for panicking - i won't worry if this happens again now.

Great news Woodlands [hsmile]