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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Part of breast is hard and milk supply going down

7 replies

GeekLove · 07/05/2011 19:10

currently I am expressing and massaging the affected area. Is typhus a good course of action as I really don't want to get blocked ducts/ mastitis. This only started at about midday today. Anybody else had this problems?

OP posts:
MigGril · 07/05/2011 19:19

How do you know the milk supply is going down? Do you useally express?

Best course of action is to feed as offten as possible from that side and express inbetween if needed. Hot flanes and massage are good. But also feeding baby in a possition that allows their chin to massage the part of the breast that is effected will help.

check the leaflet hear on mastitis for more help
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/leaflets-and-publications.html

GeekLove · 07/05/2011 19:28

Thanks for the info.'I know that supply has gone down since I generally get milk to come out very easily and M only seems to get satisfied from my other breast now.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 07/05/2011 19:37

Basically, you need to do two things: Rest as much as possible, and try to clear the blockage.

Don't worry about supply for now. There will always be some milk there even if your baby seems more satisfied by something else. It's actually probably more likely that the baby doesn't like the taste, because when you have a blockage the milk in that breast (apparently) goes slightly saltier than usual to encourage them to feed more from that side.

Resting - this is really important to help prevent mastitis. Act as though you are ill - don't try to do anything, lie down as much as you can. If you start to feel flu-like symptoms, then go to your doctor and tell them you have suspected mastitis, they should give you antibiotics to clear it.

Clearing the blockage - expressing with a pump isn't generally a good way as it's almost impossible to put pressure on the blockage area at the same time. You can hand express and massage the lump towards the nipple as well. It doesn't matter if you're only getting dribbles or droplets out, that's fine. You don't need to do it hard enough to hurt, just firmly. Another good way of clearing it is to feed your baby as much as you can on that side, either massaging the lump yourself, or try to get baby in a position where their chin is pointing towards the blockage. Try lying them on their back on a bed and sort of crouch over them(!) Another way is stand in the shower, and "comb" along the boob with a wide-toothed, blunt comb. (Hand expressing in the shower is good too). Heat will help milk release, cold is good at other times just for your comfort.

I don't know what typhus is so I can't advise on that :)

GeekLove · 07/05/2011 20:02

typhus I meant this stupid iPhone!

OP posts:
ib · 07/05/2011 20:04

I've had it many times. Hand expressing in a hot shower often helps clear it. If it becomes red and hot I find a cabbage leaf in the bra really does help.

BertieBotts · 07/05/2011 21:37

Oh sorry I thought it might be a herbal remedy or something Grin

I hope you manage to shift it soon. How old is your baby?

NotQuiteCockney · 08/05/2011 08:07

If you can feed with the baby's chin to the lump, that often clears the blockage very quickly.

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