blocked duct, after 16 months of breastfeeding!

[dinny]

woke up this am with a huge, solid, agonising boob. after two hot baths, numerous applications of hot flannels and lots of v painful feeds, milk finally started coming out and boob softened.

but, just had a bath and area which was swollen now has red patch - is it turning into mastitis or just usual w blocked duct? and what do I do to keep it unblocked.

ps i don't have a temperature

tia, dinny

I got blotches a lot last time I was BFing, I think the trick is lots of warm baths and if there hasn't been anyone feeding on it for quite a while I'd stimulate it in the bath too, that is if you don't want to decrease your amount of milk... if you do want to decrease it stuff a savoy cabbage leaf in your bra!

I don't think it's mastitis if you got it soften, if it remains hard and painful for more than a few days go to see your doc

Massage the area of the blocked duct gently to try to move the blockage. Feed as much as possible from that side. Also, try to think what might have caused it so as not to have a reoccurance. Has your toddler changed postion they feed? Have you started wearing a different type of bra, swimming costume or other tight top that might be putting pressure on your breast? Are you in a different car and the seatbelt is applying pressure?

Even if you think it is mastitis, you do not need to stop feeding or go and get antibiotics. Try the self help measures first.

thanks for that...

last night we had two lots of friends and their kids staying so we slept on our double inflatable mattress and ds ended up in with us, feeding lots... wonder if that might have done it as have only had a blocked duct once (about a year ago) and that was because of wearing a baby sling for too long!

Dinny - hope it's feeling better now. Warm baths/showers and use a wide-toothed comb to "comb" the lump - apply pressure towards your nipple. Much better than fingers (though fingers definitely better than nothing if you don't have a wide-toothed comb!) - and don't press too hard or you'll drag the skin. But you're not daft - you'd have worked that out

How are you apart from that? Happy New Year!

yep. did you stay up till midnight?

just spent lovely day on beach - fish and chips for lunch, braved the shingle. apart from boob hurting, was lovely.

do you think sleeping weirdly did it?

ps had done the combing - dh fell about laughing, me combing my hairy chest lol

Could've been sleeping in an odd position if you had pressure on a part of your boob, especially if you were squashed onto the airbed and feeding DS.

Your NY sounds lovely - yes, we stayed up till midnight (when don't I though?!) and did not much - same as usual!

LOL at combing your chest Hope it helps.

thanks - off to have another bath in a mo, followed by some combing sexy.