Positions to clear blocked duct please

[peedieworky]

Hi - DS is 25 weeks old & EBF. After struggling with a tender breast for a week or so, things seems to have suddenly progressed today & my left side is sore and rock hard, even straight after feeds. Have called my peer supporter who has given me excellent advice but am struggling to manage to get DS into a position where his nose or chin are at the sore point. Basically, if you were facing me and imagined my boob divided into 4 quarters, the sore bit is on the top left quarter (so as I look down it's the top of my boob, closest to my sternum.)

DS is quite a wriggler and am struggling to figure out how to position him. Though that may just be my brain not working as I feel really lousy. All advice welcomed!

Hi, I had this but when DD was only 10 days old so not so wriggly!

I found the rugby ball hold worked well,, get some pillows to support. Also lying her flat on the bed and leaning over her to feed. Not the most comfortable position for you but it did make sure the breast was drained fully.

Only other things that worked was massaging the sore area whilst feeding and using warm flannels.

IIRC I took ibuprofen on advice of BF counsellor to reduce any inflammation, I also took paracetomol when it was especially painful.

Have you seen the Kellymom page on blocked ducts ? She says pointing nose/chin towards the blockage will not necessarily help, so while if you can do this, it can't do any harm, if it's causing you more problems, then maybe you could look at some of the other suggestions instead?

This is going to sound mad, and it was 8 years ago, so I may be hazy, but with a very bad case, the midwife suggested lying DD on the bed, and me kneeling on all fours above her. My breasts are on the generous side, so they weren't that far from her then. It meant I could have her at just the right angle (I think otherwise she'd have been over my shoulder!). The relief the first time was immense, and after two feeds, it was sorted.

Worth a go, and DH thought it completely hilarious. Not one to try in front of the in-laws though.

Thanks everyone. I tried dangling above him but he killed himself laughing and started swatting at my nipple in amusement. Very dignified! Been using heat pack and that seems to be bringing some relief, although now hard to tell if is red cos of warmth or the dreaded mastitis... Just feel so grotty & incredibly sorry for myself!

I've been plagued by blocked ducts for the past few weeks & my midwife (I'm not in the UK) told me to put a really hot flannel on the hard bits for a few mins before feeding, then between feeds something really cold (bag of frozen peas or similar) - it might be chance but it seems to work. It sometimes takes a day or two but then they disappear during a feed. I could barely lift my arms at one point, both sides were rock hard & ridiculously painful -I was so happy once they had cleared.
Hope this helps!

I struggled with a blocked duct a couple of months ago and it is horrible so poor you and well done for feeding through it! I can't remember where I read the advise - maybe on here - but I used a wide tooth comb on the lump and gently moved this over the area to loosen the blockage. Also used the heated flannels technique in conjunction with this and it did the trick within 24hrs. I could actually feel the blockage like a baked bean/pea size so it was fairly easy to pinpoint where to massage. After the blockage was gone the area felt pretty tender/bruised for a couple of days after - I suppose due to the massage in the area and general poking and prodding that we tend to do whilst diagnosing and treating these things! Just thought I'd mention incase you manage to get rid of it but wonder why it may still feel tender after. Good luck!