Blocked ducts and caked breast

[Eire1977]

Hi, just wondering could anyone shed any light on my problem. I'm on my 7th week of breastfeeding and have had 3 bouts of mastitisshudder . Five days ago i got blocked ducts and i have applied the hot compresses massages etc and had my baby nursing and I have had some relief but the area still feels a little hard. It actually feels like thin hard strings are running along the hard part; are these blocked ducts? I have always searched around for a hard lump but these hard tunnels underneath the skin have me worried! How do I get rid of them? or has anyone had blocked ducts like these?
Thanks..

I would ring one of the breastfeeding helplines if I were you and get some advice from them.
there may be a reason why you keep getting this problem (rather than just bad luck i mean!)

Agree with Eire, try this number and have a read of this too. Hope you feel better soon.

Sorry, don't know what's up with me tonight. Meant agree with thisis .

IME the hard areas could actually be blocked ducts yes. You could try applying lots of warmth (eg getting in the bath) and gently applying pressure from the bit furthest away from your nipple along towards your nipple a few times. then try a bit of hand expressing. Sometimes the milk kind of backs up along the duct and goes a bit cheesy for want of a better description. If you can express it out (looks a bit like when you squeeze a spot, or toothpaste in consistency and often a creamy/yellowy colour. There could also be 'gritty' bits) then it may help to reduce the inflammation where the milk spilling out of the duct into the surrounding tissue causes the redness.

There's a helpful BfN leaflet here.

I agree you need some RL help to try to work out what's causing the problem and support you through it.

thank you for your advice, I just called my local breasfeeding counsellor again and more vigorous massage is in order :)

Have you had any antibiotics Eire?

Some people recommend using some sort of device that vibrates to massage out the hard area- an electric toothbrush or something else maybe?

Yes i've been on antibiotics for the mastitis. I've tried a comb but not anything electric yet. Really want to be able to relax and breastfeed but it has been a rocky few weeks. If i can prevent the blocked ducts I can see myself carrying on for several months. Thanks for the advice.

You'll need at least a 10 day course of the ABs I think- otherwise it doesn't knock it on the head.

I've heard that lecithin can be good for preventing blocked ducts too. This article from Dr Sears is pretty good and mentions the dosage towards the end.