Blocked Duct / Sudden Low Supply

[ChesterCake]

My DS is 11 weeks and EBF.

We've had a few ups and downs with breast feeding due to oral thrush but it seemed to be going really well apart from that.

I normall have a huge supply of milk, fast let down and very leaky! But on Tuesday morning I woke up with a very very sore right brest on Tuesday and a hard lump about the size of a coke bottle lid.
I've tried feeding on the right as much as possible as well as pumping but the lumps just got bigger, the blockage hasn't cleared but the pain has gone.

DS doesn't seem to be getting much if anything from the right now, I can only get a few drops pumping or hand expressing.

Now the left breast doesn't seem to be filling him up or satisfying him! He has had very many wet nappies, his soft spot is quite sunken and his dirty nappies are a consistency of damp sawdust (sorry!).

I saw the health visitor and she advised to massage the lump (which is now about the size of a pingpong ball) and go to the gp if I get a temp and go fluey,

But I've been doing this since Tuesday! I don't know what to do and I'm really worried DS isnt getting enough :(

Does anyone have any advice?

Oh, poor you! Blocked ducts are dreadful.

Lots of heat has really worked for me. A bit unorthodox, but fill a disposable nappy with hot water (from the tap) and put it over the breast, it holds the heat much better. Lots and lots of massage, hot showers and try feeding the baby in different positions too to try to unclog it.

My most memorable blocked duct came unstuck while massaging and expressing under a hit shower, actually could see the little hard blockage coming out through my nipple, had to pull it out (tiny ouch) and the jet of milk behind it hit the opposite wall.

If you're worried that your baby is dehydratednid go straight to the GP for advice. Make sure you're drinking lots and lots of water. But you can definitely feed a baby from just one breast, as my mate who ebf twins will tell anyone who asks!

Also remember that at around this point your milk supply is settling down so your breasts won't feel as hard/full.

Good luck!