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Infant feeding

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

Blocked milk duct - advice needed on how to shift it

11 replies

frankietwospots · 18/07/2012 21:10

Hi all, I am BF my six and a half month old and have a blocked milk duct. The lump is huge ? about the size of my palm ? and is rock hard and painful. I?ve had blockages before but the affected area was much smaller and was usually fixed in a day. I?m two days into this one and have been doing all the things you?re supposed to e.g. massaging towards the nipple, combing it, using hot flannels, feeding as normal etc.. Is there anything else I can be doing to shift it? I?m wondering if it?s connected to me starting weaning 3 weeks ago. I don?t feel unwell so don?t think it?s mastisis. Also, I?ve heard that expressing can be counterproductive as it can increase supply and thereby make the blockage worse. How should I be massaging it? Do I need to be quite rough and ?lift? the lump up and around? Any graphic advice would be much appreciated? I can?t help thinking that the lump is something more sinister as it is sooo much bigger than any blockages I?ve had before. Has anyone gone to their GP/health visitor about this issue and what did they advise?

OP posts:
TheMysteryCat · 18/07/2012 21:20

Blocked Ducts Info

The above link to kellymom has a lot of tips and info for treating blocked ducts.

it will also help you to understand if you need to contact HV or GP

Whiteshoes · 18/07/2012 21:22

Not sure I'm going to be of much help, but can you feed off that breast straight after a hot shower and massage it while baby is feeding? I found that more effective than hot flannels, although I would also continue to do that too.

Have your periods restarted? I got super lumpy in the run up to my newly restarted periods.

I think it's extremely unlikely to be anything bad. Extremely unlikely. Could be a cyst though. I get them quite regularly. You can get them drained if they bother you. But I think my money is defs on blocked duct. Keep massaging and I hope the breastfeeding boffins follow me with better advice.

Whiteshoes · 18/07/2012 21:23

Ah ha. The breastfeeding boffin got there before me!

frankietwospots · 18/07/2012 21:27

Thanks MysteryCat - that is a super helpful site!

OP posts:
frankietwospots · 18/07/2012 21:29

Nope, no sign of periods yet Whiteshoes but good to know. Will try the hot shower then feed idea. Thanks!

OP posts:
TheMysteryCat · 18/07/2012 21:30

boffin!

Fellow sufferer is more like it!

it is painful, but relatively easy to shift.

Crimebusterofthesea · 18/07/2012 21:31

I had a blocked duct when DS was about 3 weeks old - it was a stubborn thing to shift. Sounds like you are doing all of the right things - when it comes to massaging, I have to say that I was quite brutal - some would probably call it pummelling rather than massage but a lighter touch just wasn't doing anything! I found that doing this whilst in the bath with my boob actually under the water helped, but I'm sure that feeding often from that side was what did it in the end. I was also told to put cold cabbage leaves in my bra to soothe, but this was anecdotal and I'm not sure whether this is actually proven to be effective. I hope you get it sorted soon.

mawbroon · 18/07/2012 21:51

Dangle feeding usually worked for me. I think it's mentioned in TheMysteryCat's link.

frankietwospots · 19/07/2012 09:28

Thanks for all your suggestions! Quick update - my little boy sucked the living daylights out of my boob last night so the blockage has now gone. Yay! Never have I been so pleased to get up to feed in the night :-)

OP posts:
mawbroon · 19/07/2012 09:54

great Grin

TheMysteryCat · 19/07/2012 10:31

hurrah! hurrah! glad it's gone.

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