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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Me again... I can't shift this blocked duct

38 replies

SpottyTeacakes · 21/07/2013 07:18

I think I might have two on one side, either way the lump is nearly the size of my boob. I've pumped, I've fed, I've used heat and I've just skintight an hour in the bath sobbing massaging with my knuckles and a wide tooth comb and hand expressing. It's still there Sad I don't know what I'm going to do. Have also got a milk bleb on the other side which inevitably means I'm going to get a blockage that side too. I can't pierce it because it's flat. Tried scraping the skin but it just made me bleed around it. Ds won't want to feed for another three hours and when he does it'll be half heartedly Sad

OP posts:
ilikesweetpeas · 21/07/2013 07:31

Ouch, sorry I don't have a solution because you are trying all the things I know but I wanted to say I remember the pain well. Hope they unblock soon, if not maybe seek medical advice?

Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 21/07/2013 07:39

I don't know what to do and it's so painful now after all the massaging. I'm really worried it's going to turn into mastitis.

OP posts:
Knittingmamma · 21/07/2013 07:46

Where is the lump? I had one right in my nipple and the pain was horrendous. After three weeks of doctors saying "here's some more antibiotics, wait another week" I got so desperate I popped it with a sterilised needle and relief was immediate and immense! Why do you say you can't pop it because it's flat? Could you squeeze either side to raise it? I feel your pain and hope it gets better soon!

devonsmummy · 21/07/2013 07:46

Have you positioned babies chin inline with the lump when feeding?
This helps massage the duct as feeding to release the blockage.

devonsmummy · 21/07/2013 07:48

Oh & shower is good , especially of you have a shower head that has various settings (like jet blast!) as hot as you can bear

JassyRadlett · 21/07/2013 07:51

Sounds insane, but have you tried expressing while on all fours (towel underneath you?) or feeding in the same position? That cleared a couple of mine when nothing else would work.

Poor you, it's horribly painful.

Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 21/07/2013 07:51

The lump is round the whole side of my boob, tried feeding with ds's chin there, even though he hasn't fed for 11 hours (I'd pumped) he still didn't have a hard suck.

The milk bleb is just a white bit on my nipple (the other boob!) so nothing to pop or squeeze as it's just where the skin has grown over...it does it all the time.

Thanks for your replies Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 21/07/2013 07:53

X post we don't have a shower unfortunately. When I was in the bath I was doing it on all fours will try and feed ds that way when he wants feeding and try to massage at the same time. It's not easy as he's almost eight months and tries to grab/pull/pinch anything he can!

OP posts:
lagoonhaze · 21/07/2013 07:55

yep all fours and electric toothbrush.....

Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 21/07/2013 07:57

I don't have an electric toothbrush either! Sounds less painful than the comb though Grin

OP posts:
Flossie82 · 21/07/2013 08:00

I had a blocked duct last week that just wouldn't shift. My mum suggested taking vitamin c. It cleared soon after...no idea why or if it was a coincidence, but worth a try!

oohdaddypig · 21/07/2013 08:02

Do you have an understanding DH???

Go on all fours, DH beneath you, he sucks boob....

Make sure curtains are shut...

Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 21/07/2013 08:08

Hmm it would be the most action he's had in a while.... I don't think he would do it though!

Haven't heard the vitamin c one will look into it Smile

OP posts:
lagoonhaze · 21/07/2013 08:11

my friend suggested a vibrator!

CakesAreNotTheAnswer · 21/07/2013 08:18

Ok you need to try reverse pressure massage. It's the only thing that helps me.

Basically the Rosie aroundthe milk ducts gets engorged with excess fluid and expressing and feeding won't clear this so the pressure from this tissue will be squashing the ducts abd making it even harder for the milk to get through.

reverse pressure massage helps to move this fluid away from the nipples and back into the lymph glands so it can be dispersed and you can then try expressing again.

I also recovers taking a regular dose of ibuprofen (roughly 3 doses spaced over the day) as this will aid in bringing the inflammation down. cold packs can help too and make your boob a bit more comfortable.

and reverse pressure massage doesn't hurt either so you absolutely must try it. Smile

please shot if you want more info.

I volunteer as a peer supporter under an amazing midwife and she gave me all this advice for my own boobs. It made such a difference so I hope it helps you too x

CakesAreNotTheAnswer · 21/07/2013 08:23

Rosie? I meant tissue. Phone auto fill is mega unhelpful and I need to proof read

CakesAreNotTheAnswer · 21/07/2013 08:24

In fact. .. All round apologies for terrible autofill errors. Please ask for further clarification if required

Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 21/07/2013 09:42

Yes please please I really need to get it cleared!!

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CakesAreNotTheAnswer · 21/07/2013 13:57

Sorry. Only just saw this. If you Google they're are YouTube tutorials and Dr Jack Newman's website is very helpful.

Am on phone or I'd link you. But basically you want to press your flat hand against the breast with the side of your hand next to the nipple then rock it to create a rolling pressure moving away from the nipple.

Move your hand around the breast, always starting from the nipple and rolling outwards. sometimes it will be your index finger next to the nipple, sometimes your little finger depending which part of the breast you're dealing with.

Do look for the videos they demonstrate it really well. And follow all the other advice too. It cleared mine within 24 hours with no need for more anti biotics.

and try to keep expressing to a minimum or you'll just stimulate further milk production and exacerbate the problem. Get the baby to help if possible. dh if not!

Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 21/07/2013 14:12

Thank you I will definitely try it. Yep I'm not expressing but last night I only discovered it after ds had gone to bed and he sleeps through so I didn't want to go 11 hours with it...

Just fed ds and it's just as solid as before. I'm going to google now... I just can't stop getting these blocked ducts it a nightmare!

Thank you Smile

OP posts:
Thumbwitch · 21/07/2013 14:20

I second the ibuprofen for reducing inflammation and pain relief - it won't do much for the blockage but will make it easier to bear.

Good luck with getting DH to do anything - with DS1 I had a desperately painful blockage and tried to get mine to have a go at it because DS1 was too sleepy - DH had been pretending to want to have a go for weeks anywyay, but when it came to it, he couldn't actually do it. The tongue movement is quite specific and he had no idea how.

Definitely get rid of the white bleb/blister, whatever it is - they're a bloody nuisance and yes, will likely lead to further blockages.

Last time I had a bad blockage, I found expressing while boob was hanging vertically downwards did help - normally I have to ensure I'm supporting my boob with my hand so there are no areas of compression, but it wasn't good enough this time.

Are you using Lansinoh or similar on your nipples? If not, you should do that too.

I haven't seen or tried the reverse pressure massage but have taken note for future reference!

speedyboots · 21/07/2013 14:28

This is going to sounds really weird but my midwife recommended using quark (a bit like smooth cottage cheese - I think you can get it in big supermarkets) and every time it has worked really well - it's nice and cool and then DS has managed to clear the block on the next feed. Don't apply it directly - I usually wrap it in some kitchen roll. A bit out there but it has worked for me!

Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 21/07/2013 14:34

That's interesting speedyboots, I get my food shopping delivered tomorrow and it's cheap so worth a go!

Thanks Thumbwitch, DP said he would but I don't think I'd want him to! My nipples aren't painful at all, just the lumps, there's definitely two blockages on the one boob. Bloody ridiculous.

OP posts:
CrazySexyCool123 · 21/07/2013 14:34

I found that heat didn't work but made it worse as it just encouraged fluid to build up. I slept on my back for a few hours so that fluids drained away from my boobs. It gave me terrible back ache but along with pumping it did the trick for me

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