Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

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

Flip

Original poster

Blocked duct that just won't clear - masitits worry - what do I do?

21 replies

curlyLJ · 02/10/2014 09:37

I've had a blocked duct for the last 48 hours or so and it just will not clear. Tried all the usual stuff (heat, dangle feeding, massaging with comb in shower etc) but baby doesn't seem to want to feed off it properly so it's just not working. I have tried pumping and literally got less than half an ounce in 30 mins. Hand expressing was a bit more productive, but it's just not enough to clear the blockage, it just offers a bit of relief.

Last night it seemed to be developing into mastitis as it looked angry, red and was very hot. I had a temperature of 38.7 and started feeling fluey so I dosed myself up on Ibuprofen and paracetamol and went to bed fearing that i would have full blown mastitis by morning.

Anyway, I fed DD twice between 7 & 7 and although she did feed from in it her half-asleep state, it's still blocked today. Strangely, the Masistis symptoms seemed to have eased off so am not going to bother calling the GP just yet (would prefer not to have anti-b's unless I have to) but the boob is still engorged,blocked and sore.

I am worried what will happen if it won't clear...? DD is back to not feeding off it this morning as I guess the flow is not fast enough or it maybe tastes odd. I had been taking Lecithin supplements but had stopped recently as I'd had no issues for a while - I have started them again, but these are a preventative measure and not a cure for a blockage really aren't they?

What else can I do? What if it just won't clear? I've never had one for this long before.

OP posts:

1charlie1 · 02/10/2014 14:26

Hi Curly, I had a blocked duct this past weekend, and managed to clear it myself. I too did the combing, hand expressing, dangle feeding, massage etc, over a 24 hour period, to no avail. I had a white spot over the duct, which bulged when the breast was squeezed. What finally worked for me was to sterilise a pin and gently lift the skin at the side of the white spot (I had tried to use my fingernail in the shower but it hadn't worked). I did this after soaking my breast in very warm water to soften the skin. Milk immediately began to leak out and I put DS straight on for a feed. The huge lump in my breast just disappeared, it was wonderful.
A few days later and all is still well. Some dried milk is still coming to the surface from the duct but is easily removed in the shower. I do hope you manage/d to get it sorted, it's very stressful.

Original poster

curlyLJ · 02/10/2014 18:29

thanks charlie unfortunately I don't think this is a milk blister, I have a recurring one of those on the other boob and have to pop it frequently. This must be blocked deeper inside...

Most of the redness is now gone and I feel fine, but the underside of my boob is still very tender and I have a bruised feeling. It still feels a bit engorged but i guess this could be inflammation.

DD was sick this afternoon and it seemed to have bits in it that were a bit brownish in colour, as she isn't being weaned yet I am thinking maybe there has been some blood or pus in my milk - is this possible?

Am really hoping that we can clear this properly when DD has her bedtime feed this evening. I love breastfeeding but this sort of thing makes me feel like giving up sometimes. I am going to keep up the Lecithin from now on whether I have issues or not.

OP posts:

1charlie1 · 02/10/2014 19:03

Oh sorry, I understand. My breast felt very sore afterwards as well, but that was just because I had been handling it so much trying to resolve the lump. I paid for a lactation consultant this week to come and see a feed, as I was worried about a recurrence. She tweaked DS's latch quite a bit and encouraged me to take lecithin as a prophylactic.

geekaMaxima · 02/10/2014 20:11

Have you tried feeding your dd in a warm bath? It's a double whammy - the heat helps with the blockage as usual, but the bath may also relax your dd into feeding off that boob.

Even better if you have your DP or someone on hand to whisk her away after she feeds so you can hand express. I finally shifted some of my most stubborn blockages by doing that.

NotQuiteCockney · 02/10/2014 21:37

That doesn't sound like fun. Feeding with chin to lump can sometimes help. It always means feeding in a deeply goofy position, but it can work ...

HeartOfADog · 02/10/2014 22:06

Weird question but do you have or could you gets wooden shower brush like this
I find massaging the boob in the shower with this the only way to get rid of blocked ducts

HeartOfADog · 02/10/2014 22:08

Have you got a wooden shower brush like this ?

I find using it in a hot shower the only way to get rid of blocked ducts

HeartOfADog · 02/10/2014 22:09

Oops I thought the first one hadn't worked so wrote it again! I promise I'm not promoting the product. Genuine advice.

PacificDogwood · 02/10/2014 22:11

curly, you are awakening bad memories here - I had loads of problems with blocked duct but never had mastitis

Have you tried a cold pack in your bra after a feed with a warm back before a feed?
Massaging the offending area while the baby feeds?
Tried feeding with the baby's chin pointing to wherever the blockage is?

On one memorable occasion the only thing that got one of my blockages shifted was the BFing advice nurse doing the massaging for me: it was too painful for me to do myself, they had a 'no touch' policy, and I basically begged her and gave written consent for her to do this. She massaged hard while DS fed, it was very painful, but eventually it just cleared and DS almost drowned in a sudden gush of milk .

The only thing that ever cleared mine was the baby at the end of the day, but I needed heat and massaging as well.

LikeASoulWithoutAMind · 02/10/2014 22:11

I'd second the idea of feeding chin to lump if you can. I used to massage the lump at the same time too.

Hope it clears up soon OP. Not nice I know.

Original poster

curlyLJ · 02/10/2014 22:47

thanks for all the replies.

I have tried the following:
cold compress after feeding
hot compress before feeds (using a nappy filled with hot water)
massaging during feed- although this is difficult because it's kind of half the breast, not a small lump IYSWIM? it's also more underneath the breast so hard to get to whilst she is feeding!
massaging/combing in hot shower
feeding chin to lump (or lumpy side as it were)
hand expressing when she comes off

It's weird but I think the blockage has actually pretty much cleared as I could hear DD gulping away when I did her bedtime feed again (nights are the only time she properly concentrates on feeding on that boob) and I could squirt milk out when hand expressing. She still seems to have a minor dislike of that side, (but it has been her least favourite side for a while now anyway) but I just don't understand why it's still so hard, tender and sore - can it take a while for all the inflammation to go down??

Will just have to see how it goes over the next few days I guess...

OP posts:

PacificDogwood · 03/10/2014 00:30

Yes, it can take a while for all the surrounding inflammation to clear.
Keep taking Ibuprofen if you can.
And keep feeding chin to lump at that side if practical.

Sounds like you (slowly) getting there - wishing you a restful night and a more comfortable day tomorrow.

mawbroon · 03/10/2014 00:46

I used to get blocked ducts regularly with ds1 (undiagnosed tongue tie) and even after the blockage was cleared, my breast would feel "bruised" for a few days after. Not an actual bruise, but a similar feeling.

fruitpastille · 03/10/2014 00:55

It sounds like you have tried absolutely everything! I can't think of any more tips but my sympathies are with you. I hadcso many bouts of mild mastitis due to very similar sounding blockages. I must admit that I feel much better now that I have switched to formula but I really hope that you have more success than me.

Oh just one thing, I find a microwaveable wheat bag the most practical for a hot compress and a bit of coconut oil made massage more comfortable.

Haggisfish · 03/10/2014 01:01

I found applying ibuprofen gel directly to the boob was far more relieving than pills.

Flingmoo · 03/10/2014 16:54

I've had the exact same issue for the last couple of days - all the usual techniques haven't been working and it's now mild mastitis as I feel like crap and have a high temperature. As it's been over 24 hours I finally caved in and got some antibiotics from the GP although I was trying to avoid it really.

Hope you feel better soon - let us know if it goes away and whether you ended up needing antibiotics!

BelleStar · 03/10/2014 21:44

I'm in exactly the same situation. And like you I'm not sure if there's still a blockage or if it's residual inflammation or bruising from all the zealous massaging! I don't know what to do! I really don't want mastitis - like you I thought it was heading that way but it didn't develop. I'm reading and waiting with interest! I hope yours clears soon.

Original poster

curlyLJ · 03/10/2014 22:06

I think it's cleared up thankfully. Still a bit of tenderness but boob is mostly soft again. Sorry to hear you both have it too belle & mamushka, hope it also clears for you soon. So glad I didn't need anti-b's as I know I would then get thrush which I've already had twice!
Back on the Lecithin 3 times a day now as it clearly was helping - i didn't get any blockages when I was taking it.

OP posts:

Flingmoo · 04/10/2014 11:41

Does anyone know if antibiotics actually help with the blocked duct/lump itself? Now I'm on the anti-b's, fever is slowly coming down now after going up to 39.1 last night, but the lump and tenderness is still there and massaging just seems to make it even more sore!

Let's hope it just sorts itself out...

PacificDogwood · 04/10/2014 17:36

No, antibiotics will not treat the lump/blockage, just the subsequent infection.
Keep feeding, chin to lump, massage, hot/cold compresses before/after feeds etc etc.

Take regular Ibuprofen: as an anti-inflammatory is should help reduce inflammation/swelling. Of massage with Ibuprofen gel: good idea by pp - shame I never thought of that when I had all my problems.

Haggisfish · 04/10/2014 18:31

I also used to massage while feeding and once had to feed while sitting in a bath -I'd been in it while it was hot to soften blockage and then dh passed baby on when it had cooled to feed and I tried to massage at the same time!

Flip