Painful blocked ducts - help!

[smcmuffin]

Terrible hard mass in front of breast. DD won't feed off it and can't get relief expressing. Any ideas?

bump

as i don';t know but someone who does will surely be along soon....!

cabbage leaves in your bra - really works. or not advisable - but I used to be able to unblock my ducts with a needle and was v. lucky enough not to infect myself!

Any old cabbage? Wet or dry? Did needle thing hurt?

Cabbage leaves is for engorgement. Try the advice on this page , it's sorted me out every time.

Basically, massage blockage towards nipple, feed as much as poss, gravity assisted feeding works well. I also found massageing and hand expressing whilst in a hot shower, heat packs, and ibuprofen for the inflammation.

hth a bit.

Apologies for crap typing, NAK!

Dry cabbage leaves. No the needle didn't hurt.
If you stand in good light (a window not overlooked of course). Then squeeze your boob - you should be able to see milk coming out of some ducts but should be able to identify the blocked one. It will be trying to get the milk out iykwim. Then just use the needle as if it were a splinter in your finger.
Also - if you get the baby to lie on the bed and you go on all fours and feed with your boob hanging down - sometimes helps too.
God motherhood is so glamourous!!

yes, massage hard from 'back' of the breast towards nipple and apply warm compresses/bath. It is very painful but if you persist it works. Feed the baby a lot from that breast, trying to position his/her chin closest to the lump (you might end up in a very weird position...). Happened to me once and the pain is very sharp, but it unblocked after about an hour of compresses/massage/feeding/expressing. Let us know how you get on.

Thanks. I'll try all these things, although perhaps holding off on the needle as yet and report back later...

I am wincing for you smcmuffin - I still remember the pain of blocked ducts 4 years on.
I used to find a warm shower & then once I had been in it a while to lean forward & press really hard from the top of the blockage downwards & press it through & then express or feed, ideally pressing along the blocked ducts again.
I found it took perseverance & strong fingers to move the blockage through.
Big sympathy.

Smcmuffin, Hangon in there.. i can totally empathise with you regarding the pain involved. You really need to be on a mission though to unblock this or it may lead to Mastitis which is 1000 times worse. I dunno if you have ever had Mastitis (i had it 4x)... it aint fun. You have received some excellent info here. Definately use warm packs or boobytubes www.breastfeedingheaven.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1 Also nurse often and from this side 1st, massage the blocked duct before and during nursing and use the techniques mentioned below as these are brill. Hope it clears up soon. Remember to rest as often as possible.> Take care xx

Excellent advice from BlueberryPancake regarding facing your baby's chin towards the blockage.

Also, Oxymoron stated Gravity feeding - i would definately try this with baby's chin towards the blockage... so your baby will be lying on his/her back and you will be on all fours! definately works wonders. I done this too and felt the benefits almost immediately.

Tracyk - re. needles, this is most scary/ridiculous thing i have ever heard..! I personally would NEVER recommend or share this info with anyone.. honestly, as this could majorly infect and worsen the problem. This is not what you want to do when trying to help people!

also try using a wide toothed platic comb, and "comb" the area from the chest towards the nipple, it really worked for me

am feeling your pain smcmuffin. i had this problem on and off for a couple of weeks and i would have a hot bath massaging the area firmly with my fist and feed from that side as much as possible. when feeding from the other side i would massage the sore breast as well (found using a feeding pillow helpful for this)
it will get better.
xx

Managed to unblock the bugger with some acrobatic feeding and lots of massage. She still doesn't want to feed from that one though so I hope it doesn't come back...

Well Done!!!

Hope it feels much better. You will need to use that breast initially for nursing to encourge your DD and also to keep the ducts clear.. IF she refuses to feed,, make sure you clear the breast fully using a pump or hand express. Keep the all fours position in mind.. Just encase.

Glad to hear from you