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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Help! What does a blocked duct feel like?

15 replies

Myrtle1 · 14/01/2007 10:07

Last night I noticed that my breast felt quite tender and hard like it was engorged but only in one area (outer middle part of breast). It feels like a big hard thickening and I tried massaging it while DS fed on it but it didn't help, then i tried expressing and couldn't get anything off and then I tried hand expressing and pushing towards the nipple and lots of milk keeps squirting out. I've been doing this now for about 2 hours but the hard lump is still there although maybe a little less hard. Does this sound like a blocked duct and how long do they take to go away? I'm worried

OP posts:
Plibble · 14/01/2007 10:12

Blocked ducts do feel like a hard lump in your breast and it does sound like you might have one.
You should put warm flannels on the lump and massage the breast very gently towards the nipple when you feed your baby.
It can take a couple of days for them to clear, so don't panic. Be very gentle when you massage the lump as otherwise it can get quite sore.
You are probably worried about mastitis (sp?) but don't stress about that yet, as loads of women get blocked ducts but don't develop mastitis. HTH

PinkTulips · 14/01/2007 10:13

join the club! definitely sounds like a blocked duct so you need to make sure to feed him as much as possible from that side (don't forget the other side either though as you'll end up blocked on 2 sides then!).

try having a hot bath or shower and lathering the boob up and massaging the blocked area quite hard to unblock it. also try feeding with ds's chin to the blocked bit (can be quite awkward but if ds will comply it does work)

i'm in agony with it as well at the minute and ds is refusing to feed from that side am off to follow my own advice now and steam in a hot shower!

Original poster
Myrtle1 · 14/01/2007 12:47

Thanks for speedy responses and advice. At least you know you are not suffering alone PinkTulips if that is some comfort. Just fed DS lying down but lumps still seems as sore and big

OP posts:
PinkTulips · 14/01/2007 12:53

Mears told me when i had mastitis at christmas that it's ok to take ibupfrofin (sp?) to alleviate the pain and swelling a little (dp en-route to chemists as we speak!)

it does take a few days unfortunately... i found starting the feed on that side every time and switching to the other side when ds gets too cross and frustrated helped keep the pressure down a bit... you'll find it proably gradually eases rather than suddenly reducing down.

and definitely try the chin to lump feeding as much as possible... i did it with dd when she was little and it does work. ds refuses to latch on upside down though!

babypowder · 14/01/2007 20:31

I found that the best thing was to hold the shower head against the blockage and massage really gently (not like expressing) Feeding straight after this cleared the blockage.

It's a real bugger, though - sorry you're going through it

Original poster
Myrtle1 · 14/01/2007 20:39

Babypowder, did it take a while for the whole blockage to go down and the soreness to go away?

OP posts:
babypowder · 15/01/2007 10:30

Myrtle - I'm so sorry I didn't get back to you last night. All it topok was the one session with the shower and a long feed. I had tried the hot compresses the night before, but they made no difference at all. My MW suggested a hot bath and massage if the shower didn't work.

Rellay hope you're OK today.

LIZS · 15/01/2007 10:34

It does sound like it . Try alternating hot and cold on that area in the shower/bath , with flannels or sports packs/breast nurse gel packs. Also feed as frequently as you can and switch position on that side during the feed to try and clear it through.

PinkTulips · 15/01/2007 10:43

how are you feeling today myrtle?

Highlander · 15/01/2007 11:07

it's impt you do take an anti-imflammatory. Ibuprofen is wonderful (400-800mg) if you are OK with it.

I'm prone to them and they usually are clear within 48 hours. Don't express too much as you are basically telling your body that you need more milk, which blocks up the ducts....... Express to allieviate pain, feed as normal.

Original poster
Myrtle1 · 15/01/2007 12:36

Hello,
Babypowder don't worry about not getting back to me last night
Feeling ok today but it is still a bit tender. It feels looser but I can still feel a big mass furthest away from the nipple and the bit closest to the nipple has almost cleared. DS fed on it earlier but always seems to come off that breast crying and a bit frustrated.

PinkTulips, how are you today? Any improvement?

Highlander, I will take an ibuprofen. Is there a best time to take it eg. after a feed? or will it not affect the milk?

Thanks for all your replies I love Mumsnet.

OP posts:
Highlander · 15/01/2007 12:42

myrtyle - Ibuprofen is fine for BF.

Personally, I take last thing at night and first thing in the morning. It's at night I find the pain is worse.

floraflora · 15/01/2007 12:56

Hi Myrtle - have you tried gently stroking your breast with a hairbrush (plastic not bristles!) towards the nipple? I had it twice last summer and panicked but that helped to clear it remarkably easily. Can't remember if I brushed while feeding - think I might have done - think DS got a bit of a brushed nose a couple of times. It worked a treat though.

floraflora · 15/01/2007 12:58

Oh and try to make sure you get a really good latch so babe is draining as many ducts as poss. I know its hard when you are sore though.
xxx

PinkTulips · 15/01/2007 13:06

good today... still bruised feeling but i took an ibrupfen and waited til it kicked in bit and fed ds from that side for as long as i could. he managed to unblock most of it thank god.

hope your eases soon too

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