Blocked duct PLEASE HELP!

[Coffeeandafag]

Sorry for caps, desperate!

I had a blocked duct complete with bleb(!) Friday, which I managed to remove/ease. However, it has gradually been building up again and now is incredibly painful and engorged in a big lumpy line. My breast has got a red patch on it. There is no obvious bleb. I've spent the day feeding, doing hot compresses, dangling breast into hot water(!), massaging with hand and with a soapy comb. It's just getting more backed up and painful.

What can I do? It's so sore now and the pressure is immense.

You poor thing, I remember the feeling - ugh!

The only technique that ever helped me was have the baby feed++ with his chin pointing to where the blockage was.
Warm compress.
Firm massaging from periphery to nipple before feed.
Some hand expressing if the nipple was too engorged.
The get baby to feed with his chin directed to the blockage (I once famously dangled DS3 upside down over my shoulder; also I once fed lying down in a 69 position ).
Then cold compress after the feed.
Take Ibuprofen if you can.
And take a lecithin supplement - I had LOTS of blocked ducts and wish I had known about lecithin earlier.

Oh, if the red patch does not go down or if you start feeling feverish/sick/ill seek urgent medical help.

You have my sympathy. I found that whilst ibuprofen and feeding after hot showers with a firm massage and scrub of the flannel on the bleb (!!) helped a bit, with the reoccurring blocked ducts, only a visit to gp and some antibiotics would actually shift it. I then started taking this lecithin supplement and it seemed to help a lot. www.naturesbest.co.uk/mobile/soya-lecithin-capsules-1200mg-p511/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwyZjKBRDu--WG9ayT_ZEBEiQApZBFuAH0pLX-lrq0s0c1fN8FJe-9NRkpMyWgFbgDIE79NQAaAv858P8HAQ

Best of luck

Thank you - so pleased to get some replies as I wasn't sure how busy this section is.

It's dc3 and she's 7 months now so not sure why it's started happening. I'll go to gp tomorrow if it's no better, I'll keep trying until then. I'll check out that supplement, thank you

Anyone else recommend lecithin? I had 3 bouts of mastitis in 6 weeks and desperately want to have a go bf with my 2nd. I remember being on all fours trying to clear a blocked duct and dc nearly choking when it released the blockage. I'm bloody dreading that bit but I'll give it another whirl.

Here is Kellymom on lecithin

Have you tried dangle feeding? Your 7 month old will think it's hilarious and I've heard lots of people say it's very effective.

I used to get them a lot with dc1 and using a breast pump while massaging firmly usually shifted it, but he wasn't the most efficient feeder - a baby feeding efficiently will clear a blockage better than a pump, usually.

Good luck!

Itsjustaphase, that many bouts of mastitis and blocked ducts would suggest to me the baby isn't draining the breast efficiently, and the latch could be improved. By all means try lecithin, but do also try to get face to face breastfeeding support to get the best latch you can.

I had so many bouts of mastitis with my 4dcs.

I kept a white cabbage in the fridge and would put a couple of large leaves down my bra! I know it sounds like a really strange thing to do, but it took the heat out of the sore breast and helped a lot.

I also had to have a lot of antibiotics.

If you start to feel feverish or disorientated go and get help straightaway.

I hope you feel better soon.

Use a warm compress, best thing is a disposable nappy! It holds lots of water and stays warm a lot longer than a cloth! Looks ridiculous though!

Dangle feeding and massage really helps while you are feeding. Also running a wide tooth comb over the area as well while you feed.

If you can bear it, scrub your nipple with a hot flannel before feeding/expressing. It did the trick for me several times when nothing else would.

Soaking boobs in super hot bath then try pumping straight after. lettuce leaves in bra helps too. Also weirdly sliced potatoes soaked in cold water left in fridge then applied to red patches on boobs helps (It was a google tip, I was desperate!) Think the starch does something. Good luck.

My HV said heat and to comb the breast with a wide toothed comb (towards the nipple). Drags less than massage apparently.

Dipping my boobs in really hot water & Epsom salts before feeling sorted out a few blebs for me.
I hope you find relief soon. Do get yourself to the gp if there is any sign of infection.

Tmi advice, but your baby is not the only one in the family with a mouth. Your dp could clear the duct in about three hard sucks, dangle feed style plus massage towards the nipple at the same time, if you can bear the idea. In the end, that was my goto solution for blocked ducts back in the day - saved days of discomfort

Second the scrub with a flannel and (if you can bear it) taking a sterile needle to the bleb, as bloody awful as it sounds. Intrigued by namey's suggestion though, keeping this one in my armoury for next time out of sheer desperation (I had SO MANY milk blisters)

Thank you SO much everyone. I did use a needle last time, was really hoping for a satisfying spurt, but no!

I'll keep trying, did dangle feeding earlier. It's just not shifting despite the constant massaging etc. I can see lumps like peas through my red skin

Sticking a needle into my nipple is something I NEVER would have imagined I'd do, for any reason, ever.

I was a bit embarrassed to mention that I had to resort to dh unblocking my ducts a few times too!

I hated him doing and I don't think he liked it much either! But it worked and when you're desperate, it's any port in a storm.

How are things today, Coffee?

Sorry, busy day yesterday. It was much better by the morning. I massaged it loads in the night, plus fed the baby by dangling over her!! Not sure what helped but it had moved through and is now completely gone. Hooray!

Bit paranoid about it now though, think I'll get some lecithin. Thanks so much all.

So glad it's cleared.
I was also paranoid when I got it repeatedly.
I also used lecithin and think this helped.

It's back 😭

The bleb has grown back, ffs

:( sorry to hear this. Had masititis when ds was new born and was enough to put me off. blocked duct sounds awful. Can't believe you can still have these problems after 7 months of bf-ing. It's not fair.

I know, not fair!

My older two were EBF and I didn't have this problem so I don't know why it's happening now.

Not sure whether I ought to get some help (GP? HV?) or just keep treating it at home. So tedious.