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.

Ah, sorry to read your update.

Seek help from a knowledgable BFing expert - whoever that might be. There is NO BFing training anywhere in medical/GP training btw so it is very hit and miss what GPs advise (I can say that - I am one ).
La Leche Legue may have a local group close to you? Or contact the hospital where you had him for contacts to their BFing advisor. Some areas have community based BFing advisors (again, in all honesty, my contact with them has been v variable - from fantastic to worse than useless).

It is quite common for blocked ducts/glands/mastitis to rear its ugly head at the 6+ months mark because most babies will take to eating more solids and may start taking less milk thereby causing 'back-log' problems.

Get feeding from that side again, chin to bleb - that is if you are keen to carry on

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

It may be that he does not latch that well on that side for whatever reason, that's why some RL face-to-face would be useful. Somebody who knows what they are looking for should watch you latching him on and feeding him and then they may be able to help.

It could be the weather. I got my first blocked ducts when DS1 was about 6 months old and we were in Australia in summer. Are you hydrated enough? I've found dehydration was a risk factor for me.

My best solution has always been shower as hot as bearable on the affected boob and express from all angles while doing breast compressions. Quite a contortionist approach....