Plugged duct or start of mastitis?

[chelle85]

Last night about 7pm my left breast became very sore and engorged. I did the next two feeds on that side to try and ease discomfort. The breast feels soft but I have a patch above my nipple that is red and feels bruised and my breast feels so achy.

Also feeling really tired and a bit weak today but temperature is normal

Do I need a trip to doctor or will this ease if I just keep feeding/expressing this side?

Sounds like a plugged duct - I had this a few times with DS. Similar symptoms, then starting to feel achy and exhausted as if coming down with a bug. Each time I just kept feeding and in between expressing and/or massaging after using a hot compress (hot flannel works well) - each feed and massage was agonising but eventually cleared. On one occasion I passed out when expressing and went to out of hours doc for antibiotics but gave it a few more hours before starting them and it cleared by itself. So a long winded way of saying a plugged duct can be extremely painful and symptoms very close to mastitis so personally I would give it a bit longer treating at home - but if you get any fever then I would go straight to GP.

When massaging really dig in with your fingertips where you can feel the hard area and pull down toward the nipple. Also feeding with gravity - lie baby on floor and kneel over them - looks bizarre but works well if baby is amenable! Also drink gallons of water, as much as you can manage. Kellymom website has lots of useful info. Hope that helps, hate plugged ducts so you have my sympathy!

If your temp is normal I think you can persevere with trying to unblock it first. I found I would get a blocked duct in exactly the same place if I repeatedly fed in he same position. I tried to swap between feeding sitting up and lying down, or with them under my arm and latched onto the same side when they were still small enough. Agree with a hot flannel for a few minutes before or a hot shower with the water directed at the sore bit, then massage while baby is latched on to encourage it to clear.

Thanks. Will persevere a bit more. I've been trying to get him to feed on that side as much as possible and trying the massage and heat. I can't really feel a hard lump, more just a bruised feeling and a red patch

Do you just know when it clears? (Is it like immediate relief or would it still feel sore for a bit after?)

In my experience you do know fairly soon after, within an hour or so - still feels bruised when you touch it but much less painful and the redness and achy/tired feeling goes quickly. I know some people see the plug come out when expressing but I've never had that experience!

Hot water bottle, paracetamol and get baby's chin facing the sore patch when feeding (strongest suck).
I've never felt immediate relief... lump goes but it feels sore and bruised for another few days