Gaaaaaahhhhhh blocked ducts. is there anything I can do to prevent them?

[hopefully]

I seem to be incredibly prone to blocked ducts - I get at least 2-4 a week (usually one on each side).
I do the usual massage in the shower, trying to hand express, feeding more from that side until it's gone etc etc, but I can't seem to get rid of them until the pressure has built up to monumental proportions over about 2-3 days and I can barely hold DS (10 weeks) because it's so incredibly sore.
I've been lucky and haven't had mastitis (touch wood), but these blocked ducts are killing me!

Is there anything I can do to help prevent them appearing in the first place or get rid of them sooner? I am getting a sense of impending doom every time I feel the beginnings of a lump, as I know I'm in for at least 2 days of agony.

Does your bra fit properly?

Can you breastfeed in different positions?

I would also contact a breastfeeding councillor for advice.

Don't know about prevention but I had one last week and the advice on here was to stick a sterile pin in it to unblocki it. The idea is much worse than the reality and it didn't hurt at all, but if you are getting them this often I would try and see a someone about it. I think mine was probably caused by ds being a bit poorly and not latching quite right

I'm fairly confident my bras fit properly - I am wearing the soft bravado ones for ginormous people and have always been v careful with bras due to D cups from the age of 14 (FF since BF).

Feeding in rugby hold (blockage is always on the outside of the breast, so rugby hold puts DS's bottom jaw nearest to it, iyknwim) seems to cure the blockage once it's got really bad, but continuing to feed like this doesn't seem to stop it recurring a few days later.

Apparently taking lecithin which you can get from Holland and Barrett can help with reccurent blocked ducts. More info here

Never ever say "I haven't had mastitis". My left breast is burning hot and I'm feeling a bit peculiar... Wonder if I should phone docs?

littlelamb i'm highly relieved to inform you that the blockages are always deep in the breast tissue, so nothing to pop at nipple level. Eeeeeeeek at sticking a pin in!

Will try the lecithin, thanks for the link charchar.

Yes phone the doctors. Mastitis is horrible. If it clears within a day my midwife said you don't need antibiotics, but if it lasts longer - I had it for three days and it was getting worse- then you need antibiotics. I was prescribed some that you can take while breastfeeding.

But hopefully you can clear it yourself by feeding loads from that side in different positions.

I also used a flannel soaked in boiling water with ginger, that can help but my mastitis was too bad for that.

Beware of the pin! I had some white spots which assume were blocked ducts and tried sticking a pin in but only suceeded in getting a kind of hard, sore pimple on the end of my nipple! It won't budge and the milk is backing up behind it. Been there about 4 weeks. Felt like mastitis was starting, doc has given me ABs which has helped but still flaming sore!

I am EBFing btw (LO is 2) and getting to think I need to stop now. Only do 2 feeds a day but can't be doing with sore nipples now!

I've never heard of the pin thing before, sounds horrible.

The pin sound bloody terrifying!

Had a temp as well so phoned docs and have antibiotics.

Just gave myself a massive fright taking my temp again -42 degrees! And then remembered I had just had a gulp of tea

Have manuka honey to eat (crazy hippy friend recommended it), yakult to combat effects of anti-b and lecithin from H&B to avoid future blocked ducts!

Have you seen this thread? There were a LOT of suggestions on clearing blocked ducts and also some on preventing them.

Fingers crossed you feel better soon.

I have had blocked ducts a few times and it did seem they were due to a rather flattening bra (I too have big ones)and/or the sling I was wearing.You may need a bra with a more structured cup like the royce one.(bravissimo or john lewis have them).There is also a homoeopathic remedy,called phytolacca which is meant to help stave off mastitus .Ainsworths homoeopathic pharmacy would post out to you.It seemed to help me.good luck!