Blocked milk duct - help!!

[Chulita]

I've got a blocked duct, started yesterday and is freaking painful. Came out of the blue but I can't shift it. I've fed DD about 5 times off it, expressed, hot compresses, massage but it's not shifting and it really hurts argh! It's on the top side of the boob so I try pointing DD's chin towards it but at 6mths she finds it funny and giggles instead of sucking!
Any more ideas? Had mastitis once and don't want it again and of course it's a bank holiday weekend so if it does get infected it's a wait for the doctor's...

I have a blocked duct every time I ovulate and by god it hurts. You have to find what works for you. I avoid expressing and hot compresses as personally find that they just make more milk and compound the problem. I worked out after a lot of trial and error that letting dd feed A LOT on that side was the only thing that shifted it and compressing/massaging the duct while she fed. Have you tried combing? Some people swear by it? Are you taking an anti-inflammatory?

I truly sympathise. Horrid bloody things. Kellymom's blocked duct info's quite good too. Don't panic yet, my last one was 4 days and was convinced that mastitis was inevitable. It wasn't.

Ouch, I sympathise too. Top dose ibuprofen (if you're OK taking it), frequent feeding on that side, rest if you can and I think hot baths help me sometimes too. My last one was also a 4 day battle (usually they settle within 24 hours) - I think the ibuprofen really helps.

Seriously feels like I've slammed my boob in a door...DH came over all loving yesterday and asked what was up...hah!! Very hard to concentrate on snogging when your boob's ready to explode
Might try combing, seriously nothings coming out of it expressing/feeding. I can see the bit that's blocked but nothing wants to squeeze out!!

Any better yet?
When you say you can see the bit that's blocked, could this be of any help?
Hope it settles down very soon

Yes I have had the same thing as Montifer linked to - when I could see the relevant teeny hole where the milk ought to be coming from, I could eventually scratch out a tiny crystal with the tip of my nail - followed by a huge surge of milk.

Also I found that feeding in another position e.g. underarm rugby type hold eased things up a bit.

Hope that helps! It's awful!! poor you!

Thanks montifer, last night I managed to clear it (with a little help from dh , had to scrape the skin off). I didn't get a massive spray but did spend about 40 mins keeping the pressure up and it finally got most of it out. Today dd seems to be able to get stuff out of that area. buttercup, I used to do the underarm hold when dd was tiny but she finds it so odd now, she spends the whole time wondering where she is and not enough time sucking!!
Thanks for your help!

Glad it's cleared. It's such a relief to unblock it. I always feel bruised for a couple of days but glad it's over. Those beatific pictures I see in glossy magazines of serene women bfing have little to do with the reality.