Clogged duct

[isabellef]

Has anyone else has a clogged duct before? I’m a first time mum and breastfeeding. i’ve just felt a lump in my boob it’s quite sore and there’s pain going up to just below my armpit, i’m almost 100% sure it’s a clogged duct. I’m going to try the epsom salt hack tomorrow but i’m just so scared i’m going to get mastitis or something worse is going to come of if. Has anyone had one before and got any tips/does a clogged duct always turn into mastitis im just so confused and worried about it all!

Yes I had a few, nasty things.

You need to deal with it and not ignore it sorry! The sooner you sort it the easier it is, they just get worse if you leave them and that’s when mastitis can kick in. You really don’t want mastitis!

Best bet is to get into a hot bath, or shower if you don’t have a bath, submerge your boobs in the hot water and then massage the lump really hard. It will hurt I’m afraid, a LOT, but grit your teeth and keep going - take painkiller if you need it but I can’t remember what’s allowed when BF. Push from the outer edge of the lump towards the nipple, as if expressing milk. Some people say use a wide tooth comb, but that’s even more sore and I never found it helped more than using fingers. Eventually you will feel the lump start to soften and it will be less sore, some stuff may come out of the nipple (but not always). You need to get to that softening point and ideally keep going until the lump is pretty much gone.

Some people seem to be more prone to blockages than others. If you find you keep getting them there is a supplement that helps. hang on I will look it up. Also wearing a too tight bra or sleeping on the same bit of boob the whole time makes them more likely, as does your baby dropping feeds or reducing the amount they take.

Good luck!

The supplement is lecithin info here However that won’t help with the existing blockage, it’s to prevent getting more. Only if you find you seem to be prone to them though.

Blocked ducts are very common while mastitis is much rarer. I certainly had them. I found the best advice was to gently massage the lump towards the nipple while your baby feeds. That worked for me.

Thank you so so much for your advice!! i'm such an anxious person i'm just so scared i'm going to get ill with mostitis i'll try anything to get it gone

Kelly mom website, really great and covers everything x

Good advice there from minipie.

I would add, keep feeding from the blocked duct side as much as you can. A good tip is to lean forward so your breast is hanging down and get the baby to latch on like that, it's a different angle for feeding that can help drain the blockage.

If it doesn't clear and you start to feel unwell get to your GP straight away. It's astonishing how quickly mastitis can come on, it's like fluey symptoms. If it does, you'll need antibiotics.

Oh yeah forgot about feeding!! 😆😳 Of course feeding helps clear it too, especially if you massage while feeding. You can also put a heat pack in your bra while feeding to help it soften up.

Everything PP has written. I used to find the very best way was to do the hot water boob dunking (it's all glamour!) & massage then immediately feed hungry baby from a different position from usual preferably downhill & massage like crazy.

usually horribly uncomfortable then an almost audible "pop" feeling then milk everywhere, fairly cross baby & far more comfortable me!

hope you sort it soon - FWIW I had blocked ducts & blebs fairly regularly over a decade but never got mastitis

oh switch to a different bra too if you've worn the same style for a few days.

The advice I was given was get your partner to suck it out 🙈 Fucking bleurgh.