Desperate to get rid of clogged milk ducts

[babyblue915819]

Hi everyone!

I was wondering if anyone has gone through this because I am now feeling defeated and just stressed out. I've had a clogged milk duct on my left breast on the outer left side and it's hard and big. I've tried everything possible I'm so exhausted. I've seen my doctor 3 times now and there is no sign of infection. I've had this clogged duct for a week and a half.

My question is has anyone had one for this long or even longer?

What are some remedies you have used? I've used
-heat, shower, massaging, Advil, cold pack, haka, pumping, breast feeding and I'm sure. A million other things. I'm depleted. Please help. Thanks!

The newest advice is 1% hydrocortisone cream and very light lymphatic massage. And feeding, lots of feeding! You can wipe off the cream with a wet cloth before feeding.

It really clears it up in 24h or less.

When I had my first not long ago, the advice was vigorous massage but that can make it worse so the advice changed

Have you tried putting an electric toothbrush (or, ahem, any other such vibrating device!)

Always worked for me, particularly if you do it while baby is feeding

OP I have a similar duct, always the same one and just will not shift. Dangle feeding I find effective but my baby too small to help right now, bring braless as much as possible has really helped though (I never knew with my first but the pressure of a bra / milk pads etc keeps the engagement etc there - 2 days of no bra at night has made all the difference)

Regular gentle lymphatic massage and cold compresses helped me no end last week. I found this video very helpful:

https://www.instagram.com/mamas.milk/reel/CQwRIGgn2br/

I forgot to say, also ibuprofen. Basically, if it's not infected the main thing is to try to reduce the inflammation to then allow the blockage to drain. When mine finally unblocked it was just pouring out with no stimulus or even a let down, just sheer pressure! The relief was unreal.

Are you able to get a private ultrasound? That can help clear up a blocked duct.

Old fashioned advice, but it works.
Lie baby on her back on the bed.
Go on all fours over her and allow her to feed.
Massage duct gently in direction of feeding.
As the duct unplugs the milk will spray, it will be too much for baby.
Pull away but keep in that position , ensure districts clear once the flow slows down. Gravity is your friend.

If you suffer from blocked ducts do this a few times a week as a precaution.

Also in a warm bath/shiower check all ducts are open once a day.

Are you wearing a good nursing bra?
If it is slightly too tight in one place this can cause a blockage.

Also feed baby in slightly different positions regularly to ensure baby is latched on in such a way as all ducts are cleared equally.

Good luck.

Ducts not districts! (First paragraph)

Hairbrush in a warm bath... stroke towards the nipple. (While breast underwater)

For anyone who is interested, this is the latest engorgement/mastitis protocol from the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine:

https://www.bfmed.org/assets/ABM%20Protocol%20%2336.pdf

Thank you for this. Medical research in this paper indicates that “dangle feeding” is contra indicated.
My advice is therefore out of date.
I will say that in my experience it has had good results with no detrimental effects to baby. Perhaps there is some skill involved which has been lost with the passage of time.

Just be careful with the haaka pump as it can create oversupply which can lead to blocked ducts. I hope you get this sorted soon, keep going back to the Dr if it doesn't improve

When you say you've tried hakka, do you mean you've filled it with warm water and put it on your boob so that the nipple is in the water? This helps draw out the clog. This always worked for me. Good luck x

Thank you everyone for your replies! I've tried the majority of suggestions and still hasn't come out.

Is it normal for a clogged duct to last more than a week and a half? Also there is pain in my nipple and breast but I don't have a fever at all, or redness or any crusty stuff around my nipple:

What's the longest someone has had a clogged duct for? I'm starting to get worried honestly I'm over trying to treat it nothing is helping. I'm wondering if it will ever go away!

I found expressing whilst totally submerged in a warm bath helped when nothing else would. Hope this is useful.

Wool nipple pads in your bra whenever you're not feeding

https://uk.dilling.com/product/breastfeeding-pads-in-soft-organic-merino-wool-fg-5226-0150-834?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwnei0BhB-EiwAA2xuBijSqCzmn9wiUPkUGkcdBgGFzm0qPm6oNKDPBZhWKnr_iuaTxjX_CRoCb44QAvD_BwE

In case anyone reads this in the future, if a lump continues on for more than a couple of days ask for an ultrasound. I ended up getting one done they were a little worried but it turned out to be a galactocele it had to be drained out. On the internet it says it's not suppose to hurt mine was painful. Anyways thought I would keep you guys posted. Thanks again for all the replies!