Blocked/clogged milk ducts during pregnancy

[HelloThere9625689]

Hello all, I'm new here and having a strange issue that my doctor has not been much help on. I told her at my appointment a week ago that one of my nipples looked weird and was more sore than usual (it looked... lumpy? Is the best way I can describe it) and she told me I have blocked ducts and to massage and apply warm compress. Well I've been doing that daily for a week now, 3 times a day, and the only thing that has changed is the nipple is even MORE sore now.

I checked back in and told my doctor today and she suggested I just keep doing what I'm doing and tell her if my breast turns red/inflamed. I am 32 weeks pregnant, so I'm not pumping or breastfeeding yet to help... I'm getting worried this will cause me to not be successful in trying to breastfeed. Has anyone ever had success in clearing one of these blocks while pregnant?

Take Lecithin tablets. Sorted my recurring clogged ducts. Otherwise feed feed feed and massage, hot bath, an electric toothbrush, go on knees so boobs are dangling while you try to express so gravity helps.

Oh sorry saw you haven't given birth yet! I would go back if it isn't clearing to be sure it isn't something else. I had a cyst that went huge when pregnant due to hormones.

Starcaller- lecithin, got it. I will get those! Now as far as feeding - I am 32 weeks pregnant with my first child so I am not there yet, would be so much easier if baby was here and he could just suck the clog right out! Should I be trying to express in some other way? This is all new to me

It's an odd one - I never had blocked ducts when pregnant so I'd want to be sure it was that. Breast tissue can change a bit in latter stages but it shouldn't be painful, although my nipples did change appearance wise and felt more bumpy.

Is it just your nipple itself or can you feel anything hard or lumpy in the surrounding area? Have you tried just lanolin or similar on the nipple in case it's just surface irritation?

They generally say not to express before around 37 weeks as it can help to trigger labour.

I'd maybe ask your midwife too – they often know more about weird pregnancy body stuff than GPs as that's their speciality!

What makes you sure it’s a blocked duct?? I’m pregnant too, 34 weeks, and my nipples are unrecognisable as my own 😂 I’d have absolutely no idea if I had a blocked duct. They are sensitive/sore sometimes but no idea what’s going on with them really. Are you already expressing and it’s stopped? What are the symptoms you have that specifically make you think blocked duct? I know next to nothing but I’d be surprised if your milk has come in at 32 weeks so why would it be blocked now? Xo

Well, so to give a little more detail... my doctor diagnosed the issue by squeezing my nipple as hard as she could at my appointment. Stuff came out when she did that. Lol. It was VERY unpleasant!!! Yes the whole nipple is hard and swollen and I can see small white dots deep within. She did confirm the issue is a few blocked/clogged ducts. I am using lanolin on the nipple a couple of times a day as well along with my compresses.

Ah could be milk blebs. Sometimes you can gently scrape the skin over the white head and it will release the blockage.

This might be helpful: kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/nipplebleb/