Help! I Have a Blocked/clogged Milk Duct for the THIRD time...help!

Celsea,
What Teresa suggested was the ONLY thing that finally unclogged my very painfully blocked duct. At 4 months I was just miserable because my duct wouldn't unblock. I took the hot shower, did the massage, then had hubby do some super-sucking action. (He is the one that suggested it, btw.) We actually heard the "pop" as the duct cleared! I would strongly recommend that you do some breast massage in the shower nightly (if you are lucky enough to get one every night. /grin). That might help keep ducts clear. I went on to BF for 27 months.

I have only been breastfeeding for 3 months but have had 3 clogged ducts just this past month. My doula told me that when you are stressed they can clog. I think this is true...but I also noticed that I wasn't drinking enough water during those times. So my 2 cents are: drink water and relax as a prevention method.
Also, when you have a clog duct sleep on your back until they clear. And since you have had antibiotics make sure you increase your probiotic intake for your baby to get.
Good luck and stick with breastfeeding as long as you can!

Hello C.,
So sorry to hear about your pain...I know how bad it can be. This is gross, but it may help where other things have not. I don't know how open your hubby is. But what my husband would do for me, is after I took a warm/hot shower, he would help me with a massage in the area effected and then he would help me extract the milk( if you know what I mean) He had the suction power that the baby and the pump did not. Of course this may not work, because a infection can cause this blockage to happen over and over again. But if your both willing to try it, it can't hurt anything, or at least anymore then you already do....

I had this happen several times these past 7 months. It sucks. Don't wear a nursing bra that has underwire, I've been told this can aggravate or cause blocks. Elle McPherson makes a great bra without underwire you can get at Nordstrom's. Also, when massaging, don't be gentle. I had to really manhandle myself and it hurt like hell. If you aren't pumping, get a hospital grade pump. If your baby isn't sucking hard enough the pump may help get you unclogged. Anytime I went an extended period without pumping or feeding, I started to get clogged. I never thought to ask Hubby to unblock, I think he might have freaked out! LOL

Don't give up, I stopped having so many issues after month 4 but if you do stop, don't beat yourself up. Breastfeeding has made me torture myself so much because I would hate myself if I didn't do it, but I had SO many problems from milk supply to bleeding nipples to pumping 5 times a day and mastitis that it was hard to keep with it too.

Breast is best but kids do just fine on formula, too. You are a good mom no matter what you chose.

I know how much pain you are in but when you are feeding your son lean forward (your milk will flow faster) grasp your breast and gently squeeze the duct that continually gets clogged. This will make sure this duct will completly empty. Do this every time you feed for at least a week and then gradually stop. Hopefully this will work. I feed my first baby for 11 1/2 months without introducing any food and continued on for another several months until I was in my second trimester with my second son. Don't give up an d good luck!

Hi C.-
I had recurring clogged ducts with my first child- it was miserable, as you know! My husband also helped but not with the suction- I never thought of that or would have tried it! My husband thought of using a sterilized pin to poke my nipple after I became so miserable the first few times. He had to be real gentle of course but somehow it opened up the flow and then I would pump with my manual pump and gently rub out the clogged duct and feel it going down. I'm sure this would not be recommended (could cause infection??) and maybe a doctor should be asked about it first. But, it was a last resort for me and was the only thing that would relieve the block and the pain. Just thought I would share. Good luck to you!

I have not had mastitis but I have had clogged milk ducts several times. I have gotten clogged from sleeping on one side too long because I am more full at night and early morning. My lactation consultant recommended taking lecithin capsules. I got them at a health food store. I'm sorry I can't remember the dose. I bought 1200 mg capsules and took 2-3 several times a day. This along with warm compresses and frequent nursing/pumping always helped me. Double check with le leche league on the dose. Good luck

The only thing that I know works that hasn't already been suggested is make sure you are not always feeding your child in the same position/hold. If you always use the same position, only some of your ducts get compressed, so they never fully empty wich can cause the clogged duct and infection. Alternate between holds so that all the ducts get compressed. My children always balked at first when I tried to change positions, but if they are hungry enough, they don't care how you are holding them. I always had problems on one side since my kids both had a favorite side, so make sure you are offering the problem side first at each feeding and letting your son completely empty the problem side before offering the other side. Good luck. It is possible to get past this. I had lots of problems with my second child between 4-8 months, but it was smooth sailing after that and I was able to continue to nurse until she was 15 months.