How do I unplug a clogged milk duct?

Question

I am a nursing mom to a 4 month old baby. He has been sick with a bad case of Bronchitis and is refusing to nurse. He will take a bottle of breastmilk in small amounts, gets rigid if he even suspects that I am bringing him towards my breast. Now I have a very sore area on my right breast from the nipple all the way up almost to my collar bone. I have been applying heat before and after pumping, but still in a lot of pain. Anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

I had mastitis. A combination of stuff worked. Doctors try to see if it will clear up on its own, generally, before going to meds. What I did:
Nursed the baby first on that side, trying to position her so her chin was where the clog was. However, this doesn't seem to be an option for you. No worries; you have a pump. (PS. one reason the baby might not be nursing, in addition to the bronchitis, is that the inflammation of the milk glands can cause the milk to taste salty!)
Secondly, take a bath, and run some hot water (as hot as you can stand without scalding yourself) onto a washcloth. Place the washcloth over the clogged duct for a few minutes, and massage gently. ALTERNATE with COLD compresses. This will help relieve some of the pain. Sounds counterintuitive, but the combo works.
Third if you have a pump (luckily I did) pump as often as possible, even if you're not getting any milk. No more than twenty minutes at a time, however; you don't want tortured nipples.
Don't sleep on your stomach if you are doing so; it compresses the breast and encourages a clogged duct.
Take acetominophin (sp?). It's perfectly safe during breastfeeding, and will relieve some of the pain, which will help your body to fight any infection that could occur.
You can also take lecithin 3-4 times a day, which is safe during breastfeeding, and helps to prevent and treat clogged ducts
Please keep track of your symptoms; if you develop a fever, flu like symptoms, etc. it could be turning into mastitis and *may* require medication (mine didn't, but I was vigilent about hot/cold compresses, pumping, and massage). Generally (these are guidelines), antibiotics are not needed if the fever is not rising, there isn't a history of mastitis, you're not getting progessively sicker in a matter of hours, etc. If you have a rising fever, feel increasingly sick (ie. flu-like symptoms), and have cracked nipples, you will probably get anti-biotics. The reason for this is that some mastitis is just caused by situational factors, and some is caused by bacteria. If it's the first, antibiotics won't do a thing, anyway, and if it's the second, they're generally necessary to prevent an abcess.
Good luck. Take care of yourself!

Answer 2

First off, call TOMORROW and get into see your OBGYN. You can end up with Mastitis and that is PAINFUL. Believe me. When my first was 8 weeks old, I was too embarassed (I was 19) to nurse her on an airplane, and the plane was delayed. By the time I got home, I was engorged and had a clogged duct. I was given antibiotics that were safe for my baby and CONTINUED nursing as I healed. Tonight, while you are waiting to go into the doctor tomorrow, apply some warm wash cloths/compresses. This will help open the duct, reduce the swelling and the pain. Also try massaging the area, from the outside in towards the nipple. Also, try varying the way you hold the baby. Try the football hold. I hope this helps! Good luck! And congrats on that new little angel!

Answer 3

Hot compresses as often as possible. Use a hot wet washcloth or even a heating pad wrapped with a towel. Heat will help a great deal.
Try nursing in different positions. Side lying, football hold or even with baby sitting on your leg. Also, try to gently massage the area while in the shower. It might be uncomfortable; but not nearly as uncomfortable as mastitis.
Nurse, nurse, nurse! The best way to unclog a plugged duct is to completely empty the breast as often as possible.
Be sure your baby is always emptying the breast at a feeding. If not, try pumping afterwards.
Take your temperature, often. If you begin to run a fever, mastitis may be coming on. In most cases you will need an antibiotic to fight a breast infection.

Answer 4

There is a combination of things you can do to help. Take a hot shower and have the hot water hit the clogged area. You can rub the hard area to to loosen it up. Try putting your baby on the breast with his chin toward the clogged area. Also buy some cabbage leaves break the leaves and put directly on your skin. The juice in the cabbage leaves relieves the pain and helps unclogged milk duck. Good luck.
Also is you start having flu like symptoms and a fever you could have mastitis which is a infection in your milk duct, and you will need antibiotics.

Answer 5

Take a hot shower in the morning and let the hot water beat down on your breast and massage with your hands- even extract some milk. Taking a hot bath and doing this will help, also. Massage downward toward the nipple with your thumb to move the clog through. Keep letting the baby nurse and pump after each nursing session.

Answer 6

If you are able to get milk out of your breast by pumping your milk duct is not clogged.
If it were clogged your breast would also be swollen filled with milk. For the baby to all of a sudden refuse your breast could mean something isnt right. I would get to your doctor first thing but If no milk comes out then try massaging it gently and ask your hubby to do you a favor and gently suck on your breast to help unclog it. Pumping and sucking even though end up with the same results it is alittle bit different since the pump doesnt massage the nipple while it sucks. Either way its fixable so dont stress.

Answer 7

Sounds like mastitis to me too. Try to manually empty the breast if the baby won't nurse or the pump doesn't do a thorough job.

Years ago I learned to use a parsley poultice to clear up breast infections. It worked like magic.

Make sure the baby can breath so that he can nurse. Get him back on as soon as possible.

Answer 8

I had this problem after having my second child. My OBGYN sugested CABBAGE. I know it sounds weird but it really worked for me. Just take a leaf off the cabbage and soak it in warm water then place it on the breast (it's a perfect fit - same shape)
and the salt in the cabbage will help losen the blocked milk duct.
The pain will go away! Beast of luck and congradulations.

Answer 9

Sounds like mastitis. Apply hot moist heat. (hot shower, hot wet towel, soak breast in pot of hot water) You may need an antibotic - I suggest calling the doc for a prescription.

I read somewhere that applying cabbage leaves dries up the milk supply.

Answer 10

To help ease the pain try applying cold cabbage leaves to the breast, tuck them inside your bra...it may sound funny but it works...they even use it in the hospitals here in Australia. Keep expressing and massage the lump when in the shower...if all else fails see your Doc.