I am a breastfeeding mom... well this morning I woke up and noticed my left one of my breasts was feeling sore. So I thought to myself my breast is full I just need to let all the milk out. So I fed the baby on that breast and most of my breast felt soft like it usually does after I feed but the top part of my breast still felt sore and somewhat hard. So I decided to try to pump to see if more milk would come out or perhaps if it was a clogged milk duct. Sure enough I got some milk but still sore and tough on top part of breast. Now a few hours later I tried pumping it again while massaging it at the same time. Still nothing. I'm going to try to run some warm water over it. Could t be clogged ducts? Or something worse? PLease help me?
2007-05-25 07:54:06 · 12 answers · asked by Betrayed and Insane 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
It sounds like a clogged duct. Run hot water over the area in the shower and massage it right before your baby is due for a feeding. (You can also try warm compresses.) When you nurse arrange you and your baby so that the baby's chin is pointed at the sore spot. You may need to lay the baby on the bed and then squat over the baby with your breast dangling. I know it sounds silly, and it is not the most comfortable, but it usually works. Try to do this a few times a day.
If it doesn't clear up after a few days, you develop a fever, or feel any other illness symptoms, go see a doctor. You may have an infection that requires antibiotics.
2007-05-25 08:02:09 · answer #1 · answered by Barbara C 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
That happened to me several times, and I nursed both my daughters well into their second year. You get a plugged duct, milk backs up behind it, and it gets sore and hard. It's nothing to worry about, but it does take a day or so to go away. Offer that breast to the baby first, because she is better able to clear the clog than a pump (pumping that breast can actually make it worse.) Let her nurse on the other side too (you don't want the other breast to get engorged) but try to offer her the breast with the plugged duct first.
Warm showers, (let the water beat on that breast a little) massaging the breast from the top toward the nipple to get the milk moving through the clog, and nursing on that breast are all I ever did, it will go away in a day or so. If it hasn't gone away in 48 hours, call your OB, you don't want it to turn into mastitis. But I'm telling you, this must have happened to me half a dozen times while I was nursing, and it always went away in about a day or two. I know it's uncomfortable, hang in there.
2007-05-25 09:55:26 · answer #2 · answered by Diaper Cakewalk 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've had this, it is most likely a clogged duct.
Try to have your baby nurse to where the chin is "pointing" at the plugged up area. May be best accomplished lying down, with baby's feet by your head.
You may benefit from a warm compress - the best way to do this is fill a sock with rice, tie it off and put it in the microwave for about a minute or two, till it is about as warm as you are comfortable with. Put this on your breast, then after about five minutes, start pumping, and as you pump, place FIRM pressure over the TOP of the lump/hard area, just press with the heels of your hands, into the chest wall and down towards the nipple. Press with all your might, rest a few seconds then go again. You might feel a little zing or burn when the duct clears, and then you should be able to get the milk out and relieve the pressure and pain.
2007-05-25 08:02:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yeah, It is a clogged duct, and they can and do get infected causing Mastitis. Warm compresses are a good idea, but you also need to be sure you remain really well hydrated.
A long, really hot bath can stamp out bacteria having wicked thoughts. It is important to keep your nipples especially well wiped off while you have a clogged duct too. If it gets infected you will need antibiotics and have to pump and throw away a lot of your milk. It is a pain, and reduces your milk flow enough that a lot of people quit feeding about then. It is finer if you can avoid that.
I had a really finicky duct for awhile. It ended up leaving an internal scar that is a sort of fibroid in a line. In the future people will get all wound up about it and keep sending you off for mammograms over it. It is not a bad idea to have it mapped out up front, but don't get concerned about it.
2007-05-25 08:28:29 · answer #4 · answered by Gina C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
clogged duct, try a hot compress and massage, and don't stop pumping. It can lead to mastitis, an infection of the breast. If it is not cleared up by the end of the week, or if it gets really hard, hot and red, see a dr, you may need an antibiotic. you can still nurse while the duct is clogged, and while on antibiotics.
2007-05-25 07:58:44 · answer #5 · answered by parental unit 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a clogged duct. Keep working that area to see if it will "release." If you don't see results in a day or 2, call your doctor because you could develop mastitis, and that is an infection which has much worse symptoms.
Good luck!
2007-05-25 10:00:58 · answer #6 · answered by amber 18 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Possibly could be mastitis. I would get it checked out by a doctor. That could turn serious quick.
I had some clogged ducts on one of my breasts. I just kept massaging it while my daughter nursed and it eventually went away. Very painful though.
2007-05-25 08:17:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Don't sweat it. Sounds just like a clugged duct to me. Warm water is a great help. Also, try laying a heating pad on that breat as long as possible. Massaging the breast also helps. But don't worry, doesn't sound like anything major.
2007-05-25 07:58:47 · answer #8 · answered by Carrie B 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
More than likely it is just a plugged duct which can take several days to resolve.
If you see a white blister coming out of your nipple, as painful as this may sound (it isn't that bad) you need to get it out. Pop it with a pin and then pull out as much as you can. I nearly fainted when I was told to do this, but honestly it didn't hurt much and it resolved much faster once I did it.
Here is an article on plugged ducts, treatment, and what to watch for (such as mastitis)
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html
2007-05-25 07:59:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I just had this happen a week and a half ago i just put my sons chin towards the clogged duct and messaged while he feed. i put his legs toward my back and cradled him on my side. i hope this helps it took almost a week to clear. If for any reason it doesn't clear within a week then yes call your Doctor.
2007-05-25 10:13:12 · answer #10 · answered by seekingsgang 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋