OUCH OUCH OUCH plugged duct

[BlessedMommy]

I have a very painful lump on my left breast, pretty sure that it's a plugged duct. I've tried massaging it and nursing on it and it's not going away. Well, temperorarily it got smaller but then the baby got the bright idea to go 5 or 6 hours without nursing last night. Why did she have to pick last night? Usually she nurses every couple of hours around the clock and all of a sudden she decides to sleep a whole bunch right when I need her the most. [rofl]

Anything else that I haven't tried yet?

[kanaclark]

do you have a breastpump? if so, what I done was to get into a shower as hot as I could stand it, let the hot water fall onto my breasts, (they tell you to avoid this, b/c the heat is stimulating) and pump in the shower sometimes I would do it twice a day. It helped a bit.

[Ashlee]

Try changing the position you nurse in. I had a clogged duct with ds.. it took a couple days to sort it out but I think that nursing him in the football position worked for me.. but I guess it depends on where its clogged.

[4Angelz]

This happens to me all the time when I begin nursing my newborns. You could wet a cloth with hot water... yes hot, but not burning :) and use it as a compress on your breast. Massage your entire breast... begin to pump with a breat pump and while pumping, massage the specifically where the lump is. I know it hurts... but press that lump firmly while pumping. It helps to re-wet the cloth and use it on the lump while pumping also.

Hope I helped! :wink:

[BlessedMommy]

Thanks all. I'm a bit calmer now. It got to where the baby wouldn't latch on or stay on, they she was crying, and I was on the verge of crying. Finally I took some time off, gave her to DH, came back and got her nursing and now she's asleep. Whew! I've tried pumping some. Hopefully this will go away in a couple of days.

[LadyLavender]

I feel for you, sister! I definitely second the recommendation about a hot washcloth (or hot water bottle.)

[~Tara~]

Warm washcloth just before nursing, massage WHILE nursing..yes, it hurts!!! Hang in there, masage through it. You just gotta. You can lax off a bit, give yourself a moment, then 'kick it up a notch' again, really work at it. I mean, don't kill yourself hehe But I know that ANY pressure whatsoever on that area right now feels intense, you'll have to work through that. Apply some firm pressure and massage as the Hannah nurses. And yes, change her position. Try the reverse cradle/foot ball hold as well as a more upright, seated facing you position, just to work from all angles.

Warm showers, massage and hand expressing.

Massage frequently, but at LEAST as often as every time she nurses.

Just think happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughts

*gentle hugs* I know your pain

[meg]

Yep, I second the hot wash cloth idea, and lots of massage! Praying it clears quickly for you! Nice, hot bath, where you can "submerge" yourself, sometimes helps too! And hey, bonus time out in a nice bath for you too! :lol:

However, Ruth, if you start to feel sick, or if you get a temp and the painful lump is still there, you may need to see your dr/midwife. Hoping and praying it won't come to that, but mastitis isn't something to trifle with.

[Kensbev]

Like everyone else said, hot washcloth (or try soaking in a hot bath, taking a hot shower) and massage. Also, try taking lecithin. You can get some at most drugstores or K-Mart.

I used to be queen of the plugged duct, since I really produce more milk than any human without multiple babies ought to. Until someone recommended that I take lecithin. Since I've started taking it, I very seldom get a plugged duct. I haven't felt myself starting to get one in a long time, but when I have in the past, I would increase my intake of the stuff (instead of just 800 mg a day, I'd take 3-4 400 mg doses throughout the day).

If you can get your hands on a 1200 mg pill (I think you can get those at GNC, but that's a bit of a drive for me), take one of those a couple of times a day and keep pumping and massaging until the plug is gone. If you can't find the 1200 mg pill, buy whatever size you can find and just take enough to equal 1200. If plugged ducts is a recurring thing for you, you might need to do what I do. I take 800 mg of lecithin every day with my prenatals, calcium, etc.

[believeNgrace]

I'm thinking of you Ruth!

[love2bmom]

Hugs sweetie,

I found when I have clogged ducts that I was probably not drinking enough water. Drink lots of fluids. Massage in a hot shower and I used a heating pad & would massage the knot. PTL it went away. Continue to nurse as much as possible, don't be discouraged this too shall pass!

[hug]

[rowansmom]

Continue to nurse as much as possible, don't be discouraged this too shall pass!

[hug]

Yes exactly. Nursing as often as possible will unclog that plugged duct quickly. I know it might not feel good, but it really does work