Clogged duct :(

[LAlvis]

Well, I survived a crazy and hectic couple of weeks preparing for and holding our church's VBS (my husband and I directed it)...then woke up in the middle of the night last night with a very painful, swollen lump at the base of my left br**st. Clogged duct? I've never had one before, but I really think that's what this is. I've been nursing as much as my busy day today and my busy baby will allow (get lots of rest? yeah, right! ) and taking Advil liquid gels. I've also been trying to massage it and I did use heat this morning, but it's in the 90's today and I really don't want anything hot on my skin! It took me half an hour to get over my hot shower. What else should I be doing? The swelling isn't getting worse, but it is a bit red now and I feel rotten all over. I'd really like to beat this before it turns into a full-blown case of mastitis...your advice, please?

[plaid]

Awww I am fighting the beginnings of mastitis too. I do not feel any plugged ducts but I have a super sore spot. I am taking vit C and garlic trying to get extra rest and I am going to make a potato compress. I have this oil that my Midwife gave me of poke root and castor oil. I have put that on with potato on top. It works well. But before I had this I just put grated or sliced potato on and it helps too. Your doing the right thing heat and rest and lots of nursing. Lots of garlic or capsules and your vitamin C. Hope you can kick it.

[meg]

With my second baby, I started getting a red, hot, sore spot even before leaving the hospital. The midwives were sooooo good! They made a "diaper bra" for me out of cloth diapers (the old fashioned, square ones) and lined it with cabbage leaves! Sounds crazy, but it worked! They kept whole cabbage leaves in the fridge in the nursery for just that purpose. It was summer for me too, when it happened, so the cold cabbage leaves were much preferable to anything hot. Might be worth a try .

[LAlvis]

Thank you SO much, ladies! Your encouragement and advice were just such a blessing to me over the crazy weekend! And I'm thrilled to say that I'm getting better. Yesterday the swelling and redness started to diminish, although the spot was still really sore, but today it almost feels normal again. I'm so, so thankful. I still feel a bit like I got run over with a truck...but two weeks of insane busyness (with a four-year-old and a nursing baby in tow) will do that to anyone, I suppose. We slept in this morning and now I'm trying to get my house under control again. Wish me luck!

Kathaleen, how are you doing? I really hope you kicked your infection, too!

[plaid]

Originally Posted by LAlvis

Thank you SO much, ladies! Your encouragement and advice were just such a blessing to me over the crazy weekend! And I'm thrilled to say that I'm getting better. Yesterday the swelling and redness started to diminish, although the spot was still really sore, but today it almost feels normal again. I'm so, so thankful. I still feel a bit like I got run over with a truck...but two weeks of insane busyness (with a four-year-old and a nursing baby in tow) will do that to anyone, I suppose. We slept in this morning and now I'm trying to get my house under control again. Wish me luck!

Kathaleen, how are you doing? I really hope you kicked your infection, too!

So glad you kicked it. Mine is gone now too. We went on a three day kayak/camping trip my first day with it completely gone and I was sort of wondering if that would bring it back. We had 7 people in a 3 man tent. But all is well. Hope you got your house tidy, still working on mine.