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Engorgement and plugged ducts...still??

kujess1kujess1 member
in Breastfeeding
DD is almost 8 months. When I returned to work at 11 weeks PP, I began getting plugged ducts. Once it became a regular problem, I began taking a lecithin supplement. I take 4 capsules a day, and every time I try to reduce the dosage, I get more plugged ducts. For awhile when I first started back to work, I seemed to have a bit of an oversupply, but I don't seem to anymore. Since she started eating solids, my supply has dipped, and on average I only pump about 2.5 oz per session at work when replacing a feeding, and she takes 4 oz bottles.

We bed share, and I always feed her at least several times during the night. This weekend, she must have slept a longer stretch than usual, because during the night, I could feel my left breast start hurting from being full, and I felt it and it was hard as a rock and lumpy all over. This is typical for me if I go longer than usual between feedings. Ever since then, I now have several stubborn plugged ducts in this breast. I remember recently seeing someone on this board comment that at this far PP, people shouldn't have issues with breasts feeling overly full unless going really long in between feedings. But for me, my breasts still get engorged if I go longer than usual between feedings. Just wondering if others are experiencing this too and why this would still be happening if I don't have an oversupply?
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Re: Engorgement and plugged ducts...still??

  • vvvvvfeevvvvvfee member
    i don't think what you're describing is abnormal. we also bedshare, and at that age, if DS happened to sleep a longer stretch, i would definitely wake up feeling uncomfortably full. BFing is supply and demand, so your body is used to making milk at that time. if your LO doesn't nurse, then of course your breasts will feel full, maybe even uncomfortably full. so of course that is normal, being that your LO is under 1 year.

    that's great that you're taking lecithin for the blocked ducts. you can get blocked ducts from sleeping in a strange position on your side, or particularly from sleeping on your stomach. make sure you are sleeping on your back, or perhaps with strategic pillows if you're on your side so you're not putting undue pressure on any one part of your breast. you can try dangle feeding and applying heat or vibration to the area with the clog. this page has a good overview: https://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-BD-M
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  • CNYBride05CNYBride05 member
    Ugh, plugged ducts are awful! I definitely got them (and maybe still will?) beyond the "normal" window. I don't think there's really any normal with BFing - it's such an individual experience! Hang in there and definitely check out kellymom.
    Natural m/c Oct. 2005

    Dx: balanced translocation and LPD

    TTC since Oct 2011

    BPF 02/19/12, EDD 10/31/12, natural m/c 02/28/12 (4w6d)

    IVF (BCPs starting 10/30/12, ER 11/18/12, 5dt of 1 beautiful, healthy embryo 11/23/12)
    BFP 12/02/12, u/s @ 6w,5d showed 2 HBs! Identical twins!!
    Bed rest from 21w-35w due to short cervix, hospital bed rest from 23w-32w due to PTL
    Our rainbows were born 07/19/13 (36w, 5d)

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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  • kujess1kujess1 member
    Thanks for the replies, ladies! I was starting to think there was something wrong with my boobs. "Boobs, go home, you're intoxicated."  :))
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  • cerafina205cerafina205 member
    I still get engorged every morning since my LO started sleeping through the night and it's been at least 4 months since she started sleeping all night.
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