Plugged milk duct? Help!

kiley820 · September 2014

Ouch! This shit hurts. I apparently have a plugged milk duct and nipple pore. I've met with 3 lactation consultants and all tell me his latch is great. Why is this happening?! It's only on one side, I've tried heat, massage and apply coconut oil with breast pad after each feeding. I know to keep nursing that side is supposed to help but it hurts so bad I could cry. Any advice?!

lookame3639 · September 2014

Put your nipple into some hot water, dangle it downward and just let it sit for a few minutes. If the nipple pore is causing the issue after one or two (sometimes more) it'll break up. I had mastitis due to yeast plugging 2 nipple pores. I dangled that nipple in vinagar rinses then changed to clean hot water soaks for longer and when it broke you could see the milk finally begin to drain. I started feeling much better after that

kiley820 · September 2014

Thank you! Definitely going to try that. Were you still able to nurse that side? I'm trying but I cringe everytime. Right now I am so sore it hurts just to take my bra off

lookame3639 · September 2014

I nursed that side but it hurt. I took tylenol to help, for me the radiating pain after feeding was worse. Every night I got a break though and pumped which was easier than LO sucking (prob cause my nipple was sore as well). It hurt to much to try to force the milk out by massage so the dangle and wait was much better for me.

hot showers with the shower head beating on the blockage helped as well but not as well.

pmpkn219 · September 2014

Do you usually nurse in one position/hold? Try to point baby's nose toward the clog, and put pressure behind the lump area, as baby sucks press down from " behind " the clog, towards the nipple. Can also do that in the shower with the warm water hitting your breast

kiley820 · September 2014

Yes, I have been nursing him from just one position. Need to find a few more that work for us but right now I'm still really sore from my c-section and lying down is nearly impossible

cachoque · September 2014

I also got mastitis. My LC said that baby will generally suck more milk out of you than a pump will. The key is getting the milk out. So something to think about when trying to get motivated to nurse. But don't feel bad if you just aren't up to it. No shame! I know it hurts like hell! Just be sure to pump that side to keep up with your other (good) breast. I put a warm compress on before feeding to help let down & relax the tissue and then a cold compress right after to ease the stinging pain. I also went back into my painkiller stash that I saved from the c/s. No shame in that either!

Also, my SIL is a PA and she said to be sure to use a new/clean nursing pad after every 2-3 feeds to limit dirty pads infecting your boob.

kiley820 · September 2014

thanks ladies! I'm just worried he is not getting enough from me, up until now I have not been pumping at all. He also had some crystals in his urine the other day. I called his pediatrician and they have since gone away but it just makes me nervous. I'm still taking my pain meds as I'm only 1 week PP, we just came home Sunday and it's been rough for me recovery wise. So add to that trying to figure out breastfeeding, I'm questioning every little thing. This is hard!

kiley820 · September 2014

maybe a stupid question but how do you know mastitis vs. just a clogged milk duct/ pore? Obviously I can visibly see the clogged pore and I feel a few clogged ducts and radiating pain. are there other symptoms with mastitis?

lookame3639 · September 2014

kiley820 said:
maybe a stupid question but how do you know mastitis vs. just a clogged milk duct/ pore? Obviously I can visibly see the clogged pore and I feel a few clogged ducts and radiating pain. are there other symptoms with mastitis?

I didn't have the typical flu like symptoms aside from feeling really tired. However i had really terrible pain in one breast when i nursed and it lingered sometimes until the next feed. The breast also felt hot to the touch.

The way mine progressed to mastitis is- I had a uterine infection and a crack in my nipple as well so I took antibiotics, the antibiotics caused yeast to cover the nipple where the crack was which caused clogged pores. I nursed from that breast but I noticed LO wouldn't stay latched and milk output during pumping lessened considerably and nursing started feeling more and more painful. When the pain became unbearable i saw my midwife.

when the pores cleared i was able to pump about 4 ozs of milk out of that breast.

kiley820 · September 2014

thanks for all your input! I'm not quite 2w PP, I have my OB appointment coming this week and am going to ask for some advice . I think the issue is coming from using a shield and nursing in the same position each time. Even with the shield it hurt to nurse. I have tried not using it but we were unsuccessful. It's so frustrating! The pain wasn't too bad but it just kept getting worse so today I have just been pumping and had to supplement a feeding with formula. I have to say though, it already feels better and I feel guilty about not nursing him even though he is still getting breast milk. I met with 3 different lactation consultants and was told he has great latch so I'm not sure. Thankfully our pediatrician also has a LC and he has his 2 week check up this week so I am going to make an appointment with her. For now, I think I'm just going to pump until I am completely healed, I just hope we can figure this out!

kiley820 · September 2014

@theteno‌ you can feel the clogged duct in your breast. it feels like a hard lump. I was already pretty sure that's what it was and I had a visiting nurse confirm it. As far as the clogged nipple pore, you can visibly see it. It just looks like a small round dot on your nipple.

Want a personalized experience?

Plugged milk duct? Help!

Re: Plugged milk duct? Help!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards