August 2015 Moms

Clogged milk duct ! Help

I don't want this to turn into mastitis and I've took a hot shower and massaged and pumped I don't know what to do and it's starting to get bigger :(

Re: Clogged milk duct ! Help

  • I've had one for a week and a half that won't go away! :(
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  • I just had one and I had to pump for what felt like forever and I finally got rid of it. Try massaging towards the pump to see if you can work it out. Good luck, they're awfully painful!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

  • Ah I went thru this a couple weeks ago and took a couple days to go away- painful! Keep doing what you're doing. Have the baby nurse on that side as much as possible. Also pump as much as you can and massage the clogged duct towards your nipple. I also put a hot towel on while pumping. Good luck!

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker



  • I took a hot shower and massaged the spot as well as slept with a microwaved bed buddy (rice sock thing) on that breast. I woke up and it was much better. Good luck!
  • In addition to the shower, keep hot compresses on it in between pumping/nursing sessions. I filled a diaper with water is hot as I could stand it. It holds the heat a lot better than a washcloth. I also upped my pumping to every 2 hours versus every three.

    My downfall was not being able to drag myself out of bed every two hours to pump during the night and my clogged ducts ended up turning into mastitis. It wasn't too too bad. I finished the round of antibiotics and started taking 3600 mg of lecithin a day. It hasn't returned. Good luck!
  • One woman I know found relief by getting on her knees in the bathtub and submerging her boobs in warm water and massaging until milk was flowing. Mine only went away by nursing the crap out of that side and massaging while she was nursing. Good luck! Clogged ducts suck :(
  • I had mastitis that turned into an abscess w my last little guy - so I'm very cautious this time around. I use a heating pad - and that really helps. Also, I change the position of my LO with each feed - I found that really helpful and I massage as he feeds. Lots of massaging and emptying of breasts no matter how painful. I've had several bouts of clogged ducts already - it's so painful. Good luck
  • edited September 2015

    I just had one and I had to pump for what felt like forever and I finally got rid of it. Try massaging towards the pump to see if you can work it out. Good luck, they're awfully painful!

    Yep, this. Keep massaging and pumping/feeding off the clogged side. What worked for mine was laying a hot towel on the clogged breast while pumping. It made the milk flow out faster. Hoping it clears up quickly!
        DS born 8-16-2013
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  • One woman I know found relief by getting on her knees in the bathtub and submerging her boobs in warm water and massaging until milk was flowing. Mine only went away by nursing the crap out of that side and massaging while she was nursing. Good luck! Clogged ducts suck :(

    Last baby, I tried a version of this - filled a shallow basin with hot water, put it on the kitchen counter and submerged the offending boob that way!
  • In addition to massage/pumping and heat, try cold compresses after you pump or feed. Also make sure you're drinking lots of water.
    I found that this combo worked in a days time. I drank so much I had to pee like every hour, but it was worth it
  • Place your baby on its back on the floor. Kneel over your baby on all fours so that your breast is hanging down over their mouth. Encourage them to feed; while it's going to be hard to breastfeed in this position, gravity encourages the clog to come out. I literally just had a clog Mon/Tues and she helped me work it out over 3 feedings. (She's only 10 days old today, so there's not really an "age" that this won't work.)
  • I'm gonna try that because I'm pumping and massaging a lot and nothing happens but I have a air bubble that's what it feels like near my milk duct:( I want this to go away :(
  • I saw on another new mom board that she had her spouse suck on the nipple with the clogged duct and it relieved the pain right away. I had a clogged duct today and was so desperate that I asked DH to do this for me. It worked. Immediately. As an adult, he has stronger suction and it removed the blockage and emptied the breast. I hope this helps!

    BabyFruit Ticker
  • Everything everyone else said plus I had my husband massage the area. Totally sexy, right?! But he was able to push harder and do a better job of pushing it down than I was able to do.
  • I can personally vouch for the tub thing. I took a hot bath and just alternated between hand expressing and massaging while my breast was submerged. Good luck!
    Together since '07
    Married since '12
    Off the pill since 5/14
    BFP: 8/10/14 -- CP 8/22/14
    BFP: 12/10/15 -- Prayers requested

  • How do you know if you have a plugged duct or not. Sorry if that's a dumb question but ftm and I've been having aching pain in one breast
  • I saw on another new mom board that she had her spouse suck on the nipple with the clogged duct and it relieved the pain right away. I had a clogged duct today and was so desperate that I asked DH to do this for me. It worked. Immediately. As an adult, he has stronger suction and it removed the blockage and emptied the breast. I hope this helps!

    This is the fastes and most effective way. Tmi and a littke gross but if you dh wont do it and you are able to suck it out yourself. I know weired and gross but when your desperate it will work.
  • I also just developed a clogged duct on left breast. Pumping every 3 hrs for anywhere from 20 mins to 1 hr hasn't helped. Sitting here right now with wet wash cloth under a heating pad....hoping that helps. Should I pump after leaving the heat on it for awhile?
  • blovemamablovemama member
    edited September 2015
    @mlindon, for me, a section of my breast will feel really hard. It's almost like a hard piece of plastic is under the skin. My OB said you will know if you have a mastitis because "it will hurt like a mother." Exact words. I have only had clogs but those hurt, too. It just feels like something is terribly wrong with your breast.
    Together since '07
    Married since '12
    Off the pill since 5/14
    BFP: 8/10/14 -- CP 8/22/14
    BFP: 12/10/15 -- Prayers requested

  • I don't want this to turn into mastitis and I've took a hot shower and massaged and pumped I don't know what to do and it's starting to get bigger :(


    I just had a mastitis a couple of weeks ago. It was a nightmare so I really hope you don't get that. The md told me to do warm compresses,massage the area, use a particular hold depending on where the duct is (for example the football hold was good for where my duct was) and take ibuprofen.
  • mlindon said:

    How do you know if you have a plugged duct or not. Sorry if that's a dumb question but ftm and I've been having aching pain in one breast

    My clogged duct started out as a sore aching place, then a lump, then a low grade fever. All this happened in about 2 hours.
  • Boob-ease therapy pillows helped me sooo much AND I just took a sterile safety pin and popped it and then pumped, I've been smooth sailing ever since
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