I’ve spent today kneading away at an innocent little milk duct which has gotten itself all blocked and sore.
Having oversupply, I am prone to blockages, but I was getting complacent in my old age, thinking they were a feature of early breastfeeding. Luckily, they can strike at any stage, so the fun never goes away!
I know why I got it, I was naughty and skipped my usual morning pumping session yesterday and forgot to pump later, that would be my own personal recipe for blocked ducts.
It’s really important to nip them in the bud as early as possible, after experiencing one episode of nearly-mastitis, I am keen never to get that far again. So how to deal with them…
Kellymom.com has a very informative section on plugged ducts and mastitis, detailing the symptoms of both & techniques to deal with them.
Today, I’ve done the following:
* fed, fed, fed from the affected side, I’ve also pumped enough from the other side to avoid getting the same problem there, it’s a delicate balancing act for me!
* pumped after nursing & massaged the area
* used a hot compress
* rested and drank plenty of water
* taken plenty of hot showers and massaged the blocked area with a wide toothed comb or, even better, a big hairbrush with bobbles on the end of the brush bits!
* taken lecithin granules, often recommended for recurrant blocked ducts, see Kellymom’s page for information
* promised myself I won’t skip my morning pump again 
Hopefully it’ll clear up soon, fingers crossed!
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poor pix, it’s not fun at all is it. hope it clears up soon.
thanks amber, it’s still there but I’m taking it easy today, well as easy as you can take it with a little monster in the house
Yes, yes, I hope it clears up. I breastfed my two and had various issues, including mastitis, but wouldn’t have traded it fr the world.
Feel better!
thanks for your messages! fingers crossed, it seems to be clearing. My supply seems to have dropped a tad from it, but luckily with the blessed oversupply, I still have plenty
I’m sorry! I only got a blocked duct once and OUCH.
I’m prone to plugged milk ducts also. I always pump in the morning too and have noticed that if I let milk sit too long in my one breast I’m likely to end up with a plug. I’ve also noticed that only breastfeeding has ever been able to remove the plug, once a duct is plugged all the pumping in the world won’t unplug it, only my babies mouth is able to.
I love kellymom!
I used to be so prone to plugs, so it is with complete conviction that I say “OUCH! POOR YOU!!!” The only thing that worked for me was getting DC’s chin pointed at the duct, which either involved me trying to kneel over her to nurse, or, occasionally, me lying on the couch with her feet kicked up over my head. It looked weird, it felt weird, but it worked!
Once upon a time, I read a message board post from a woman with the same problem. Thanks to a slight misunderstanding on her part, I have found plugged ducts to be slightly funny, ever since. The reason? She asked for help finding relief from a “plugged duck.”
excellent PixieL… the poor blocked duck…
[...] March, 2008 by halfpintpixie Three weeks ago I found what I thought was a plugged milk duct, it felt like a little pea but it wasn’t sore like they (plugged ducts, not peas) usually [...]
[...] had a few run-ins with blocked ducts/plugged ducts or indeed blocked ducks (as my stats page regularly shows up in [...]
i’m pone to them too & i’m trying to get rid of one right now (i’m pumping as i type this lol). hope yours clears up soon! happy breastfeeding!