Blocked milk duct

I have the same issue. I managed to partially unblock it in the bath but still had very severe pain when feeding. I went to GP after 3 days and they gave my antibiotics despite it not being infected as he didn't want it to develop into being infected. Maybe get a second opinion?

They can be very painful 😣 have you tried feeding on all fourth? Sometimes gravity helps!

@Rachael did the antibiotics help to clear the blockage?

Feeding or hand expressing on all fours can help or get partner to help, hot or cold flannel to help hot worked for me I had blocked ducts all the time and mastitis the once it isnt fun

Warming your breast with a hot water bottle or submerging them in a hot bath and massaging

Don’t use a hot compress that is outdated advice! Use a cold compress and ibrophrofen…blocked ducts are due to inflammation hence the cold compress & ibro. I had this not long ago ..along with mastitis and an IBCLC gave me this advice and if you look on the breastfeeding network you will see they’ve updated to say use a cold compress. Hope it passes for you soon because there really is Nothing worse 😭🩷🩷

I’ve just realised you’re super local to me haha how funny! Check out booby Laine on Instagram , she is AMAZING and local if you need further help honestly she is a godsend xxx

Most current advice is to use cold compresses and lymphatic drainage, alternate these and then feed and use ibuprofen. The blockage is due to inflammation in the breast, reduce the inflammation and the blockage will pass. I had so many blockages in the beginning and this always worked. Also, do go back to the GP and ask for antibiotics because if it’s been more than 24 hours then the chances are an infection is brewing, get on top of it before you become really unwell! If you use instagram then look up Olivia Lactation Consultant, she has some great posts on lymphatic drainage and how to do it. Using aggressive massage and hot treatments risks increasing the inflammation further. Hope you get it sorted, it is the absolute worst! Also, chocolate helps! 🤣

I had the same problem and was given antibiotics. I massaged my breast under hot water in the bathroom, but I think the main solution is properly emptying the breast until it becomes softer. It’s something that tends to repeat itself, and I’m very aware of that.

Keep putting your baby on that boob to feed, just keep doing it and all of a sudden you’ll notice it will go

I’ve used a manual pump before with hot water and Epsom salts and that seemed to help

Sometimes the more you touch the blocked area the more irritated and inflamed it gets (went through this far too many times) Having a hot shower before feeding helps

@Charlotte i am on day 2 and it's a little easier 🤞

Hope it’s improving! Definitely cold compresses and ibruprofen and then I also used a hair comb and brushed it towards my armpit to help with lymphatic drainage. All advised by my lactation consultant

I understand it to be warm moisture before emptying to help flow (shower/bath/warm flannel), cold after to reduce inflammation. I found a Hakka filled with warm water to be the most effective, getting the milk flowing just before feeding, then using the lansinoh gel pads from the freezer afterwards. My supply took a nose dive for a few days but has picked up again now.

I’ve realised that wearing tight tops causes mastitis for me

Hey @Charlotte hope it’s gotten a bit better now? I’m going through the same thing so I’m glad I found your post and the advice everyone has shared! It’s such a nightmare isn’t it! I’ve tried to massage mine out over the weekend hand express but have been struggling to even express much milk so I’m also worried that my milk supply has been affected. This is the like the forth time I’ve had it now and my baby’s 8 months. It makes me want to just give up breast feeding!

Thank you everyone for all the advice. It still seems to be an ongoing issue for me at the moment but the pain is not as bad. I am constantly expressing milk when I feel me boob filling up and getting hard (if baby is not ready to feed). I now feel that my affected boob is making too much milk and that is causing the issue. I have two milk blebs on the nipple which don’t seem to drain properly 😢

Yes, it can be an issue that the constant expressing makes too much milk :( try not to empty it fully as that will result in more milk faster. Just express to comfort and then nurse LO as they require - it should stabilise in a couple of days. I was where you are about three weeks ago - it’s awful I’m sorry!