in March 2025 Babies 🇬🇧

Blocked duct

Since last night, my left boob has been extremely swollen and tender on the whole bottom half. I assume something is blocked. It’s so painful, especially when he feeds and during the let down. I’ve had a look a tips to unblock which I’ll try today, does anyone have any experience of what works? The pain is unbearable😢

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I think I had this over the weekend possibly not quite as bad as yours, it was very sore and hard. I massaged the hard bits down towards the nipple regularly, warm compress when feeding/pumping and cold compress afterwards, ibuprofen and it eventually cleared up after 3 days. Encouraged little one to keep feeding on that side to help get the milk out and topped her up with the other boob as she definitely wasn't getting a full feed, also did small regular pumping on the blocked side to get as much milk out as possible

I found gravity feeding helped, warm shower and hand expressing and then my partner ended up giving me a hand to unclog🙈😂 also feeding with the football position seemed to help pull that part of my boob a bit more

I had this over the weekend and it was confirmed as mastitis, and was given antibiotics. I would definitely have it checked at the GP if it doesn't get better within a day as an untreated infection can lead to an abscess.

I had mastitis a few weeks ago and was in hospital for a few nights having it treated. They told me there the advice is now not to have a warm compress but cold compresses only. Also do lymphatic drain massage in a stroking motion away from your nipple. But yeah if in doubt get it checked out! Especially if you start to feel feverish and/or shivery.

I had this some days back though not really swollen. Massaging did help, it took almost a day for it to get better. Check your feeding bra sizes as well, sometimes this is caused by tight bras and I changed mine and it helped preventing it from happening again

I had this a couple of weeks ago at the bottom and to one side. I spent the day without a bra on (which was difficult preventing leaks) doing cold compresses and offering that side first for feeds. Cleared up after a day or so.

First time I had this it was just a clogged duct and did clear up, second time it was mastitis (other breast so not continuing on from the first time) and I did need antibiotics for it as it progressed to fever/chills and body aches

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