Sick of clogged ducts

shanbrite2

I think this is probably the 10th one I've had since LO was born. The very first one went straight into mastitis, but probably because my blood cell counts were low because none have since then, but that experience has scared me ever since (awful!).

I thought I'd cleared this one two days ago, but I apparently pumped wrong last night, because it came back in the very same spot. Grr.

I've been doing all the normal things (massage, hot bath/shower, hand expression, lots of nursing if LO cooperates, resting (ha!), drinking water), but nothing seems to work except waiting a few days until it magically goes away during nursing.

Any other suggestions or anyone else who can commiserate? 

Kmac-06

I can commiserate! I had recurrent clogged ducts with DD (never mastitis though luckily). One thing that seemed to help (other than what you are doing) is taking lecithin supplements. I took the capsules 3x/day, here's the link on kelly mom. I guess I will never know for sure if it worked, but it seemed like when I was taking it daily I didn't get clogs and when I stopped taking it they came back. Worth a try!

shanbrite2

Thank you!!! I'm going to ask my PCP about it now!

maddie80

Hand expressing in excessively hot water in the bath was the only thing that ever loosened them up for me.  I haven't heard of lecithin - that's something I'll keep in mind!

stella_blu

I had them a lot too. I used a hot compress and then would pump immediately after removing it. Are you sure the flanges on your pump are the proper size for you? That was a part of my problem. Maybe see an LC and get it checked out. It's no fun for sure!

azuremama

I had mastitis with DS and it was so awful--I understand being scared!  I had a clogged duct a month or two ago and the nurse I spoke to suggested soaking your breast in a basin of hot water.  She wanted me to lean over the sink or a bowl full of water.  She said the combo of the heat and leaning over leads them to drain more effectively.  Mine went away and I have been lucky enough not to get any more.

 A hot compress might help, too.  I have "booby tubes" that you can heat in the microwave for a few seconds, then slip in your bra.

I hope you figure out how to clear them up!

Mrs.Greeko

Ha.  See my mastitis post above...

btrflypoet

I would recommend Wish Garden's Happy Ducts (http://www.wishgardenherbs.com/index.php?load=pregnancy&group_id=7)

You can get it at Vitamin Cottage for sure and maybe WF as well.  Works great!   

Mrs.Greeko

Oh and I just spoke to my midwife and she said to help clear my clogged duct to take lecithin.  She said it comes in pill or granular form.  And she said to take it three times a day.  It makes everything slippery I guess.

Mrs.Greeko

btrflypoet:

I would recommend Wish Garden's Happy Ducts (http://www.wishgardenherbs.com/index.php?load=pregnancy&group_id=7)

You can get it at Vitamin Cottage for sure and maybe WF as well.  Works great!   

 This is the other stuff the midwife suggested.  I don't do well with tinctures though so I'm trying lecithin first. 

ckolak

I had them a lot with DS, maybe once or twice with DD. The best way to clear them is to lay baby down, get on your hands and knees (or elbows and knees, whatever works best) and dangle your breast straight into baby's mouth. This sucks the clogs out *every* time for me! I hope this helps, I credit this with being the reason they haven't been as much of a problem with DD. I also had oversupply issues (but not with pumping, ugh!) with DS, which I think contributed.

schoolsoutbride

The lechtin has helped me. I never had this with O but have a couple of times this time. 2x as much milk, I guess.

shanbrite2

Thank you all so much! LO managed to clear it out tonight (hooray!). I'm going to pick up some lecithin and hopefully we can prevent this from coming up again!