Picture this: your new baby has finally slept more than two hours straight. Which means YOU were able to sleep for more than two hours too! You feel like a new woman! Five straight hours of sleep feels like a dream! Then you feel it. A dull, aching knot under your skin on your left breast. What in the world is this?? You poke it; ouch! It really hurts! But what is it? It could be a clogged milk duct.
Whether you’re brand new to breastfeeding or a seasoned veteran, clogged milk ducts can be annoying and downright confusing. You can do everything right, and you still end up with a clogged duct. Let’s dive into a few ways to treat, prevent, and lessen the pain of a clogged milk duct.
What is a Clogged Milk Duct?
A milk duct is the tube that carries milk throughout the breast to the nipple. When the duct isn’t drained often enough or drained properly, the milk ducts can become clogged. The pressure that builds up behind that clog can cause the tissue to get inflamed. That inflammation can cause a lot of tenderness in the area. Don’t panic! It may be painful, but it’s completely normal! Breastfeeding is hard work, but it’s completely possible to figure out.
Is a Clogged Duct a Cause for Concern?
In short, the answer to this is no. Though painful, a clog in your breast isn’t always a huge deal. A few things to look out for as causes of concern are red streaks on your breast, yellowish discharge from your nipple (not to be confused with colostrum or yellowish milk in those early breastfeeding days), nausea, fever or a clog lasting more than 24 hours.
Sometimes, a clogged duct can cause a breast infection known as mastitis. If you think this is what’s happening to you, contact your doctor or Midwife so they can help you resolve this issue.
How Do I Prevent Clogged Milk Ducts?
There are a number of different things you can try to keep everything flowing well and keep the clogs away.
- Try and avoid getting engorged. Engorgement can lead to clogged ducts. Try not to let the milk build up in your breast for more than a few hours at a time.
- Wear a supportive bra. Wearing a tight bra can restrict your milk ducts and cause random clogs throughout your breast. Opt for something soft and without an underwire if possible.
- Longer nursing sessions. In those early newborn days, allow your newborn to nurse for as long as they like. Your body is making milk faster than your baby needs in the beginning. Allowing the baby to fully drain your breast often can help keep things from getting stopped up.
- Have a lactation consultant or your midwife ensure that the baby has a good latch. A baby with a bad latch can’t get the milk out of all corners of your breast. If you exclusively pump, make sure your flanges fit your nipple size. That will allow for a “good latch” from your pump. A good latch means efficient breastfeeding.
- Pump when you need to. If you are away from your baby, be sure to pump or manually express your milk to keep things moving.
- Dry brushing. Some women find that dry brushing helps them prevent clogged ducts as well as get things flowing once you have a clogged milk duct. The gentle brush moving over the skin can encourage circulation and help things continue moving.
- Don’t go too long between feedings. If you are trying to wean your baby or cut back on feedings, make sure you are still pumping or hand expressing enough milk to take the pressure off. Your body will eventually adjust to make less milk, but it may take a little while. Don’t go too long in between feeding/pumping or you could end up with some inflammation in your breast.
- Take sunflower lethicin daily. Sunflower lethicin is a supplement that can thin your breastmilk and make it smoother so it flows easier. It actually discourages the fat molecules in your milk from clumping together. This makes the milk less sticky and it’s able to flow more freely. Sunflower lethicin can also improve the quantity and the quality of your milk. I highly recommend this to new mamas when they begin their breastfeeding journey! Check with your doctor or Midwife before trying anything new and ask them what the recommended dosage would be for your body.
How Do I Get Rid of a Clogged Duct?
It’s important to work on fixing a clogged duct as soon as you notice it. While clogs are common, they can quickly turn into something worse if you do not try and resolve them. Here are a few ways to try and get rid of them.
- Warm compresses. Warmth can help open up the ducts in your breast and get everything moving. Apply a warm compress to the area where you have the clogged duct for 5 minutes at a time. Another option would be a warm bath or hot shower and let the hot water hit the affected area. Breastfeed frequently to help loosen any clogs and get your milk flowing again. Begin on the breast with the clog and come back to that breast around every two hours.
- Try different positions when you feed. Sometimes, it can help for the baby to suck in a different direction. If you always cradle the baby when you feed, try the football hold or lying down to feed. This can help focus the baby’s suction on the affected area.
- Dangle feed. Dangle feeding is when you lie the baby down and dangle your breast over them to nurse. This makes gravity your best friend. As your baby sucks, it can pull the clog downward. You can also use a pump in this same position if you exclusively pump.
- Turmeric. Turmeric can help reduce the inflammation in your breast tissue and help calm things down in red, swollen areas. Take this sparingly though, turmeric can increase your milk supply. So make sure you don’t take too much and make an oversupply problem worse. Be sure to ask your provider about the right dosage for you.
- Massage the effected area during and in between feeding sessions. Sometimes the last thing you want to think about is putting any kind of pressure on the clog. If you are able, massage around the area as well as directly on the area in a circular motion. If you are massaging while feeding, massage in a circular motion, and then downwards towards your nipple. This encourages the clog to loosen and release.
- Vibration. If the clogged area is too painful to touch, try using a vibrating toothbrush or a vibrating massager to lightly shake the clog. Very lightly press the vibration to the clogged area and then move downwards towards your nipple. This may not completely release the clog, but it can encourage the blockage to move down and out.
Finally
If you are experiencing constant clogs, I highly recommend seeing a lactation consultant. Constant clogs can be a result of your breasts being insufficiently drained. A lactation consultant can help with finding a good latch and help you know when your breast is drained completely.
Keep a close eye on your clogged ducts. If you suspect any type of infection, make sure you contact your doctor or midwife immediately. Catching mastitis early can allow you to feel better faster and reduce the risk of losing your milk supply.
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