I have a clogged duct! It started this afternoon. I’m trying to get it out. Nursing. Pumping. Hot showers. Kneading. I can’t get it to go away. I want to just go to sleep. Am I going to wake up with mastitis? I already had mastitis once when my baby was a couple weeks old. She’s 7 months now. Ugh. Do I need to stay up all night trying to get this to go away? How long do you stay in the shower trying to get the clog out?
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Do you have an electric tooth brush or vibrator you could try on it?
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Clogged ducts are awful! I struggled with them frequently while nursing both of my kids, and had mastitis a few times (each time was after a clog that persisted for a couple days). I ended up taking lecithin supplements daily to try to help, but would increase how many I was taking when I had a clog to try to help my other efforts to clear it out. I had the best luck pressing a hot water bottle or a heating pad (I used one of those small microwavable lavender ones) on the clogged area while hand expressing milk.
I hope you were able to get some rest, and that you feel better soon.
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I know it's already morning but if you're still struggling something that helped me was taking phytolacca decantra tablets (3 tablets every time you think about it - I think I took them like once an hour). I got them at Sprouts if you have one near you.
Using warm compresses while nursing and ice packs between nursing session helped also. Fingers crossed you get it out quickly!
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I have gotten many, many, many clogs. Got mastitis a few times when LO was little but not since then. Shower, toothbrush, all that never works for me. The only thing that works is to keep putting LO on the breast until he works it out. I recommend being careful with the lecithin, GI side effects are common. If you haven't take it before, I'd start with one and see if that helps, rather than the huge dose that is recommended on some breastfeeding websites...
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@agold: probably too late a response but I had a lot in the couple months pumping for my last baby and I was never able to get them out that fast. I took the lecithin despite the side effects and over the course of a couple feedings usually got it out. Sometimes faster or slower.
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@LindsayInNY: @caitcat: @periwinklebee: @skinnycow: @2littlepumpkins: thank you so much for your replies! I read them throughout the night and they helped me feel okay about going to sleep. I’m going to try to nurse, knead, shower and warm compressions it out. If I can get to sprouts today then I will. I have one very close to me, but I’m always amazed how little time I have for anything! I’m already cramming a ridiculous amount of errands in my morning before work.
Question - did you girls pump or nurse more than usual when you had the clots in attempt to get them out?
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I got a lot of clogged ducts and the most helpful thing was to have DH knead/massage the clog while I pumped. At first he was afraid he was doing it too hard/hurting me but once I convinced him he was fine, it really worked. He was able to get a better angle on most of them and it helped to pump at the same time.
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The sunflower lechitin helped me resolve clogged ducts on several occasions. I didn't have any side effects when taking it.
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@agold: I could get them to go down with the pump, but never completely dissipate with the pump alone. I do think pumping with lots of massaging helps to keep them from getting worse.
What ultimately works for me is to just put LO as much as he will tolerate on that breast to get it out. When he was smaller - and I got them more - I would do dangle nursing on my hands and knees. But now LO would find that too ridiculous, and he's able to get them out without needing some weird position.
I'm sure it will be better soon!!!
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@agold: I did nurse/pump more than usual. After having mastitis a couple times, I became kind of paranoid about it when I'd feel a clog starting.
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I nursed as much as baby would to try to get rid of clogs. I had one for several days before it turned into mastitis and I think that only happened because I was traveling away from baby and the pump just wasn't emptying me. I think nursing in odd positions helped by increasing suction on the duct that was backed up.
Hang in there!
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@catgirl: @Shantuck: Thanks for the tip!
@periwinklebee: I, too, can get this one smaller with the pump or nursing. but then i feel it building back up again. I haven't dealt with one like this before. Maybe i will try dangle nursing today.
@caitcat: I am on pins and needles, praying I don't get a fever and mastitis over the weekend!!
@maddyz: I will try different positions. And gees.. I hate having this clog now for a second day. Praying it goes away soon!
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@agold: I was unfortunately very prone to clogged ducts. What usually helped - if it was really bad - was a super hot shower and hand expressing and dangle nursing right after sometimes with some wiggling of the breast aka sort of causing vibrations at the clog by poking my finger in their and moving it back and forth
️ I am terrible at explaining it 🤣
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@Pumuckl: you explained it great! Thank you!
I am confident I got the clog out yesterday after work by nursing my baby in a different position for a long time. So glad she cooperated.
So I’m dealing with a cold. And now I have a 100.8 fever 🥵 my daughter had a similar fever exactly one week ago followed by a cold. So hopefully I have that and not some sneaky mastitis. Either way... survival mode for all at my house tonight since husband is gone for work. Maybe no church tomorrow.
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The only thing that ever worked for me when I had a clogged duct was dangle feeding!
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@Canoli: Yep, same. Dangle feeding was the best. The indignities of early motherhood.
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