Just wondering how long it takes for milk ducts to unclog? And what I can do to help, and for relief. It's been 2 days, never had this problem before. The entire underside of 1 breast is hard & sore. It is not red or swollen, and it's just a constant pain. I massaged it for quite awhile last nite & continue to do so. I took a few hot showers, and have also had a hot compress on it most of the day today. I will be able to breastfeed tonight, but since it started was only able to pump. Will it likely go away & how long could it take?
Also, I've been meaning to ask this for awhile, but is it normal for 1 breast to produce quite a bit more than the other? My right always pumps nearly twice the amount of my left. Not worried, but figured I'd ask - just saw an article about someone who had less supply & both babies refused to drink from 1 side, she ended up having cancer. Obviously this is different from me, my baby drinks fine on both sides.
Mine usually cleared up in a day or two. Keep the hot compresses on it. Pump/breastfeed as much as possible on that one. Good luck!
It's totally normal for one breast to produce more milk than the other - that's the case for many women.
About the clogged duct - I use to get them frequently. With the exception of a couple of small clogged ducts, they oftentimes will not go away with nursing alone. It can sometimes take hours to get rid of a clogged duct - but it is important to be proactive as it can lead to mastitis if left untreated.
I usually get someone to watch the baby and sit in front of a mirror and do breast compressions interspersed with pumping. Quite commonly - after I have done this for a good while - there will be a "blister" on the end of my nipple - you can pop this (carefully) with a sterilized needle and it will enable the trapped milk to escape. If I don't have any luck with this method - I will sleep with a heating pad on the affected area and try again in several hours.
With the clogged milk duct, what I did was nursed on that side first every time my daughter ate for 2 days, I wore my nursing bra but didn't latch the affected side, and I put hot packs on that side as well. By the third day, that side was all healed up and I haven't had problems since.
I too have one side that produces much more milk than the other. Not sure why, I guess it just happens:)
SJ-
I have had plugged milk ducts with both my children. I say you are doing the right things. I took warm showers, warm compresses or cabbage leaves to the breast. Nurse often and pump after each nursing, I know it is very uncomfortable having them nurse but it is the best thing for the plugged ducts. It does usually take a couple days for the duct to unplug. But if it starts getting red and warm and doesn't improve get to your doctor it could be mastitis.
As for the uneven milk supply, this is very normal. My milk supply on my right side is much better then my left as well. My daughter is a week from being one year and I get 0.5oz on the left and 1.5 oz on the right when I pump at work every 4 hours. I have heard that you produce more milk on your more dominent side.
I hope this helps you some.
one thing i didn't see mentioned was cabbage leaves.
I think if it hasn't cleared up with hot packs and massage after two days you should check with your doctor. I used to get them (many years ago) and they usually turned into mastitis (spelling?). Try massaging while the baby is nursing. Also, if at all possible, actual nursing is better than pumping. It empties the breast much more thoroughly. Good luck.
Totally normal to have uneven milk supply. Try to get your baby to nurse on the low supply side first when she's more likely to draw more out because she's hungry- that may help to even you out a bit. I never could get mine evened out and I always start my son that way. I was also that way with my daughter, my right has always pumped twice as much as my left.
Keep doing what you're doing for the clogged duct- those are so painful! Nurse as much as you can, pump more. Use the hot compresses- Gerber has these great gel packs that you put in the microwave and are round to conform to your breast. You can get them at Target- they are great. Keep doing the hot shower, keep massaging- you need to get the clog out soon, I was always afraid of getting mastitis but was able to get rid of the clog after 2-3 days. Do the hot compress or shower right before you feed, it will help the milk flow. I also used to use gravity by dipping my breast in a bowl of hot water for 5-10 minutes and then nursing my baby while she layed on her back and my breast hung straight down- not a comfortable position and it sounds weird but that worked also. Also, I would heat those gel packs and wear them in my bra during work before I pumped or put it in a sleep bra when I went to bed. Good luck
It has been awhile since I have pumped (my son is now 3) but I recall having a lot of problems with plugged ducts. One side produced less than the other as well. Hot showers and baths helped mimimally because by the time I got out to pump my breast would cool down.
The one thing I did that was a tremendous help was place a damp wash rag in a ziplock bag, close partially (but leave a small crack to vent steam), heat in microwave, and place on plugged part of breast while pumping. The wash rag would stay warm for a long time and was easier to handle than a heating pad. It worked great.
I've dealt with this on several occasions. I would lay on the bed or floor in different positions and get my baby to nurse so that the top of his mouth isn't always the top of the breast. Since your baby is 7 months old you might try just lying on the floor with her and getting her to nurse.
When you pump, you really need to massage that breast ahead of time and stop throughout to keep massaging your breast to release that milk. I wouldn't wear a bra until it clears up. You've got to keep that milk flowing out, so I would recommend you pump every 2-3 hours when your baby isn't nursing. I would also pump after she nurses. If you are diligent about this it will go away. If you aren't, then it might turn into a breast infection and trust me, you don't want that to happen. I've never felt so sick in my life than when I had double mastitis.
Good luck with this.
Your baby is better at unclogging a plugged duct than anything else out there! Nurse nurse nurse and always offer the plugged side first even tho she may not prefer it as much because it is harder to get the milk out. Change nursing positIons often and especially try to get her to nurse in a position where her nose (if I remember right) is pointed towards the plug. Also another good thing is to get lecithin supplements - you can get OTC at any drugstore like walgreens - my doctor recommended this when I had a plugged duct. It helps the globules to thin out and the plug to clear. Hope that helps!
I had a clogged milk duct once with our son. I took our "hot pack" (we bought it at a craft show-it's just a long piece of material with rice? inside) and heated it in the microave. I slept with it on that breast and my morning IT WAS GONE! Those hot packs usually stay comfortable warm for about 30 minutes. If you don't have one, they would be very easy to make. Use a tube sock even! Just fill with rice and then rubberband the end off. Heat and either sit with it on you till it's cool or fall asleep on it!
And yes, I had one side that seemed to produce more too. But the kids didn't seem to mind too much.....
