Is This a Clogged Duct?

J.,
Do you have a fever and have any flu like symptons? If so you may have mastitis. It is a infection that requires an antibiotic. Don't woryy, you can still bf and take the medication. Actually bf helps get you through it. I use to get hard,tender places in my breast too. It was a clogged duct. Just keep nursing and take some Tylenol if it is painfully. They usually lasted a few days for me. I would get them often. My two girls also nurse constantly and i was never engoged. so i guess it is common. I hope this helps
T.

I've been dealing with this same problem for about a month now. I think it is a clogged duct. Does it feel like a knot, but it moves? I have been breastfeeding and now my son is 6month and just resently stopped. My duct clogged up for about 5 times and it was very aggravating. It clogged up when he was around 5 months old and it happened in the same area each time. Which I just thought it was wierd that it kept happening. I ask my doctor and he didn't seem to worried about it. He said if it got any worse and didn't get better within a day or so then it could turn into an infection. Which it would have some reddness on it and you would be running a fever. Which it never turned into that. But, the only way that I could relieve the pain is to hold a warm compress on it for a good 15 min before my son would nurse on that side and I would let him only nurse on that side. I know what you are going through. It sucks! Good luck and hang in there.

Hi J.,
it happened to me too 5 days after my son was born 2 years ago. I ended up going to my regular doctor and basically he told me to take a bath w/warm water and massage my breast and try to pump as much as possible. It had do w/the milk being stock in the glands in my armpit and my breast. My armpits were huge and hurt like heck!!!lol! But after just a few days it went away. Good luck!

J. - I am currently breastfeeding my second child and have had this happen with both kids...it sounds like a blocked duct...if it gets infected you can get mastitis and they'll give you an antibiotic but u can still breastfeed. Try to feed on that breast first and try to put the baby's chin over the part that hurts i.e. i had it towards the inside of my breast so i did the football hold. Also try to use a warm moist compress like a washcloth warmed in the microwave (be careful...) and massage the tender spot. After nursing apply ice packs. Massage it regularly. If you feel your breasts full and you don't nurse or if the baby doesn't empty the breast use a pump or hand to express the milk. I've been through a lot breastfeeding feel free to email me if u need more help ____@____.com It does get easier and you'll feel better soon!

-L.

I had the same thing happen to me a few weeks ago. I really think it was a clogged duct. It went away in a few days & hurt just like you're describing. I used a hot pack on it; one of those kinds that can be heated in the micro & wrapped around you so you can wear it until it cools down & I pumped after each feed, since emptying more frequently helps it to subside quicker. Mine occurred from him starting to sleep longer at night, so now I pump each night before I go to bed. I'm still very full when he awakes, but not as bad as if I'd gone 8 hrs without a feed.
It will pass in a few days. That warm compress & massage, along with frequent emptying is the key to it passing sooner than later.
BTW, I got all these tips from La Leche League's book, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding & online at their chat forum. It's a great resource to get some info & ease your mind.

Good luck!

It could be mastitis, which is an infection in the breast. Breastfeeding moms often get it out of nowhere. It can be treated with antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. Usually, you begin to feel flu-like symptoms and run a fever. Also, you'll notice a redness and/or soreness on your breast. It hits you out of the blue and really takes a toll on your body. After about 24 hours of antibiotics, you begin to feel relief. I had this with my first son and now with my newborn. I would suggest calling your doctor and describing your symptoms. Good luck!

I would have to agree that it's probably a clogged duct. I nursed my daughter for over 19 months and I would get the symptoms you described periodically, but it seemed to happen more when my daughter was around 5-6 months, before she started eating solids but when she was demanding more milk. My lactation consultant suggested lecithin tablets and, before I started that regimen, I checked with the pediatrician who ok'd it. My understanding is that lecithin is a fat emulsifier and allows the milk to travel more freely through the milk ducts (in other words, the milk doesn't get "stuck" in the ducts)... it was a lifesaver!!! Although the lactation consultant suggested that I take one tablet every day, I only took it if I felt a clogged duct coming on. You can pick up lecithin at any pharmacy or supermarket. Hope this helps! Good luck!!!

It sounds more like mastitis than a clogged duct (I have had both). You usually can feel a clogged duct it your breast--it feels like a hard pea or bigger and you can take a hot shower and massage it a lot to get it out.
With mastitis the symptoms are a more all over soreness or pain and sometimes a fever. Call your OB and they can call you in a RX or you may have to go see him/her. Either way it is easily treated with antibiotics and you can continue to breastfeed with it.
Here's some more info on it:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/breast_infection/article_e...

When this happened to me, it turned out to be mastitis. Definitely, whenever you think there is something fishy about your breast, consult your doctor! The medications available now for mastitis are completely safe while you are bf. In the mean time, apply warm compresses and continue to massage that area. If you can, express in the shower concentrating on the tender area.

Hope all works out for you!

I havent had this problem myself. But being that this is my second child, I have done a ton of research on breastfeeding.
First do you have any of these signs- a small lump that is painful red or swollen? if so try these remmedies.
It says to try other breastfeeding positions to help remove milk from all ducts. Also keep messaging gently from behind the plug towards the nipple. and taking warm showers it also says to start with that breast on every feeding. when the duct clears of it's blockage you might see a filament of solidified milk it looks like a string and can be several inches in length don't worry it will not harm the baby if eaten. if i'd say after 3-5days it doesn't go away call a lactation nurse or your doctor? Hope this helps.

try using a hot wash cloth on the breast and see how that works if it keeps on call your doctor and see what he or she says

i dealt with this same problem when my son was a baby. i would put a hot compress on it or a heating pad b/c the pain was that extreme.it usually went away by the next mornning. it seems like you're doing all the right things- so maybe it is stress related. good luck.

Hi J.! I'm sorry to hear you are in pain! I never had a clogged duct, but my sister did with both of her boys and I hear it is very painful. A hot shower should help and maybe the tea will as well. If it persists, though, you may want to get an appt with your OB-GYN. It could be Mastitis and they usually have to prescribe antibiotics for that.

Best of luck. I hope you feel better soon!
M.

It sounds like you may have mastitis. I had this when my son was about 3 months old. It is very painful.
Masititis is an inflammation of the breast tissue. It may be caused by either blocked milk ducts or situations where bacteria has entered the breast. If I were you I would go see your Dr ASAP. You may feel a little run down like you're getting the flu. I was put on antibiotics for a week and was told to take warm showers and massage the breast. Also switching feeding positions helps. I hope you feel better.

Sounds like it might be mastitis, a breast infection. It doesn't harm the baby in any way but it sure is painful for you. Your OB/GYN should be able to prescribe a safe antibiotic to clear it up otherwise warm compresses relieve a lot of the pain. They have these gel breast packs at the drugstores that you can pop in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to apply warmth but later on when you are weaning from breastfeeding you can stick them in the freezer to help relieve the pressure. Maybe try the heat and then call your doctor for an antibiotic. Good Luck!

Hi J.,
I know exactly what you're talking about. It happened to me twice with my second child, around the time she was 6 months. I ended up being a breast infection, which had to be treated with antibiotics (I was devastated as I tend to stick with homeopathic remedies). A few more times, I started feeling clogged, and was able to massage my breast in warm-hot water, and release the pain, and the clog.
The most important thing is that it won't get better on its own, most likely, so don't waste any time, whether it's by massaging, or seeing a doctor.
Hope this helps!

G. G.

If you start running a fever - GO TO THE DOCTOR!!!
But if not, try repositioning while feeding (baby's chin pointing at the possible clog, or lay the baby on the back and stand over, so the nipple is poining down), and massage while nursing, hot shower is fine too, but the shower by itself has not helped me. Good luck and hopefully it's not mastitis.

A clogged duct would feel like a tiny pebble in your breast you may have an infection and if so want to either get to or talk to your doctor asap to get some anti-biotics because it can effect you child, I've never had an infection myself but I have had engorged breast and clogged milk ducts and this isn't what they are like. I'm no expert but have been breastfeeding now for 14months. Good Luck and let me know how it turns out. I beleive thats what my breastfeeding nurse described when talking about infection during class. Happ Holidays!!

sounds like you might have an infection. if that's what it is then you're going to want to get in to see your doctor asap to get some meds. i never had the problem but when a friend of mine went thru it, i questioned my doctor about it. they told me that if there was an infection, you'd have to take meds but you should continue to nurse on that side. they told me the infection wouldn't hurt the baby because it's actually the baby's germs. hope you get some relief soon! and merry christmas!