Thursday, May 1, 2014

How to Unclog a Milk Duct



That title just draws you in, doesn't it? Who is ready for a kind of awkward post?

(Well, I don't think it is awkward, but people who have no exposure to breastfeeding and crazy clogged ducts might think it is and get their minds blown so that was just a little heads up to those who have none).

I just counted, and I have nursed for 26 months of the past 28 months. That really is not even that long considering my mother-in-law nursed for a good portion of the past 28 years.

Back when Ryan was six weeks old, my crying woke Chris up at three or so in the middle of the night. I already dreaded the first painful minute of every breastfeeding session which were spaced no more than every hour and a half even if he nursed for an hour. I rolled my eyes at every mention online that all breastfeeding hiccups and pain would cease after a few weeks, maybe a month. Lies. After blisters, raw skin and mastitis, I was ready to hit that smooth sailing, but it was nowhere in sight. On this particular night, I had the worst clogged duct I had ever had. Chris recognized how painful it was because he said, "You didn't even cry in childbirth." I was crying partly from the pain and partly from knowing that it would be recurring every hour and a half.

Hot showers, hot/cold showers warm compresses and massage while pumping didn't work. I was so engorged in the one duct that heat just didn't affect it, and my pump, as awesome as it is, just doesn't compare to a real, hungry baby's latch. I (stupidly) didn't want to call a lactation consultant. After perusing every dated mommy forum on the internet, I was convinced enough to bring up popping the milk blister with a needle to Chris since I read LuvMyBaby85 or whoever successfully did it. He shot that home remedy down for some reason. Back to the forums I went.

I searched every nook and cranny of every comment until I found something that did not involve sterilizing a needles The Parent Trap way (which I did once when I tried to pierce my best friend's ear freshman year ... how did it go? Well, she got them pierced professionally ... our senior year). Anyway, in between a comment calling for ricotta cheese and one for a grated potato (which very might well work!), I finally found a comment that lead me to my best weapon against clogged ducts in my nursing arsenal.

Nurse upside down.

It worked.

It works.

Oh, what sweet relief! I was so thankful the other day when, once again, it did the trick. 

If you need details, how to unclog a milk duct:

Place your baby on his or her back on a bed or on the floor. It helps to start out with this position when the baby is hungry and has an extra strong suck rather than switching to it in the middle of a feed. Position your baby so that when you are on all fours above the baby, his or her chin lines up to the clogged duct. Get on all fours and nurse. The gravity does wonders and the hungry baby's re-positioned and strong latch does the trick. 

How do you get rid of clogged ducts?

18 comments :

  1. Bookmarking!!! I've never heard of that remedy but it sounds simpler than some others. Thank you for the info! I'm hoping to not need it, but let's be honest, I will. ;)

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  2. Yup-- dangle feeding! Sounds weird, looks weirder, works beautifully. :) I could have kissed the sweet friend who told me about this when I was in the throes of my first insanely painful plugged duct.

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  3. Just reading the words clogged duct makes me shudder. SO painful! The dangle feeding is totally awkward but works wonders for sure. I've also used a rice sock heated in the microwave and those little massagers from CVS while nursing. Thankfully I've only had one episode with Harper so far!

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  4. Definitely did that when Sebastian was small enough to cooperate. BOO for plugged ducts when they're toddler size. GAH! And I have totally popped milk blisters with a safety pin because I. was. in. tears. I survived. ;)

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  5. I had mastitis when Evie (now 4) was a baby and when Sadie came along (she's nearly 2! 😭) I was terrified of it happening again... The upside down nurse was one I found online too and wow, does it work or what! Without the need for pain or intervention! So amazing how well our bodies have been designed! Thank The Lord!

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  6. http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-BD-M
    I have had milk blebs/blisters a couple times that resulted in a blocked duct. Opening the bleb with a needle actually isn't painful at all. Once you have done it you just nurse on that breast and massage the duct in a downward motion while doing so. Mine have always cleared immediately on that nursing session. Might be easier than nursing in an awkward position. This link is to Dr. Jack Newman's instructions. He is a breastfeeding expert and has tons of great information and videos on his website.

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    1. Yes, the dangle feeding is a great trick!! But even that doesn't always work...and when it doesn't, as KK says, opening it with a needle is also actually a safe thing to do, as long as the needle is sterilized and you just prick the bleb very carefully until it opens. THEN do the dangle feeding to get all of that backed-up toothpaste milk out!

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    2. You are so helpful! Thank you!

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  7. Oh good to know! Thanks for the video!

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  8. I wish I had known this 7 months ago! I tried everything - even popping which by the way did not work in my case. Hot compresses while pumping did a little but an hour latter and I was in major pain again. This lasted a week - stupid I know - until it finally unclogged naturally. I now feel like I'm talking about a drain haha but I will keep this in mind for all future babies!

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  9. Dangle feeding is new to me (thanks), but know that the strongest suck is from the chin side and will often position my littles to use that to best emptying advantage.

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  10. Wow! I never would have thought of THAT, haha :) I didn't nurse for very long, but I ended up exclusively pumping for a year. I was lucky to not have problems with clogged ducts that go around, but you never know. I'm hoping that nursing works with my next child, because exclusively pumping is NO JOKE.

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  11. Wow.. I have always wondered how I can place the baby's chin pointing to the plugged duct. I have done football holds... but now, I have another way to do this (it does look funny but hey, if it works!)

    Thanks for the info!!!

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  12. I have never heard of this but it makes total sense! Keeping it in my arsenal for any friends who need it. I had one duct that would plug off and on - same one, every time. But it was usually never painful and would unplug with a good nurse. I'm hoping that nursing this time around is going easier for you - it always helps to feel like you know what you're doing the second time around!

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  13. Found your blog, love it! Ive had mastitis 4 times. Never tried nursing upside down, but will def try next time (hope there isnt a next time!)

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    1. Mastitis is the worst! I hope you don't get it again!

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