Help pls best tips for clearing blocked ducts?

[willow5]

I've got blocked ducts in my right boob OUCH! I noticed last night. I've had them before but they usually clear overnight (DS feeds often still) but no such luck last night Should I express as well as feed? Any tips much appreciated!

[Manhattan]

Feed feed feed! That usually clears mine up right away, otherwise I'll jump in the shower and express there. The warmth of the water helps to get things moving. Hope they clear up for you soon

[AnyDream]

You will need an extra pair of hands, get your volunteer to hold one side of your bb while DS feeds, then massage the opposite (blocked) side at the same time. The counter-pressure while you're massaging is very effective.

[allycat06]

Oh OUCH you poor thing. I went through a period when DS was about 6 months old where I would get one almost every fortnight, it sucked!! Feeding your bubby is the best way (even though it's excruciating ) to help it clear.

Try jumping in the shower or use a hot wheat bag and then massage the lump towards your nipple, then feed your baby, sometimes lying down or even on all fours (gymnastics much?) helps to get the blockage moving.

[Lady-bug]

I spoke with ABA when I had blocked ducts and they suggested a heat pack for 5-10mins before a feed and a cold pack for 5-10mins after a feed and massaging the lumps between feeds-it worked very well. Hope it clears up for you soon!

[*Infinity*]

I'm expressing full time at the moment and often my right boob will start to get lumpy & sore. I use a hot pack before expressing and massage away (try to be as gentle as you can). This morning when it was worse I jumped in a really hot shower and hand-expressed (seems to be more effective than a pump for me).

[Lily Dust]

its horrible when things dont go smoothly. I used to jump in a nice hot shower and as Marydean said, grab an extra pair of hands and I would express with a pump whilst DH was massaging towards the nipple. Also wheat packs to ease the ache a bit hope it clears soon.

[willow5]

Thanks everyone for your help. I've done a bit of a mix of everyone's suggestions Also a friend of mine said she used to put her boob in a bowl of water as hot as she could handle, massage for a bit in there, then feed or express.

So it was quite comical here this morning, I tried the bowl of water, not easy to submerge your boob in a bowl of water! Massaged as much as I could while kneeling on the dining chair dangling my boob in the bowl trying not to splash water everywhere. Then I thought I'd try the feeding on all fours like allycat06 suggested, I figured let gravity help a bit as I'd fed laying down through the night with no luck.
Well in theory it probably would have worked with a more cooperative baby, but DS is a bit active, and probably wasn't really very hungry, he thought it was novel for a while then worked out he could kick me in the stomach and thighs which nearly pushed him off the nipple but with out breaking the suction OUCHY! (But I'm sure DP thought it looked pretty amusing to watch :LOL Already sore so even more painful, so I gave that up and expressed for a bit.
I have an electric pump so I got up on the lounge chair sat on my knees and lent forward, hoping to let gravity help a bit again. I could hold the pump on with my right hand and massage with my left, so it kind of got the counter pressure that Marydean suggested, while DP amused DS.

After all that the lumps seem to have gone completely. It still feels a bit tender so I'm offering lots of feeds, and I'll keep expressing in between to keep it pretty empty. I'll have a huge supply when this is over! I'm feeling a bit off, but I'm not sure if it's from the blockages or from one of the other bugs going round our place at the moment so keeping fluids up and trying to rest as much as you can with a wakeful 9month old, and hoping for the best.

I'm off now to try and find my wheat pack like a few of you have suggested.

Thank you all for your help again!!!

[AnyDream]

Try not to get over-excited with the expressing - you need to express only just enough for comfort or you could find yourself with a massive oversupply.

[willow5]

Thanks Marydean I was worried about that. The lumps seem to be gone so I won't worry about more expressing then, don't need to swap one problem for another

[starangelk]

Just saw this thread Willow - so glad the lumps have eased up!! I had this exact problem and did the whole hot pack cold pack thing and then massage etc etc and it was resolved but I found my blockages kept recurring until I ended up having a boob massage by a remedial therapist!!! I KNOW. It was therapeutic though and despite being very scary at first, it worked perfectly and haven't had any problems since.

[willow5]

Just saw this thread Willow - so glad the lumps have eased up!! I had this exact problem and did the whole hot pack cold pack thing and then massage etc etc and it was resolved but I found my blockages kept recurring until I ended up having a boob massage by a remedial therapist!!! I KNOW. It was therapeutic though and despite being very scary at first, it worked perfectly and haven't had any problems since.

I had no idea there was such a thing! But I guess why not. I'll keep it in mind, do you mind if I ask what it cost?

[starangelk]

It was $65 which I thought was really good especially considering the results I had. I am on the Gold Coast so if you are near me just PM me and I'll pass the details on if you like.