blocked ducts, mastitis

[bronny-jane]

seems that my attachment was correct, i had a blocked duct from wearing a too tight bra:o , its really red now, i rang to midwifes and they said if im not feeling ill or have a temp try feeding her more on the sore breast and try using different positions while massaging as well....so ive been doing it and it still is red but its getting less painful to feed.

ive also tried massaing the tender parts in the bath as well.......anyone got any other ideas...and how long till it goes away......i dont want to get sick:(

[wattle]

Have the ducts cleared yet? If not, dip them in hot water (don't burn yourself, but as hot as you can stand) or under a hot shower for 10 mins or so before each feed. Then the skin covering the duct will be nice and soft, and bubs sucking should clear the blockage. :fingerscrossed:

I had a couple of blocked ducts a few weeks ago, and it's very painful isn't it. With the hot water they cleared pretty quickly though.

[rynosmum]

Ouchie!

Massage the lump in a wrm shower, pushing it toward the direction of the nipple, heat packs etc. It will improve.

If you start to get a fever though, go to the Doc. I got Mastitis one Sunday afternoon with headaches and fever and cracked a 39 degree temp that night. Still had to feed bub at regular intervals but it all subsided by morning...I still vividly remember it though - not cool....:no:

[stellarella]

ive had this a couple of times but both times i ran a temperature with horrible flu like symptoms which confined me to bed. Luckily it only lasted 24 hours til the temp went down. I was doing all the hot water, massage stuff and i also took DS to bed with me and we just stayed there for 24 hrs both times and he just sucked continuously with naps in between (make sure they still feed some off the other side otherwise you will have problems on that side too) and i also ate lots of garlic and took echinacea. anyway both times it cleared up by itself.

[Oscar's mum]

I have heard a good position to get rid of the blockage is to some how position baby so that the chin of bub is pointed towards to the blockage and that should help.;)

[stellarella]

yeah thats true too, apparently bub takes more milk from wherever the chin is pointing, if the blockage is out towards your arm try the underarm hold.

[Oscar's mum]

yeah thats true too, apparently bub takes more milk from wherever the chin is pointing, if the blockage is out towards your arm try the underarm hold.

Or lay bub on the bed if it is in an awkward position and position yourself that way! Might be a bit uncomfy and awkward but has to be better than getting really bad mastitis.;)

[sopolicha]

I had the same deal early on in the piece. The Lactation Consultant told me to use massage to help clear it out. She told me that one of those home massagers work, and hinted that anything that VIBRATES will do the job. Mastitis can get a bit untidy, hope you come good.

[bronny-jane]

thanks everyone, im on antibiotics now, they seemed shocked at how big it was:eek:
it still hurts to feed her:crying: but im pushing through, i now have a sore breast thats almost twice the size of my good one from feeding to much, so now it gets way too much milk in it, which hurts as well:eek:

i was told to massage it when bub is feeding, but it still feels like its on fire and massaging it hurts too.....im doing it softly now, i bruised my breast from doing it too hard.......i cant wait for it to get better

as for feeding her so she clears it, i'd have to have her head down while shes over my shoulder its in an akward place...im still a novice at bf, so i dont think i'll master that position:D

[Funkychicken]

Hey BJ. have you got a wheat pack? I used one of these while i was in bed and it stays warm so no trips back to the bathroom to warm a wet towel etc...I would do the bath and massage thing then take DD to bed and feed, apply wheat pack and rest for hours on end.

[LucyE]

All the above tips and I also found a rosemary compress helped. From memory it was just rosemary chopped up and infused in boiling water like a tea. Then soak a face washer in it and apply that to the affected area.