Blocked milk duct??

[Jenko]

I am breastfeeding my almost 5 week old DS and it was just starting to get easier when i got what i think is a blocked duct.

My breast is very tender and sore and when full i can feel the hard lump/s. I also have red patches on my breast. Is this a blocked duct?

I have been massaging it and i got up in the night to hand express and although now my breast doesn't feel as lumpy it feels like it is bruised and i can hardly hold DS as it is too painful. Could i have caused more damaging massaging it?

What else can i do to ease the pain and how do i know when it is better. Will it all of a sudden stop hurting? Does the milk come out thicker till the duct is cleared or not at all? (when i was expressing the milk did not squirt and spray like it usually does)

I really want to try and get this sorted before it turns into mastitis, apart from feeling fluey i am pretty tired and feel run down as it is.

Lots of questions there, any help would be appreciated. :)

[Jenko]

bump.........anyone have any words of wisdom for me?

[aardvark]

If you have flu like symptoms then it is already mastitis unfortunately.

I'd head to the doctor ASAP as you need to get some treatment.

[Shakey]

hey chicky

sounds like you have mastitis, if you can get medcall out, and then get hubby to get the anitibiotics from the after hours chemist in surfers, pm me if you want the medcall number

to relieve yourself at the mo, get a really warm flannel and put it on there, when you feed the wed man first feed him from that side first and at the same time massage the lumps out,

[catalicious]

I have some words of wisdom for you Sweetheart!!!

I was also thinking with flu like symptoms it could already be mastistis...

Ummm I have had it 2 times now and it was sooo bad i thought id die...

But this is what was recommended to me.... Hop into a warm to hot shower and let the water run over them or if you have the detacheable shower head then put it as close as possible without it hurting too much..

Also put a warm face washer on them if you can when you feed....

Keep up the massaging...

I hope it gets better soon cause I really understand how painfull it is...

[Becbabe]

Hi,

Sounds like a blocked duct to me. It's cleared when the lumpiness goes.

The ABA book says if your blocked duct hasnt cleared within 12 hrs, go to the doc. I had to do this & the doctor said it was really good that I came in that quick as I got on top of the beginnings of mastitis really quick & didn't get as sick as I might have.

I used a heat pack before & during feeds, & a cold cabbage leaf between. Don't know if the cabbage leaf had any effect but it was nice & cool and felt good:p

Hope it clears up for you soon.

[GraceUnhearing]

pretty much wat the other girls said.

have you noticed a white spot on your nipple?

if you have the red patches you should head down to th dr to get some antibiotics.
you dont want it to get to bad.
i've had mastitis 3 times now :(
and it hurts

the best thing you should do is keep getting him to feed from it. and try to postion his chin to where the lump is.
i even fed my DS laying down and his legs where pointing towards my head to try and shift the lump last time hehehe