Mastitis – or could it be Plugged Ducts?

In other posts, I have discussed mastitis, what it is, recognizing the signs and symptoms, and what you can do for mastitis.

In this post, I would like to discuss something else that I have had, and many nursing mothers experience – plugged or blocked milk ducts.  Plugged ducts are not mastitis, but they can turn into mastitis if you don’t pay attention to the signs and symptoms!  They are common in women who have a lot of milk.

Plugged ducts will make their nasty appearance as painful, swollen, hard areas in the breast.  You will probably also notice that the skin on top of this painful area is red in color.  Sometimes, you will notice that your baby is fussing more at the breast, because the milk flow is slower than usual. Plugged ducts usually resolve within 24-48 hours.

Ways to treat the plugged or blocked ducts include:

• Ask your physician if it is okay to take medication to deal with the pain.
• Apply heat (such as hot water bottles) to the affected area.  It feels better, and it helps stimulate milk flow through that plugged duct.
• Continue to nurse your baby.  This helps to drain the plugged duct.  My lactation consultant suggested that I try to hold my baby in positions that encouraged draining of that particular area of the breast.   This involves positioning your baby so that his/her chin is closest to the area of blockage.  As you can see, this may not always be feasible, but I did find it helpful.
• As you nurse your baby, compress and massage the breast over the area of the plugged duct.  I found this really helpful at relieving plugged ducts in conjunction with using the heat.
• Ensure that your baby’s latch is correct.
• Avoid constrictive bras or baby carriers. See Low prices on breastpump, nursing bras, baby carriers and more at Nursing Mother Supplies! for proper equipment.

Plugged or blocked milk ducts are very common in breastfeeding mothers.  You want to treat the  plugged ducts to reduce the chances of developing a breast infection (mastitis).  If you go on to develop the signs and symptoms associated with a mastitis, you have recurrent blocked ducts, or blocked ducts that do not disappear, it is recommended that you see your physician.