How to Get Rid of a Plugged Milk Duct

Breast tenderness, hard lumps, a wedge-shaped red area and warmth and inflammation—and you thought breastfeeding was going to be a wonderful experience! Don't panic, breastfeeding is a wonderful experience. You could have plugged milk ducts. While tight clothing, skipped or infrequent nursing, stress or illness may cause the condition, the root problem is poorly drained milk ducts for which there is no known cause.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Call your physician. She can confirm if what you are experiencing is a plugged duct. Rest; treat your plugged duct like an illness. Stay in for a few days and cancel all appointments and activities until you get rid of the clog. Doing so will can help to avoid infection.
   
   
2. Apply moist heat by using hot packs or by spraying the affected area with hot water in the shower. Doing this prior to nursing aids in milk flow and may enable the mother to pass the plug.
   
3. Gently massage the area; you may be able to squeeze the plug out of the nipple pore. Use a breast pump. Try pumping for a few minutes after each nursing session if your baby was unable to relieve the plug.
4. Check for a milk blister. If there is a small white dot on your nipple, it could be a milk blister. This clogged nipple pore restricts milk from flowing freely and adds to the discomfort.
5. Nurse frequently and in different positions. Repeated nursing—through all the discomfort and pain—is the best thing you can do. Try nursing in various positions, too.

Tips & Warnings

• Call your doctor. Your physician is the first person you should contact. She will give you expert medical advice on how to handle your breast pain.
• The second person you should call is a lactation consultant. According to the International Lactation Consultant Association, A lactation consultant is a "health care professional who specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding." The ILCA website can help you find a lactation consultant in your area.
• When nursing in different positions, try pointing the baby's chin to the area. Often the baby's sucking patterns are different in various positions.
• Sometimes a plugged milk duct can become infected, causing a condition called mastitis. Treat your plugged duct and work to relieve it as quickly. See a physician as soon as possible.