There are a few things you can take when you’re suffering from a plugged duct. What you can take will depend on the severity of your symptoms. I’ve taken different types of medication during by bought with blocked ducts including: 1) lecithin 2) painkillers and 3) antibiotics.

1. Lecithin

Lecithin is a natural substance that is found in foods like whole grains, eggs, meat, and milk. It is an emulsifier. A lecithin dietary supplement may help treat and prevent plugged ducts by increasing the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the milk and making it less sticky.

I started taking lecithin 2 months ago when I first started experiencing plugged ducts. I was soon experiencing recurrent blocked ducts and getting clogged every 4-5 days. During this time, I took lecithin sporadically because I didn’t really want to take anything on a daily basis if I wasn’t positive that it was helping. At a friend’s suggestion, I recently decided to start taking it again as both a treatment and prevention method for my plugged ducts. I’ve been taking 1200 mg once each day for the past 2 weeks and I have been experiencing blocked ducts less frequently. I think it’s definitely worth giving it a try. The Canadian Breastfeeding Foundation recommends taking 1200 mg of lecithin up to 4 times a day if you experience recurrent plugged ducts. But the most frequently I ever took it was 2-3 times per day when I was clogged.

2. Painkillers

While you’re suffering from plugged ducts, you can take painkillers several times each day. When your milk ducts are blocked, they are also likely inflamed. Painkillers can help reduce swelling and discomfort.

3. Antibiotics

If you develop a fever with a plugged duct, you likely have mastitis (also known as “boob flu”). You should see a doctor who will prescribe you an antibiotic to fight the infection. So it’s important to consult a doctor if your symptoms don’t improve within 24 hours. During my worst experience, both of my breasts were clogged and I was in a lot of pain. My doctor prescribed me antibiotics to prevent an infection.

What about probiotics?

There is also emerging research on the benefits of using probiotics instead of antibiotics to treat mastitis. According to several studies, probiotic supplements (containing Lactobacillus strains) have been effective in treating mastitis and also may reduce the risk for recurrent mastitis (Barker et al., 2020). Yet, these studies have several limitations and additional research is needed before probiotics can be recommended as an alternative treatment to antibiotics.

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Citations

Barker, M., Adelson, P., Peters, M. D. J., & Steen, M. (2020). Probiotics and human lactational mastitis: A scoping review. Women Birth, 33(6), e483-e491. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31688358/

A good latch is key to a successful breastfeeding journey. The secret to getting a good or deep latch is to make sure that baby attaches to your breast with a wide mouth. A good latch ensures that baby can remove milk from the breast effectively.

It took several weeks before I realized that my son had a shallow latch. As a result, I was often in pain, with my nipples becoming misshapen (like lipstick) and discolored (with part of my nipple appearing white) after he came off my breast. A poor latch can also lead to suboptimal breast drainage and more serious problems like plugged ducts.

There are a few tricks to getting baby to open wide and latch on including:

Trick #1: rubbing your nipple against baby’s nose/upper lip (displayed below in
Figure 1)

Trick #2: the “flipple technique”

My favorite way to get a deep latch is referred to as the “flipple technique” or “exaggerated latch.” Place your thumb or finger near the base of your nipple and press down so your nipple points away from baby. Once baby’s mouth is open, pull baby into your breast. Baby will latch onto your breast first and your nipple will unroll into baby’s mouth. You can also let baby latch onto your breast while your finger is still near the base of your nipple. Once baby is latched on, you can remove your finger. You can see the “exaggerated latch” in this La Leche League video. I found it really helpful when I was trying to fix my latch. When in doubt, just keep watching latching videos! Of course, you can always consult a lactation consultant or your local La Leche League leader for additional advice.

Once baby is latched on, you can look for certain things to make sure that baby has a deep latch. See Figure 2 below for the key visual cues associated with a good latch.

But even more important than how the latch looks, is how it feels. When you start breastfeeding, it may hurt as baby latches on and begins suckling (I know it did for me!). But any pain should go away after a few seconds. If you count to 10 and it’s still hurting, unlatch baby and try again.

When you want to unlatch baby from your breast, place your pinky in baby’s mouth to break the suction. You can see this demonstrated below in Figure 3.

Practice makes perfect, mama! So keep trying until you get the hang of it. It took some time but my son is latching on well now which has really improved my breastfeeding experience.

Mamas – how did you get a good latch?

I was terrified of labor. I was worried about how I’d handle the pain and expected that I’d likely opt for an epidural. What I didn’t realize is that you have to wait a while before you can get an epidural. I had to wait until I was 4 cm dilated to get it – and that took 12 hours!!

So I had no choice but to endure 12 hours of contractions without any medication. I tried several different techniques to manage my pain but only 3 things helped.

1. Breathe through contractions

Breathing is the most important way to get through your contractions! I had tried to practice a few breathing exercises during pregnancy and I remember thinking that it probably wouldn’t help that much when the big day finally arrived. Boy was I wrong! I figured out the best breathing techniques in the moment based on what worked for me. But I basically just inhaled deeply and then harshly expelled air through pursed lips as I exhaled. It was important to exhale slowly. I promise you’ll figure out breathing in the moment but it certainly can’t hurt to practice ahead time, if you’d prefer.

2. Apply counter-pressure during contractions

The next most helpful thing to manage my pain was applying firm counter-pressure on my lower back with each contraction. I was able to do this on my own by rubbing my fist against my back but it wasn’t very comfortable. Instead, my husband became my massage guru during labor and rubbed my back until his hands ached. He enlisted my mother-in-law’s help too since my contractions were coming every 5 minutes for many hours.

I also noticed that it was easier to apply counter-pressure when I was standing. So I was standing most of the time which seemed to help. I was pretty unhappy when they did the routine fetal heart monitoring every few hours. I had to be on the bed to this. My contractions were worst when I was on my back. Luckily, I was able to convince the nurse to let me lay on my side so my husband could massage my back during my contractions.

3. Use a birth ball

The last thing that helped me was sitting on a birth ball. I used this later in labor and wished I had tried it out sooner! I sat on the ball and rocked from side to side and forwards and backwards. Somehow, my contractions felt less intense when I was on the birth ball.

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Once I was dilated enough, I got an epidural and my son was born a few hours later. The epidural didn’t numb me completely though (and I still felt some contractions) but it definitely made the pain much more bearable. Know that you’ll get through the pain mamas. You can do it!

What helped you manage your labor pain, mamas?

An estimated two-thirds of mamas experience plugged milk ducts at some point during their breastfeeding journey. For some, like myself, clogged ducts can be recurrent. If a plugged duct goes untreated, it can lead to more serious infections like mastitis (where mama gets a fever). So it’s important to treat blocked ducts early.

At this point, I can say I’ve tried nearly every combination of techniques to unplug clogged ducts. I’ve been getting clogged every 4-5 days for the past month and a half. It’s been physically and mentally exhausting. Not to mention painful. So I’d like to share all of the tools in my arsenal to unclog blocked milk ducts. I hope my experience can help the other mamas out there!

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1. Nursing often is crucial to removing a plugged duct

Don’t underestimate how strong baby’s suction is! Every time I’ve gotten a clog out, it’s been during a nursing session. Always start nursing on the clogged breast. As baby is sucking, massage the clogged area. Cup your breast with your hand and place your thumb on the lump. Apply pressure, starting at the clogged area and bringing your thumb toward your nipple. Repeat as much as needed to decrease the size of the clog or get it out altogether. I also encourage you to mix up your breastfeeding positions to try to loosen the plugged duct. I often alternate between cradle hold, football hold, and dangle feeding.

When baby empties your breast, the clog may or may not still be there. If you’re still plugged, continue your nursing routine, switching to the other breast. If you’re confident baby has emptied the other breast and is still sucking, switch baby back to the clogged breast and let your baby continue sucking until satisfied. When baby is done, the clog might be gone or you could still be plugged. If you’re still plugged, try out the other techniques I’ve detailed below.

2. Heat helps open up your milk ducts

You can apply heat using three techniques: a) in the shower; b) using a warm compress; or c) soak your breast in warm water. After nursing, I’m convinced that the heat from a warm shower is the next best way to help dislodge a plugged duct. Hold the shower head close to your breast, letting the stream of water massage your breast. Let the water hit each part of your breast, including the bottom, lifting your breast to make sure the water hits it. Next, point the water directly at the clogged duct and massage the area. You can also hand express in the shower.

My favorite new trick is using a suction pump (Haakaa hand pump) in the shower. Let the water massage your breast as the pump is suctioned on. This helps remove excess milk and loosen the clog. You can remove the pump every few minutes to empty the pump and reattach until little milk is collecting in the pump. I’ve also simultaneously massaged the lump with an electric toothbrush. The vibration is supposed to help break up the plugged area. It’s best if you can breastfeed after you get out of the shower to increase the chances of baby getting out the plugged duct.

If you’re not able to take a shower, you can use a warm compress for about 10-20 minutes. If you have a plugged duct, you can use a warm compress before your nurse in hope of loosening it. Even when I’m not clogged, I like to use a warm compress before I go to bed and after nursing sessions. I like to think this is a preventative measure but not sure how effective it is.

Friends of mine have also recommended soaking your breast in a basin of warm water with Epsom salts before nursing. I’ve also heard that you can fill your Haakaa pump with warm water and Epsom salt. See this quick instructional video by @milksprouts. Some mamas seem to swear by this trick! I haven’t tried it yet myself but will give it a try in the future, if needed, and report back!

3. Pump and/or hand express between nursing sessions to loosen the clog

You can also use an electric pump to help get the clog out. I use a Madela hospital grade pump (Lactina Select). Most types of insurance will cover a hospital grade pump so you should be able to get one for little to no cost. I also have a Lansinoh electric pump (Signature Pro Double Electric Pump). I’m convinced it’s not as powerful as the hospital grade pump but it is portable if you need to pump on the go! While you’re pumping, you can apply some lotion to your breast to massage the clogged area.

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It’s taken me anywhere from 2 hours to 2 days to get out a plugged duct. So patience is key! That said, I know how frustrating it is waiting for a clogged duct to come out. Sometimes it’s incredibly painful and other times it’s more bearable. A few hours can feel like an eternity when you’re in severe pain. Some days, I’ve felt completely helpless and shed countless tears. But know that a plugged duct always comes out in time.

Please don’t hesitate to contact a lactation consultant or doctor for a consultation if your plugged duct doesn’t go away in a day or two and if you have a fever. I’ve seen both and have been prescribed antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. The medicine made a difference so I’m glad I asked for help. Another idea is to reach out to your local La Leche League leader to ask for advice. They have lots of knowledge and first-hand experience with breastfeeding problems. They’re a great resource to have at your disposal.

Mamas, what’s worked well for you?