Breast Pain!!! - Ada,OK

Agreed on the plugged ducts - massage while nursing and in the shower. Go bra-less for the weekend as well (a shelf tank would work fine). Underwire IS BAD!!!!

Nurse A LOT, especially on the blocked side. Drink plenty of fluid as well.

Between nursing and aiming the baby's nose in the direction of the plugged duct, I usually could clear one in 24 hrs.

For aiming the baby: Say you have a plugged duct near your armpit. You would want to nurse your baby in the football hold so that her nose is pointing toward the blocked area. The direction in which the nose points is also where the strongest sucking is. Hope that makes sense!!! Good luck! It will clear!

If you start feeling ill, however, it may be mastitis and needs to be treated with oral antibiotics. It is VERY IMPORTANT to continue to nurse on the infected side!!! It has no effect on baby, but if you don't nurse that side it can turn into an abscess and that is a whole different (and major) kettle of fish!

:)

Like the previous post it sounds like you haved a plugged duct, I had it too. Hot compresses, hot showers, massage, lots of liquids and keep nursing and pumping to get it to resolve. If it stays plugged, I believe the doctor can give you medicine because it then turns into a breast infection. Stay home a few days, rest and use the hot compresses multiple times a day, and when not too sore anymore, massage. I would also ask my doctor what pain meds you can take since most of the pain meds also reduce swelling and inflamation (like ibuprofin, but ask the doctor first). Hang in there.

I agree with Terra's advice about how to deal with a plugged duct. I just wanted to add that if you come down with a fever, even a low-grade fever, get to a doctor right away! Mastitis needs to be treated immediately.

It's a plugged duct. You should continue to let your LO nurse on that side as often as possibly (but do let her have the other side as well because you don't want to cause the problem on the other side as well). You can put a warm compress on the sore spot and massage it in a circular and downward motion with as much pressure as you can stand during nursing and also while not nursing. You can also do this while pumping in between nursing sessions or while taking a shower. Drink a TON of water and rest, rest, rest as much as possible. You need to get the plug to break free before it turn into mastitis. You will know when it finally breaks free as it will feel a lot better and the lump will be gone. Good luck.

yes you do have a pluged duct, esp since you now have a fever. I had one and they are pretty serious, the sooner you get it taken care of the better. i would call them right now and tell them what you have and tell them to call you in a script!!! it is pretty clear that is what you have and getting the meds in you sooner rather than later is better. what to do for now: still nurse on the sore side, it will suck but you have to do it, nurse on the sore side a little bit more than the other side, as much as you can handle but not too much bc then you will maybe plugg the other side and that is the last thing you will need. take a lot of hot showers, massage your breast and put heat on the sore side as much as you can, get some rest if you can. it will be better a few days after doing all this and after taking the meds too. in order to avoid this in the future make sure that she nurses for a while on one side to be sure she is getting all the milk out also pumping is part of the problem bc a pump cant get to all the ducts like your baby can, of course you need to pump, but have your DD or DS nurse when they are around and use the pump only as needed. good luck, feel better, happy nursing!

It's probably turned into mastitis now, that's typically what the fever indicates. I just got over mastitis myself. Keep that breast as empty as possible. Try nursing in different positions to get your little one to help clear the plug.
Massage the area for a few minutes before nursing and also try warm and cold compresses to help with the pain. Get in the shower and run warm/hot water over that breast as well. You can take Tylenol for pain relief too. If nursing hurts to much try using the pump.
The biggest trick I found though was just keeping the breast empty.
Feel better!