Clogged Ducts and Mastitis: Tips for breastfeeding moms from a Pediatrician and IBCLC

have you ever felt a painful lump in your breast while breastfeeding and wondered what was going on if so you are not alone I'm Dr Mona am a board certified pediatrician ibclc and Mom and today we're discussing Clogg ducks and mesitis what they are and what you can do about them stay tuned to learn when you should seek help from your medical provider and common mistakes people make when they approach Clogg Ducks let's get to it I want to start this video by sympathizing with how painful clog ducts and mesitis can be I was an

exclusive pumper for my daughter and I got Clogg Ducks twice and they were painful both of mine happened while traveling and this was likely due to not being able to stay on my schedule stress dehydration and more we'll get into prevention and management of clog ducts and why it's important so you don't get mestis a clog duct is when milk gets backed up in one of the milk ducts creating a blockage you use usually feel a tender firm spot in your breast and it might be a bit sore to the touch imagine you're Watering your

garden with a hose and suddenly there's a kink in the line the water can't flow through smoothly so pressure starts to build up behind the kink in the same way when a duct in your breast gets clogged milk flow is blocked causing discomfort and sometimes swelling as the milk builds up behind the clog just like working out the kink in the hose lets the water flow again massaging and clearing the duct helps the milk move through smoothly the key thing about a clogged duct is that there's no infection just milk that needs a little help

to get moving again mastitis however is when a clogged duct becomes inflamed and sometimes even infected it often starts when milk builds up in a duct that hasn't been cleared which can irritate the tissue around it with mastitis you'll usually notice redness and warmth in that area and you might feel like you're coming down with the flu this inflammation can make the breast very painful and tender engorgement Clogg ducts and mastitis are related but distinct issues can arise during breastfeeding engorgement happens when breasts become overly full making them feel hard tight and sore across the

entire breast which can affect latching the breast as a hole feels heavy or like a rock so relieving pressure by feeding pumping or hand expression can help if milk isn't emptied Clogg ducts can develop creating a painful lump or not in a part of the breast left untreated this potentially can lead to mesitis an inflammation or infection with symptoms like redness swelling and fever under understanding these issues and intervening early can improve milk flow reduce infection risk and keep breastfeeding smoother for both you and your baby like I mentioned from personal experience having a clogged

duct is very painful and frequent mestis can feel even worse so knowing the signs and prevention can help extend your breastfeeding Journey if you have a clogged duct you'll usually notice some specific signs localized pain in one part of your breast a small lump that feels tender or firm and sometimes a bit of redness in that area are the pain is typically limited to one spot and it's often sore to the touch clogs can happen for several reasons infrequent breastfeeding is a common cause like if you skip a feeding or go longer stretches between feeds

wearing tight clothes or a bra that puts pressure on the breast can also lead to a clog by restricting milk flow sometimes if you're starting to wean or reducing breastfeeding sessions milk can back up in the ducts causing a blockage to help prevent clog ducts try to feed or pump regularly to keep milk flowing and increase spacing between sessions gradually if needed if you're Eng gorged pump for Comfort adjusting based on your supply a good latch and correct flange size if pumping are essential for efficient milk flow check out my video on common pumping mistakes

for more tips wearing loose fitting clothing and weaning gradually can also help reduce pressure and prevent clogs so how do you manage a clog duck if you're already experiencing one interestingly some recommendations for handling clogs have changed recently based on newer research so if you've heard advice about vigorous massage or applying lots of heat we now know there are better ways to manage a clog duck more gently and effectively let's go over what actually works and why first let's start with some self-care staying well hydrated and getting as much rest as possible with the baby

let's manage expectations here are essential when you're dealing with a clog taking care of yourself helps your body's natural processes work more effectively which can help resolve the clog faster now let's talk about why I have this here you may have heard of breast gymnastics this technique involves gently moving the breast in different directions to encourage milk flow it's a gentle movement-based approach rather than applying direct pressure this technique is actually incredible and what helped me with Clogg ducks and it can help move the milk around the claw without risking further infection to do it

get comfortable find a quiet comfortable spot where you can sit down or lie down gently lift your breast with your hand and move it in a circular motion try to rotate it clockwise this way this way and then switch this helps to shift the milk and potentially dislodge the clog massage and shake after rotating gently massage the breast in the direction of the clog moving from the outer breast towards the nipple lightly shake your breast while doing this to encourage milk the point of this is to get milk moving behind that Clogg duck and breast

gymnastics just is a simple rotation up and down whatever you feel is right to get that milk moving try feeding or pumping in different positions especially with your baby's chin pointing towards the clog you can also Lean Forward slightly while nursing or pumping to let gravity help do this routine a few times a day until the clog clears but be gentle to avoid bruising the breast tissue so when it comes to breast gymnastics you want to do what feels comfortable but also can mobilize that clog another method is dangle pumping to do this find a

comfortable spot where you can lean forward such as sitting on the edge of a chair or leaning over a table or on all fours lean forward so that your breast is dangling down gravity will help pull Mill towards the nipple which may help dislodge the clog begin pumping in this position the suction combined with gravity can help clear the duct more effectively than regular pumping if this is more stressful to you don't do it because key is also to reduce stress if we can there are also some medications and supplements that can help taking an

anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen can help reduce pain and inflammation Around the Clock iceing your breast can also help to reduce inflammation remember if something's inflamed you put ice on it which is a change from previous recommendations which advised heat old recommendations used to be heat and taking a breast massager or electric toothbrush and just digging into the knot but we now know this actually can lead to more inflammation so we want to use ice and gentle massage or breast gymnastics some people find that sunflower leian a natural supplement help thin the milk slightly which can reduce

the chance of clogs in the future or if you're actually experiencing one at the moment for clog ducts you can take 1,200 Mig of sunflower leian up to four times a day for a total of 4,800 milligrams per day until the clog clears once the clog is gone you can reduce the dose to 12200 milligram once daily as a preventative measure if you're prone to clogs of note like any medication including over-the-counter medications this can have side effects common side effects include digestive issues such as stom stomach upset diarrhea or nausea in rare cases it

may also cause allergic reactions especially in people sensitive to sunflower seeds taking high doses can increase the likelihood of gastrointestinal discomfort it's important to start with the recommended dose and consult a healthcare provider If you experience any unusual symptoms especially if you have a history of allergies or taking other medications my go-to punch was ibuprofen every 6 hours for pain and inflammation while I was awake and breast gymnastics move it around move it around until the clog duct cleared and my oh my how much relief it is when it actually clears research also suggests that

certain probiotics May support breast health and help reduce the risk of infections if a clogged duct does occur probiotics are the good bacteria that help balance your gut health but they can also play a role in your breast health when you have an imbalance of harmful bacteria in the breast it can contribute to clog ducts and even mestis probiotics help by boosting the good bacteria supporting your immune system and reducing inflammation by restoring balance to your body probiotics can help prevent and manage these issues so whether you're looking to prevent clog ducks or get back

on track adding probiotics to your routine could be a game Cher this may be useful if you're prone to clog ducks or mesitis and above mentioned tips don't help when it comes to breastfeeding continuing to nurse or pump on your regular schedule is key avoid the temptation to nurse more or less often than usual as either can change and disrupt the milk flow and importantly don't worry about the milk safety milk from a clogged duck is perfectly fine for your baby to have also from a psychological standpoint don't be alarmed if you're seeing less milk

production this can happen when you have a clogged duct but once you remove that clogged duct you're going to see your milk supply go back to what it was before that duct occurred with these approaches you can often relieve a clogged duct comfortably and effectively as always if you're unsure or the clog isn't resolving it's a good idea to reach out to a healthcare provider for support when clog Ducks happen it can be stressful not only is it painful but the fear it will turn into mesitis can be stressful remember that not all clogged Ducks

will turn into mesitis stay calm focus on the steps mentioned above and tell yourself this is going to get better now let's discuss mestis which is a more serious condition that can occur when a Clogg duct becomes inflamed and potentially infected if you're dealing with mesitis you're likely going to experience some specific symptoms these can include fever and chills making you feel like you have the flu you might notice swelling and tenderness in your breast along with redness in the affected area it can be quite painful and you may feel an overall sense of being

unwell it often develops from an untreated clogged duct where the milk backs up in the duct and subsequently leads to inflammation but it can also result from a bacterial infection which can happen if bacteria enter through cracked or sore nipples however it's important to note that not all clogged Ducks will turn into mesitis but it's crucial to manage clog ducts promptly to prevent complications if you do find yourself with mestis treatment usually involves antibiotics to clear up the infection however some other steps you may try include icing the area tips for removing a clogged duct

that I mentioned already cabbage leaves are a soothing remedy for inflamed infected breasts they contain sulfur compounds that help reduce inflammation and swelling cold cabbage leaves placed on the breast can help reduce the swelling and discomfort continue breastfeeding or pumping to help clear the milk from the affected area rest is vital as your body needs to recover so make sure to prioritize self-care during this time using any help you may have to take care of the baby it's important to know when to seek help if you're experiencing mestis here are some key symptoms to watch

for symptoms that don't improve in 24 hours if you notice that your symptoms aren't getting any better after a day of managing them it's time to reach out for help fever a persistent fever is a red flag and should be addressed especially if it's over 101° fenhe or 38 .3 Celsius severe symptoms if you're experiencing intense pain swelling and other severe symptoms don't hesitate to seek medical attention difficulty breastfeeding if you find it increasingly difficult to breastfeed or pump this can be a sign that your condition is worsening repeated episodes if you've had multiple episode

of Clogg ducts or mestis this could indicate an underlying issue that needs to be addressed or maybe we need to add probiotics sunflower lethin or something else if left untreated mesitis can lead to some complications including abesses which is a pocket of pus that can form in the breast tissue which may require drainage chronic mesitis which is ongoing inflammation that can lead to persistent issues making breastfeeding difficult and also really ruin the breastfeeding Journey reduce smk Supply if mesitis becomes severe or recurrent it could impact your milk supply in the long run and in very

rare cases there can be systemic infection where the infection spreads to the whole body and also the more common reason dealing with mesitis can take a toll on your mental health adding emotional stress to the physical challenges of breastfeeding while natural remedies like compresses frequent breastfeeding and massage can definitely help alleviate the discomfort of mesitis sometimes antibiotics are necessary to fully treat the infection it's important to listen to your body if you're experiencing fever intense pain or if the symptoms aren't improving don't hesitate to reach out to your OB Midwife or lactation consultant earlier than

later always prioritize your health and trust your instincts have you dealt with a clog duct or mesitis before what helped you the most and remember ladies keep those boobies in motion whether it's breastfeeding pumping or breast gymnastics to get the milk flowing don't forget to stretch massage and move to keep things flowing smoothly if you found this video helpful please give it a thumbs up sign share it and subscribe for more content tailored to help you understand your child's health development and behavior with confidence have any suggestions for future topics on this channel make sure

you comment below and also ask me any questions or leave any personal experiences with Clogg ducks or mestis and what helped you I hope I brought more confidence into your parenting Journey stay informed stay empowered and I'll see you all next time stay well