Episode 03: How to Unplug a Plugged Milk Duct

Episode 03: How to Unplug a Plugged Milk Duct

You need to do 3 things over and over in order to unplug a plugged duct: 

Express milk often (nurse your baby more, pump and hand express)Put a warm compress on the area (specifically a moist warm compress, my favorite compress is a clean diaper, filled with water, warmed in the microwave 1 minute)Massage: massage your boob focusing on the affected area. Try to massage it toward your nipple, but honestly you just need to massage the crap out of the entire area going any which way you can. Also, use a vibrator to massage it out!

According to KellyMom.com a plugged duct is: "An area of the breast where milk flow is obstructed."

What causes them:

Failure to remove milkGoing too long in between nursing sessionsPressure on the area (example: wearing an underwire bra)

What does it feel like:

It hurts! It feels hard If its red in appearance and if its warm to the touch: it might be mastitis.Symptoms are the same, but it is also accompanied by the area looking red and being warm to the touch, as well as you feeling like you have flu-like symptoms. 

My experience:

Started getting them when my daughter was 3 months oldGot them weekly for 6 monthsI researched and tried everything to get them out and keep them from recurring

Warm compresses:

My favorite warm compress is a diaper that you fill with water, fold up and heat in microwave for 1 minuteAt the first sign of a clogged duct, apply a warm compress right away and use it on the area frequentlyAlternate applying the compress with massage.

Massage: 

It will hurt and you wont want to touch the areaYou need to massage the area to help break up the clog and to encourage milk to flow from the duct that is plugged. You should massage before expressing, during and afterUse a vibrator to massage your affected boob, it is often more effective than just your fingersThere are Lactation Massagers on the market too 

Expressing: 

Express as much as possible by nursing, hand expressing and pumpingDo not neglect the boob that doesn’t have the clog, or else you could get another clog in that boob. Follow your normal schedule of nursing your baby, I recommend always starting your nursing session on the boob that you have the clog in If you pump, you need to hand express after you pump Also, when you pump I recommend using the LactaMed Simplicity Hands Free Bra, you can massage more effectively while you pump with this type of bra

Other things to keep in mind: 

Some take an hour, some 4 daysDon’t panic if it does take several days, just keep repeating the process everyday!Plugged ducts reduce milk supply temporarilyWhen clogs come out it will be obvious in most cases!The hard as a rock feeling goes awayMilk will be able to flow like it did beforeIt will feel bruised for awhile after

To recap, to get a plugged duct out: 

Express milk often Put a warm compress on the area Massage your boob focusing on the affected area

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