Blocked Duct - What I'm Learning About Breastfeeding!

#normalisebreastfeeding

The first three weeks of breastfeeding were ✨such✨ a challenge - if you read my 3-week postpartum update you'll know why 😅 and this week I got a plugged duct 🚫again🚫 because Chia slept 6 hours and the boobs weren't ready 😩

So I thought I'd share what I've learned about plugged ducts as I have lots of new-mama friends 👯 and it's always good to know!

⭐ Apparently taking soy lecithin or sunflower lecithin daily helps thin milk and prevent blockages 🍼

⭐ Feeding baby so that her chin is where the blockage is can help. Mine was above the nipple so I laid her down, turned myself upside down from her and fed like that! She managed to get milk out 🙌

⭐ Putting baby on the chest e.g. in a sling puts pressure on the blockage which is no good. I've had her in the buggy instead 🙂

⭐ Sports bras are also restrictive and no good with a blocked duct

⭐ Warm compresses help and a hot shower putting the showerhead on the boob where the hard lump is (if you can feel it)

⭐ Massaging is supposed to help, although I found it super painful

⭐ Try to feed and feed to drain it so infection is less likely

⭐ Take ibuprofen to help with the inflammation and with temperature - a low grade fever is common with a plugged duct. I've had a low fever each time with mine and get shaky etc

⭐ If fever is high, it might have already become mastitis, so go to your doctor and they'll probably prescribe antibiotics. Quite clearly I have no qualification related to breastfeeding so the above is just based on my own experience :) 

Okay I think that's it for now! If you have any more tips PLEASE let me know!