Plugged ducts are painful, but if caught early and worked out they can go away within 1-4 days. Mastitis comes from plugged ducts that were NOT worked out. It is possible for Mastitis to greatly decrease, or finish your milk supply if left untreated. Listed below are helpful treatments that have worked for many women, but use your own judgement about when it may be time to go to the Doctor.
External Treatment
- Always offer the breast with the plugged ducts first and then finish with the second breast if needed. (If baby doesn't nurse on the other breast you can pump to keep its supply from dropping too.)
- Nurse, nurse, nurse! If you are an Exclusive Pumper, then pump, pump, pump! Keep the breast as empty as possible.
- Hot shower with breast massage. Try to work out the lumps or at least massage the area carefully.
- Submerge the breast into a big bowl or sink full of water by leaning over it, and massage for several minutes. The heat and submersion will help break up any clogging near the the nipple. Repeat as necessary.
- Use heat packs (rice sock warmed and applied to the area) to help loosen things up.
- Point baby's chin at the clogged area while nursing, since their strength of suction will be in that general direction. You may have to get creative with nursing positions.
- Utilize the dangle feeding position: http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/dangle-feeding/
- If baby is able, try the side-lying position through the night and nurse only, or mostly on the affected side. - http://www.mother-2-mother.com/tut-layingdown.htm
- Massage with constant, hard pressure while nursing or pumping.
- Stay Hydrated! This is important. Drink lots and lots of water.
- Essential Oils: Chamomile, Clove, Eucalyptus, Lavender, and others are good choices for supporting your immune system. Not all EOs are safe for Breastfeeding though, so do your research. Below are a few handy Charts to help guide you. ***Please educate yourself on the proper use and application of Essential Oils. They are potent and can be dangerous when used incorrectly. Always dilute with a Carrier Oil.
- Garlic: an excellent natural antibiotic, without all the side effects of conventional antibiotics. Chop up a garlic clove into pill-sized pieces and swallow with juice or something if the taste is too strong for you. Aim for taking 6-8 cloves per day.
- Turmeric: a very powerful anti-inflammatory. One of the easiest ways to take turmeric is to make Golden Milk. Recipe: http://herbalacademyofne.com/2013/12/turmeric-the-golden-goddess/
- Phytolacca: a Homeopathic great for inflammation.
- Lecithin: a supplement that reduces the viscosity of Breastmilk and is an emulsifier, helping the Breastmilk to flow freely: http://kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/lecithin/
- Use a raw potato: http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/herbs/natural-treatments/#potato
- Immune Support: Elderberry Syrup, Echinacea, Vitamin C, etc.
Plugged Ducts are can be quite painful, or just a mild annoyance. Either way, it's important to treat it right away, as it can quickly turn into Mastitis. Following the protocol above can help prevent that from happening.
- http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/mastitis/
- http://www.llli.org/nb/nbmarapr07p76.html
- http://www.basking-babies.com/plugged-ducts.html
- Breast Compression while Nursing: http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8:breast-compression&catid=5:information&Itemid=17
- Getting a plugged duct out: http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-eating/breastfeeding/common-problems/plugged-milk-ducts
A mild Breast Infection can be treated from home using the protocol above. To help you determine if you need to go to the Doctor or not, read over these resources:
- http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/mastitis/
- http://www.llli.org/nb/nbmarapr07p76.html
Some women find that they are especially prone to Plugged Ducts and Mastitis, experiencing it over and over again. There are some preventive measures you can take though to help minimize this.
- Go Bra-less or only wear a Nursing Camisole. The pressure on your Milk Ducts from conventional Bras (especially underwire bras) can often contribute to frequent Plugged Ducts & Mastitis. Going bra-less can help prevent this.
- Baltic Amber: Wearing Amber can help reduce the inflammation that leads to Plugged Ducts & Mastitis. The more localized the better, so ideally get an Amber necklace. Traditionally, the lighter the color and the more "raw" (not polished) the Amber is, the greater the therapeutic properties are. There is a lot of fake Amber on the market though, so the Admins recommend doing your research into the company you purchase from. Many of us Admins have had great experiences with purchasing fromwww.HazelAid.com though.
- Lecithin: this supplement (available at most drug stores) can help as a preventative, since it reduces the viscosity of Breastmilk and is an emulsifier, helping the Breastmilk to flow freely. http://kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/lecithin/
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