How To Get Rid of a Clogged Duct
Ouch! Ever felt that painful “bruised” feeling in your breast—many times accompanied by a small tender lump? Could be a clogged duct. A clogged duct shouldn’t cause immediate alarm, but does need to be worked on/out in hopes of preventing mastitis (a breast infection).
Why do clogged ducts happen?
Clogged ducts can occur for multiple reasons, most stemming from inadequate or infrequent milk emptying:
baby has a difficult latch, may have trouble latching or sucking, which empties less milk
baby is a “sleepy” feeder, or “distracted” feeder which empties less milk
tongue/lip tie, leads to a difficult latch, which empties less milk
infrequent emptying/ going too long between feedings, milk backs up and sits
abrupt changes in feeding/pumping schedule
baby sleeping through the night
returning to work and missing pump breaks
wearing tight bras (especially underwire) or clothing
sleeping on your stomach
pump parts need replacing (especially valves/membranes)
When your baby or pump is ineffective at emptying your breast, your likelihood for a clogged duct increases. It’s important to work with your LC on getting a nice deep latch with your baby and carrying out effective nursing sessions. Many of us mamas also use our breastpump. It’s important to remember that replacing parts is important in ensuring it functions effectively to empty our breast too! The longer milk sits in the breast, the more likely environment for clog formation.
symptoms:
small, hard lump felt in the breast tissue close to the skin
“bruised” or tender feeling to the touch
area near the lump may be engorged, red, or swollen
typically the pain resolves temporarily after a feeding (breast “emptied”) and becomes more intense before and during a feeding (breast filled)
During a feeding, a clogged duct may cause pain, especially during a letdown. The milk is wanting to be ejected (milk letdown), but because of the clog it has a harder time getting out, which puts more pressure on the tender area. Many women tend to feel a little bit of a relief once the feeding is over, but not entirely because the clog is still there.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
how to bust that clog
We like to say, “heat, massage, rest, and empty your breast!”
B E F O R E + D U R I N G F E E D I N G S
HEAT- Before feedings, you can try to apply a warm compress to the site for 10-20 minutes or take a warm shower. This opens things up and helps blood vessels dilate (open up), which increases blood flow to the area for healing. A warm shower or compress ahead of time are both great options.
Heat Pack DIY- if you do not have a little heat pack at home (these are great to have on hand), try running a baby diaper under warm water. Fill it up with warm water and ring it out, then place it in your bra across your breast on the clog. It conforms to the shape of your breast and holds heat well. This actually tends to stay warmer a lot longer than a washcloth would.
MASSAGE- you can massage your breast while you're in the warm shower or during the feeding/pumping session. Whatever kind of massage you can get in, try to do it. You don’t need to be rough! Work on massaging both above the clog and below the clog. This will hope to help break/loosen things up and work them outward! I linked some great breast massagers below as well!
REST- Resting is important and staying hydrated is also helpful. Drink to thirst, do not force fluids.
EMPTY YOUR BREAST-When you have a clogged duct or mastitis, you really want to keep your breast as empty as possible:even if that means nursing or pumping every two hours. We are trying to lessen the build up or back up around the clog. Therefore, we do not want to add to the problem by letting our breast get completely full again in between nursing/pumping sessions (especially since this is what may have caused it in the first place!). If it hurts too much to nurse your baby on the side with the clog, try nursing baby on the opposite side, just to get through that letdown (that is usually the most painful part of the feeding), then immediately switch the baby over to the side with the clog. We want to focus on making sure we empty the breast with the clog. Of course, we are not going to neglect the breast without the clog, but we want to make sure we are focusing on emptying the clog side FIRST. If nursing, the dangle nursing position can be helpful! This enables gravity to work with baby’s suction in pulling the clog outward.
It is recommended by the La Leche League to pump the clogged side a bit after your nursing session to ensure that you are “empty” (remember, your breasts are never really completely “empty”). You want to empty as much as possible to aid the healing process and prevent further backup.
breast care goodies
A F T E R + B E T W E E N F E E D I N G S
REST- there is a lot going on in your body and nursing/pumping is WORK. Let yourself take a break between feedings and try to rest. This is a great time for your partner to take baby for some wake time together. Rest is part of the healing process.
ICE- after feedings we want to work on decreasing inflammation and swelling. Ice is a great way to do this. Cold packs like these are great (just on the site of the clog) for 10-15 minutes.
MEDS (AS INDICATED)- Taking some ibuprofen (an anti-inflammatory), can be helpful in decreasing the swelling and inflammation in the area of the clog. It can also help decrease the pain.
putting the icing on the cake
Here are a few “other methods” that myself and this community swear by! Use these in conjunction with the above and you may find yourself “clog-less” soon!
try these:
Haaka Epsom Salt Soak- Fill up a basin (or your haaka!!) with warm water and some epsom salts and place the affected breast in it. This is another method to help open things up (warm water) and soothe (epsom salts). The suction of the haaka can also be helpful in pulling the clog as well.
Electric Toothbrush- Many mamas swear by this one (worked for me as well!). Place the back of the head of the toothbrush on the clog and turn it on. The hope is the vibrations break the clog up or loosen things up so the clog can keep making its way down the duct. These breast massagers are also great!
Sunflower Lecithin- I have tried this one, and recommended it to the KFP community, who have had great success with it! It helps “unstick” fat cells from the ducts so they venture out of the ducts more easily and are less likely to contribute to or worsen a clog. It is almost like a laxative for your breasts. This Sunflower Lecithin is my favorite you can even get it on Amazon Prime! This is a great preventative method as well! Please follow proper dosing instructions on bottle or follow the guidance of your LC!
If the clog is persisting longer than anticipated (few days to a week), or if there is redness, warmth, swelling, fever, or chills, you need to give your doctor a call. We talk about mastitis in this post.
Was this helpful? Save it for later!
