Ouch! I've been sore in one breast all day. Mason slept from 9:30pm to 5am last night. I woke up engourged and of course I was sore. The soreness on one side has not gone away today. I've been reading online and it sounds like a clogged milk duct! Uggh!

So, it says online to nurse as often as possible and to use warm compresses and to try taking a shower, and sleeping with a heating pad, and nursing on all 4's on the bed and let the baby nurse that way....

Does anyone have any other advice? I have a slight cold and I was feeling run down today. My Mom is visiting and my sister and her boyfriend are coming to stay the weekend tomorrow! The Website said to rest! Yeah right! Is there anything else I can do? Any BTDT advice?

By Pamt on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 07:23 pm:

Nursing on all 4's was what worked for me. DH would laugh and laugh and threatened to take pictures, but the gravity really helped. Keep nursing too to help empty it. If you start running a fever call your doctor ASAP b/c it has probably turned into mastitis and you'll need antibiotics. Hope it clears up soon. I sympathize with the pain. Youch!! I can remember not even being able to raise my arm b/c it hurt too bad.

By Heaventree on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 07:30 pm:

I would nurse as often as possible, take a hot shower, use warm compresses and I would pump to elevate the pain. Get rid of it now, the last thing you want is an infection. Oh an after the shower, massage your breast.

By Tschwab on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 07:44 pm:

I'm sorry that I don't have anything to add. I just wanted to give you my best wishes that you should feel better before the weekend!

By Kate on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 08:03 pm:

I'm sorry, Eve! I'm curious though...how does the bbay nurse flat on his back when you're on all fours?? Isn't it hard for him to swallow?

By Amyk on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 08:13 pm:

Watch out for a big red splotch on the side of your breast and fever-like symptoms - signs of a breast infection. They are not fun. Hope it clears up quickly!

Best,
Amy

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 08:57 pm:

Maybe it was PamT who suggested nursing on all fours to me several years ago. LOL! It really worked for me.

Kate, for the baby, it's similar to nursing in bed.

By Tink on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 09:00 pm:

Nursing on all fours was the deal breaker for me! I felt like an idiot but it really does work to get every last drop out and to break down the clog. Kate, I propped my dks up with a folded blanket every time I had a clogged duct (maybe a 25 degree angle?) to prevent that but I also nursed in bed with the baby lying flat on his or her back.

By Kaye on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 10:29 pm:

Another word of advice....the goal here is to empty that breast! It is almost like a zit (i know gross), but you have to get the plug out. So nurse nurse nurse, do so after a nice warm shower and after you have really massaged. Might even be worth pumping after the baby eats to empty it all the way. Or...if hubby was game, he probably could do a better job than the pump

By Kate on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 10:36 pm:

But when I nursed in bed the baby was on her SIDE, not flat on her back. I just can't see swallowing whilst on your back.

By Pamt on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 11:24 pm:

You can swallow on your back. Try it. The tricky part is getting a drink on your back, but sucking from a breast is hard work and easy to control the amount unlike drinking from a cup or even sucking from a straw. Babies can suck small amounts and swallow while flat on their backs without much difficulty. It's not ideal, but it is a short term solution to a problem. I read about it in my "Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" book and it worked wonders for me.

By Truestori on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 01:08 am:

Oh OUCH!!! I had one of these and got really ill. I was given a big dose of antibiotics intravenously at the ER. I wish I would have know about the all fours at that point. LOL
Hope you feel better Eve and warm showers/compresses were my best bet.

By Eve on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 06:52 am:

All fours worked!! Thank you! I was so tired last night, but I tried it one more time before he went down for the night. I was so sore, but I felt the clog sort of move and I decided to massage as hard as I could while he was nursing. And sure enough, there was a pop and all of the sudden I could really hear him swallowing and eating! Pheew! Anyway, what a great tip! You saved me!

By Dana on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 07:31 am:

Eve, for future use, along w/ all fours, place the baby so that his chin is right above the clogged duct. That really helps to.

By Feona on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 08:17 am:

I vote for nurse on all fours too. Worked for me!

By Karen~moderator on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 08:55 am:

YAY!!!!!

By Dawnk777 on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 03:23 pm:

I never tried nursing on all fours, but do remember clogged milk ducts. Ouch! Glad it feels better now!

By Marcia on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 05:16 pm:

I have to tell you, I'm having a great laugh visualizing you all nursing on all 4's!! LOL I'm glad it worked and you're feeling better!

By Mazoku85 on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 07:37 pm:

I've never had that problem...I pumped the first 3 to 4 weeks. Maybe you try pumping since the suction from a pump is stronger than that of an infant. I also think you should try what Pam T said. Nurse on all 4's...for once gravity can be a friend to breasts and not an enemy.^__~ Hope u get better soon.