Everyone said breastfeeding would be hard. And I heard them – I didn’t have assumptions it would be easy.
They may not latch very well. But lactation nurses will help with that.
You may not make enough supply. But lactation cookies and smoothies will help with that.
Your nipples will be sore, crack, and bleed. Nipple cream will help that.
It’s time-consuming. Nothing will really help with that.
You’ll be annoyed and resentful your husband doesn’t have to wake up at 11pm, 2am, 5am, and 7am to feed her. Yeah, nothing will help with that either.
Again – I heard ‘em. I saw the Pinterest recipes for lactation cookies. We met with the lactation nurses in the hospital and in their clinic. I got the organic nipple cream. I promised I wouldn’t hate my husband for merely existing at 2am. OK I promised I’d try not to hate my husband for existing at 2am.
But very few people or posts talked about overproduction. I mean, can’t have too much of a good thing right? All that liquid gold! All that life-sustaining food for your baby – how wonderful to make so much!
But the issue is, it can be too much. Too much for your baby and too much for your body. And if that liquid gold is left to sit – then you get solid gold – otherwise known as a clogged milk duct.
I’ve learned a lot since my daughter was born and I’m sure I’ll continue to learn more as we navigate breastfeeding. It can feel like you don’t know where to turn or what to do when you feel that knot forming.
Here are some ways I’ve found to address clogged milk ducts that may be helpful.
But first, what is a clogged milk duct?
Breasts have milk ducts which are essentially paths for milk to travel down. A clogged milk duct occurs when milk gets stuck in a certain area and prevents milk from flowing.
Clogged milk ducts can feel like a few different things – many people note a small BB or pebble where the clog is. You may have a cluster of clogged milk ducts that feel more like a golf ball or general hardness in a certain area of your breast.
Feeling a clogged milk duct may be more noticeable after feeding or pumping because the breast tissue around the clogged milk duct is softer.
What Can I Do for a Clogged Milk Duct?
There are many, many remedies listed online for clogged milk ducts. As someone who has had dozens at this point, I don’t there is a stone unturned by me in my quest. I’ve compiled the list of things I’ve read about and tried to have them all in one place. They’re categorized by method to make it a little easier to follow.
1. Frequent Feedings
Frequent and full emptying can’t be stressed enough. Those first few weeks you’ll be feeding your baby every two hours, but sometimes you’re making more milk than they can eat.
Pumping after feeds can help empty any excess milk you may have. Many moms need to pump in the morning if their baby is starting to sleep a little bit longer at night, increasing the time in between feeds. This reduces the risk of developing a clogged milk duct.
If you currently have a clogged milk duct, start your feedings on the affected breast so your baby eats most vigorously to help loosen the clog.
I know it can be extremely painful to try and feed on a breast with a large clogged milk duct or worse – mastitis. But for me, this was the best and often only way it was resolved.
Taking Tylenol or ibuprofen can help with the pain. I would also apply heat prior to feeding and take several deep breaths to try and relax prior to her latching. It can take a few times so be patient with them and yourself, but often your baby will unclog the milk duct with their instinctual perfect sucking.
2. Moist Heat for a Clogged Milk Duct
After frequent feedings, the first thing you’ll be advised to do is apply heat to your affected breast. Heat dilates and relaxes – allowing for increased flow – to help loosen the clog and get it moving. Taking a hot shower is a great way to apply heat directly to your breast.
But be careful of your nipples – especially if you’re new to breastfeeding or your breast is really tender from the clogged milk duct! That first zap of hot water will not feel good. I found holding a washcloth over my breast to soften the shower spray helps. I also considered showering in a bathing suit top.
As a new momma, showers and baths are divine – but also time-consuming. Microwaving a rice pack is nice because you can get them (or make them!) in smaller sizes that sit in your bra.
Microwaving a wet washcloth or a diaper full of water is another way to apply moist heat.
Several companies also make products to help with heat application. Some make microwavable bags shaped like breasts. LaVie is a company that makes battery-powered heating pads. They’re small and curved and fit in your bra.
You put the heating pads on the clogged milk duct to try and loosen the duct. It also feels really soothing on your poor swollen breast.
As you can see, there are many ways to apply heat and hopefully you can find one that works for you.
3. Mechanical Treatments for Clogged Milk Ducts
In addition to heat, trying to mechanically break up the clogged milk duct can be helpful. Those heating pads from LaVie also vibrate! Vibration and motion agitate that clogged duct trying to break it free.
If you don’t want to fork out $80 for the massaging heat pads, you can find everyday household goods to apply vibration. From an electric toothbrush to a vibrator – there’s something in your house you can put on your boob to get it moving.
You will also need to use your hands and use good ol’ fashioned manual massage. I thought I was going to get carpel tunnel in my right hand from massaging my boob to death with some of those clogged milk ducts.
You want to start by applying pressure furthest away from the clog and move your way down to the clog – towards your nipple. Imagine literally pushing that clog out with your fingers and hand.
Some sites say don’t push too hard so I’ll put that out there. But I know in my frenzied moments if you need to take out some aggression that boob – let her have it. Your boob won’t fall off, I promise. But keep in mind, gentle and persistent motion is best to avoid damaging your breast tissue.
Along the same lines of mechanical ways to help clogged milk ducts – try to reduce pressure on your breasts. Meaning, don’t sleep in a bra and don’t wear constricting clothes.
You also want to be careful of baby-wearing as this can put a lot of pressure on your breasts. Not to say you can’t baby-wear (it’s so convenient!) but be mindful if you notice the side you hold your baby on is the side getting a clogged milk duct.
I tried not wearing a bra during the day, but my new mom nipples were so sore, anything touching my nipple felt like I was being hit with a cattle prod. My shirt hitting it or my daughter’s flailing foot kicking nearly brings me to my knees from sensitivity! So I find wearing a well-fitting thin cami under a shirt to be a nice compromise.
4. Breastfeeding position can also help clogged milk ducts
My daughter was born three weeks early and weighed just over 5lbs when we left the hospital. I really had to help position my breast and nipple to help her attempt to latch. This meant I held my breast in my hand (classic U shape) to feed her.
I would subconsciously have a death grip on my breast with the amount of focus I was exuding more times than not – creating a pressure point for a clogged milk duct to form. Going back to removing pressure points, try not to press on your breast while feeding.
Holding your baby in different positions can help reduce your risk of clogged milk ducts. By doing this, their suckling angle and pressure are varied which helps make sure all areas are emptying well.
Side-lying, football, and dangle feedings are all options to change up the classic belly to belly feeding position.
5. Diet and supplements to treat and prevent clogged milk ducts
Your diet can play a huge roll in your milk production – we’ve all seen the lactation cookie and smoothie recipes. If overproduction and engorgement are contributing to your clogged milk ducts, try reducing or avoiding foods that promote milk production. A few examples are:
Oats
Flour and grains – yes this means bread, cookies, cakes, pizza, cereal and so much more!
Green leafy vegetables
Nuts – including nut butters and nut milks!
Beer
Carrots
Beans
Garlic
Flaxseed
There are many more foods out there but these were the ones I’ve come across that noticeably increased my milk supply. Just look up ways to increase your milk supply and don’t eat those foods :o)
In addition to watching your supply, a big reason clogged milk ducts form is that precious fat in there gets stuck. Think about your breastmilk like freshly made bone broth or cow’s milk – the cream (or fat) rises to the top and collects. This also happens in your breasts, so taking supplements that help keep fat moving can be helpful.
The most popular supplement is sunflower lecithin. This is a very oily supplement that helps prevent breastmilk from sticking together. You can take up to 4,800mg daily to help treat a clogged milk duct. Some people continue taking it to help prevent another one from forming as well.
Another lesser-known supplement is bromelain. Bromelain is found in pineapple and is an enzyme that helps break down the fat and proteins in breast milk.
You can eat pineapple or drink pineapple juice daily to supplement bromelain. You can also take bromelain tablets to supplement if you’re not a fan of pineapple (or eventually get sick of eating it). I found drinking ½ cup to one cup of pineapple juice in the morning to be the best way for me to get my daily dose.
Moving from oral supplements to topical – the age-old remedy of cabbage leaves can’t be forgotten! Applying a cabbage leaf from the fridge directly to your breast can help treat a clogged milk duct. It can also reduce breastmilk supply so be careful if you aren’t in the process of weaning to not do this too frequently.
Cabbage leaves help with inflammation too so if you happen to get mastitis (infection in your breast), the cold leaves can soothe and help reduce some of the pain.
Unfortunately, you can’t ignore a clogged milk duct
If you have a clogged milk duct that won’t resolve, you are at risk for developing an infection. Mastitis is an infection in your breast tissue which can develop rapidly. Signs of mastitis include:
Redness – either generalized on your breast or red streaks
Swelling
Warm to touch
Pain
Fever
Chills
Fatigue
If you have all or a few of these symptoms, you should reach out to your healthcare provider immediately. You may need antibiotics to treat the infection. Even if the clogged milk duct resolves, the infection doesn’t always go away without intervention.
A good rule of thumb is to call your healthcare provider if your clogged milk duct hasn’t resolved within 24 hours. They can help you troubleshoot and decide if you need to be seen and further evaluated.
Breathe – and Ask For Help
Having clogged milk ducts can be extremely painful and distressing. It makes the already tough new world of parenthood even more stressful if you’re in pain or can’t feed your baby.
Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask people for help. If you have a partner at home, let them watch your baby so you can take those hot showers and try and massage the clogged milk duct free. If you have access to lactation consultants, reach out to them for additional resources.
Your OB, doula, or midwife can also help you find solutions. Even my pediatrician did his best to give advice and encouragement.
Don’t forget, you’re doing great. Don’t beat yourself up if you didn’t get up in the middle of the night to pump and now you have clogged duct. Don’t shame yourself if breastfeeding is harder than you thought it would be. Don’t shame yourself if you hate spending time pumping or massaging your breast in the shower for the first or millionth time.
Remember – if you’re doing what you can and feel like you’re not doing enough – chances are you’re one of the moms who is actually doing great things for your baby.
I hope these tips are helpful and I wish you all the best. Please reach out if you have other questions or want to talk more about breastfeeding!
