I have been struggling for the past 3-ish weeks with repeated clogged ducts - a new one DAILY! The clogs seem to move each day from breast to breast and in different locations. I am doing cold compress, ibuprofen, light massage during pumping, breast gymnastics to try to avoid but doesn’t seem to work. I have changed the backflow protector on my pump and the duckbills. I have tried different flange sizes and remeasured for fit this week. I feel pretty confident I have the right size. I am wearing the same bras I’ve been using for the last 4 months, so I really don’t think it’s a bra compression issue. I am mainly pumping but try to breastfeed my baby when I get a new clog as this seems to be the only thing that works to get rid of them; unfortunately I’ve had a lot of challenges with breastfeeding so this is not always an option in that my baby is not always willing even when hungry, and we struggle to get a good latch when he is willing
I have been supported in my breastfeeding/pumping journey by a great IBCLC but she is on leave and her strategies still haven’t seemed to prevent this. Has anyone else faced repeated clogged milk ducts like this? Anything else I can try, apart from what I’ve been doing? I’m exhausted and in constant discomfort.
What setting are you using on your pump? If you are using a higher one have you tried to use a lower setting?
I just read this as well and wanted to share in case it might be the problem
Dietary factors could increase the frequency of clogged ducts. Very occasionally people find that eating a diet high in animal fats (whole milk, cheese, ice cream, red meat) increases the frequency of plugged ducts. This may have to do with how animal fats change the fatty acid make up of the triglyceride molecules in the milk fat.
I dealt with multiple clogged ducts for 10 weeks straight. I started using happy ducts by wish garden. It took about 24 hours to start taking effect but after that it cleared them almost immediately. I’ve also found that holding my own kids has clogged my ducts, so just be careful how you’re holding kids and doing things during the day. Sometimes some of us are just more sensitive to touch and it ends up causing pain.
I was actually starting to wonder if holding my baby is a factor. It could at least explain the clogs that are coming on the inner breast where his body presses against me.
I’ve had that problem! I did a warm compress for 10 minutes before pumping for 30 minutes….this is what my obstetrician instructed me to do. One thing that helps since you are pumping is to pump at the exact same time every day. Another thing I noticed is that I’m more likely to get clogs if I eat a lot of dairy products. So you could try cutting out dairy if that’s something you have daily. If you have a clog for more than 3 days, I would make a doctors appointment. You don’t want to end up with mastisis
Thanks for the suggestions! I do consistently pump 6 times per day at the same time every day. The point on diet is something I need to look into!
Interestingly the lactation consultant said that the latest guidance on mastitis/clogs is cold therapy so I have not tried the warm compress, but maybe I will give it a try just before pumping.
Thank you for sharing this link! So the thing about hot vs cold for clogged ducts…if you think about it, cold would probably harden the milk just like it does to water or anything else you put in the freezer. But would give relief from the pain due to the numbing sensation and relieve inflammation. Heat loosens things up and also provides some pain relief, but could cause a little inflammation too. I wonder if alternating hot and cold would help? Like maybe do cold first, and then heat, then pump, and cold again? I’m just guessing here. I know when you have clogs like that, you’re willing to try just about anything. They’re so painful!!
