Hello all. I haven't posted in a long time, and will introduce myself.  I am
a Lactation Consultant in private practice, with a La Leche League
background, and I live in New York City, in Manhattan.  I think this can be
a very bad problem for mothers, very discouraging.  I am remembering a
mother who was reluctant to use antibiotics for her recurrent  plugged
ducts, with flu like symptoms, occurring every 10 days.  She tried many
"holistic" treatments, getting quite a bit of relief from self massage.
Sadly she only felt better when there was less milk in the breast, and she
did wean earlier than she intended. Looking back, I would have referred her
to a lymphatic drainage person: but she was often too tender to really get a
massage. In our conversations we concluded that she seemed to have a
"background" infection which opportunistically "invaded" her breast. Over
the years I have also heard women say that when there is a household strep
infection, mom gets a plugged duct/mastitis.  One of my co Leaders
discovered that her recurrent infections needed a much longer dose of
antibiotics (and dietary management).  We need research: many of us would
want to wean if we felt sick every ten days!
Kate Sharp
Manhattan, NYC
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