Fiona,
I had a nipple plug with first lactation (1989), and very painful plugged
duct. I DID use a sterile needle to remove the "pimple" and immediately was
able to express milk with great feeling of relief. I read about this in
Huggins book "The Nursing Mother's Companion" under the section on treatment
for plugged duct. That book was a great resource to me then and I still
recommend it to moms.
Laurie Wheeler, rnc, mn, ibclc
Violet Louisiana