Permission to post:
 
A client is suffering from chronic plugged ducts and "full breasts", mainly
the left.  This happened with her first child also, not quite in the same
way.  We are looking at a number of different things, but she mentioned that
someone told her that anemia can cause plugged ducts.  Anyone hear of this?
I can't find any references.
 
Also, she wonders if 'too much' hand-expression could worsen the problem
(she doesn't like pumping).  She tells me she has 'cyst-y" breasts and is
prone to lumps and bumps in her breast tissue.  She has tons of milk and has
an overactive let down.  2 month old baby nurses for only about 5 -10
minutes per feed, one side only, every 2 -3 hours.  Her left breast tends to
'tingle' during and between feeds - she had a horrid case of thrush with 1st
baby and she does not feel like that is what is happening right now.  Her
Doctor concurrs and will not diagnose thrush.
 
She has a healthy, varied diet, albiet high in diary.  She is supplementing
with lecithin, evening primrose oil, and flax seed oil.  She took the
homepathic phytolacca for the plug (she believes this has helped) and borax
for thrush, just in case.  No other meds or anything out of the ordinary.
 
I know I'm not providing a lot of details, but I wanted to keep the points
brief to see if something jumps out at anyone...maybe I am missing something
obvious?
 
My gut feeling is this is a case of oversupply with not enough milk being
removed from the breast often enough, made worse by a sloppy latch (working
on that!!).  I suggested that she might want to look at actively reducing
her milk supply, but both her doctor and midwife quickly vetoed that as a
bad idea and now I'm black-listed around here.
 
I'd love to hear any ideas from all you wonderful minds!
 
Blessings!
 
Karyn-grace Clarke, IBCLC, LLLL

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