Dear Peg,

I had an experience with a mom with one-sided engorgement and abundant
supply; actually x3, with her 3 sons.  Her last baby's breastfeeding
presented her with the most problems.  Am writing from memory without notes
in front of me so hope I'll remember important pieces.

Basically she had persistent blocked ducts in R breast, much pain with
nursing.  On her own she had gone 12 then 24 hrs without nursing on that
breast (expressed only to comfort, but actually I think she suffered thru
some major discomfort with this-her approach, not mine) which did help but
then as soon as she used the R breast it would rapidly increase and plug.
She used cabbage on affected side, had ultrasound, given by physical
therapist (who had done this once before, so "experienced"), tried sage,
mint, homeopathic (Pulsatilla) just once-all this over about a month's time,
as things would get better and then problems returned.  What seemed to
finally be the culprit was a milk blister/nipple bleb, which she felt caused
the blocked ducts; once that was treated by opening and then keeping moist
(Jack's APNO) and gently abraded daily, the problem resolved.
This occured when baby was 4 mos; he's now 14-15 mos and she recently called
me re a thrush problem but nursing and breast problems kept in check with
diligent attention to balancing sides nursed.
I posted on this mom on Lactnet and received help re the ultrasound from C.
Fetherson so you could search archives of 10-11 mos ago.  This mom saw a
breast surgeon I referred her to(can't remember why, would have to look that
up) and when I spoke with him he confirmed my suspicions that she may well
have an anomaly in ducts affected because with all 3 babies it was always the
R breast and that exact same area-upper half of breast.
I would be leary of birth control pills with a young infant simply because,
as LLL states, safety for infant not known (Answer Book).
Hope this helps in some way.  I'd let your mom and mine communicate but she's
always so busy; tho maybe she'd be willing to receive a call.

Barbara Latterner, BSN, RN, IBCLC

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