Diane: My guess with this pattern of incomplete duct drainage and mastitis is that there's yeast in them 'thar hills. Whether the chicken or the egg...I think treating it agressively will solve the problem. What I mean is that yeast can actually CAUSE plugged ducts, and cause babies not to fully open their mouths (think of vaginal yeast--would you want to stretch those tissues?) Anyway, if yeast invades the ducts, filaments of yeast can cause plugged ducts; resulting in bacterial mastitis from milk stasis. However, we all know the reverse can be true (bact. mastitis begets antibiotics, which begets yeast). Treat the yeast topically (clotrimazole or gentian violet), systemically (fluconozole), intestinally (Lactobacilli and FOX), dietarially, and deal with the ductal inflammation with NSAIDs such as Ibuprophen. As a reminder, I had a paper in MIDWIFERY TODAY on treating yeast with non-prescription means. There's also plenty of expertise right here on LN. 'Hope this helps. Chris : )Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC email: [log in to unmask] : ) : )HSR & Health Educational Consultant voice/fax: 541 753 7340 : ) : )------------**CHANGE THE WORLD, NURTURE A CHILD!**------------------ : )