With permission to post I am reaching out for help on this one— I have a mom with a 4 month old nursling who has just finished round 3 of not just plugged ducts but seriously plugged ducts. Each time it’s been worse and more difficult to resolve.
They’ve all been in the same breast and in the same area of the breast (on top). We’ve used the “usual” methods of warm moist compresses, warm showers with massage, nursing in all different positions and pumping with a Hospital grade pump. This most recent episode she had a very demarcated firm area she called “the size of a hamburger patty” that dense and painful. She started lethicin on day 2. She kept baby nursing that side as much as baby was agreeable to and was unable to hand express or pump out more than a few drops at a time. After 3 days with no relief her physician put her on antibiotics thinking it was or was going to be mastitis. 
She used an electric toothbrush as well as a larger massager with the warm soaks while nursing or pumping and finally on day 6 the plug “split in 2” and began to get smaller. She now, Day 8, feels her supply is down but I have her resting, nursing or pumping and snuggling her little one. To decrease demands on her body. She continues in lethicin 1000mg/day, a B Complex vitamin, ibuprofen, and her antibiotic. We’ve reviewed potential causes and I’m coming up empty on what it is.
A pediatrician (who was formerly an IBCLC) suggested an ultrasound to look at the Lactation structures but I am unsure what to ask for or what any results would mean— 
Sorry for the long post but could use your help fellow Lactnetters!
Thanks,
Molly

Molly McMillion RN BSN IBCLC LCCE CTTS CPST
Sent from my iPhone
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