I use castor oil packs, not moist heat--castor oil facilitates lymphatic drainage. I also use homeopathy--usually phytolocca for plugged ducts, but hepar sulph for those that recur often. I take a very close look at mom's diet and history of breast health. I had a friend whose plugged ducts stopped recurring after she had lymphatic drainage done. I also often see a correlation to food allergies, especially cow milk. I think iodine deficiency is a likely culprit and often refer moms for testing (a urine test--don't know of any allopaths do it though.).


Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA

Intuitive Parenting Network LLC





Date:    Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:37:34 -0700
From:    Ann Marie Henninger <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: recurrent plugged ducts

I have permission to post the following experience and would appreciate any 
other suggestions that might help with reoccurring clogged ducts.

Infant delivered at 41 weeks the end of December 2007 via primary C/S for 
failure to progress in posterior position was 7lbs 10oz and had an APGAR of 
8 - 9.

In the first couple days post partum, mom presented with a hard lump in R 
armpit firm to touch 3 fingers by 4 fingers with a palpable circumference. 
This lump resolved with moist heat, massage, and side-lying nursing over a 
period of days and has not reoccurred.

Babe has been exclusively breastfed since birth, until recently starting 
rice cereal with breast milk 2Xday.  She always drains breasts by pumping 
when noticing a full duct after babe stops feeding, pumping on average once 
a day mostly at bedtime getting 2 to 5 oz.   The following strategies have 
been used to help prevent both left and right breasts getting a clogged duct 
(almost every duct, and sometimes the same duct, but not one more than 
another) without signs or symptoms of inflammation or mastitis and inspite 
of the strategies to prevent clogged duct;

Use of 1200mg non-GMO lethicin 2 X day; breast compressions with feedings, 
and when clogged duct occurs using moist heat, massage, pumping and change 
in feeding positions.  Only one out of about 7 times did she note congealed 
milk in the pore when working on unclogging the duct.  It first occurred 
monthly, then about 3 months ago started weekly.  She noted the duct would 
be painful 8/10 for pain score, and took 2 to 3 days to resolve.  Still no 
acute symptoms of mastitis.  About 5 weeks ago the episodes noted were every 
other day.   The most recent two were about 3 weeks ago and this time on the 
left breast about 4oclock, then 1 week later on the left breast at 1oclock.

At a La Leche League meeting, it was suggested that she keep a feeding 
journal - side fed on, duration, any notes on babe during nursing session, 
any notice of clog.  As well, it was suggested that maybe the type of bra 
may be affecting the flow of the milk.  There has not been a change in the 
type that she wears, but rather she has taken to wearing none at night, with 
no pad, to relax and air out both breasts.

Any advice welcome.





I am sending this for a fellow Lactnetter who cannot access the site/is 
unable to Email Lactnet

Ann Marie Henninger IBCLC on behalf of Pamela Arnott, IBCLC


 


 







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