In a message dated 2/12/01 10:10:28 AM Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: << The reason I am writing (sorry it's been this long), is to ask for people's experiences with regards to the decrease in the baby's ability to drain the breast adequately and what other suggestions might be helpful here.>> Alicia, The mom I recently worked with who had severe upper quadrant plugs (never developed mastitis) over a period of about a month off and on found that using cold to her breast in between feeds for ten min out of the hour was very helpful. I reasoned that the ducts were inflamed, possibly edematous tissue around them and the icing (cold packs) brought relief and enabled drainage following heat (the "bucket" method of warm water in a bowl and leaning over with breast in bowl and gentle massage) and breastfeed. She also had a milk blister which needed opening to drain those ducts. This approach of cold alternating with heat has proven helpful with other moms with plugs and mastitis as well. <<At this point, she said that pumping really didn't work on that breast (she had been able to get only 1 ml out of the affected breast compared with 3ml from the other side -- the affected breast had previously been the high producing breast). >> Above mentioned mom and every other one I've worked with mastitis/plugs had much less milk when trying to BF or pump-thus baby's fussines at the breast. Once plugs resolved there was a noticeable difference with baby's satisfaction at breast. (Do you mean oz above rather than ml? ) <<Of interest, the milk coming out of that breast was very thick and creamy in appearance, very different from the other side.>> Because that milk is not being replenished due to breast getting signal of this duct is full-when it's really edematous due to inflammation? Sounds also like this mom is overdoing, perhaps not breastfeeding often enough due to separations and the intro of bottles may have had an effect on baby's desire for faster flow from breast, especially one that's already slowly flowing due to mastitis/plugs. Just some thoughts-hope it's of some help. Good luck! I've heard from other MD's that due to schedule of residency that BF was compromised-hope this couple can sustain it! Barbara Latterner, BSN, RN, IBCLC Brewster, NY *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html