blocked duct - in agony

[dcb]

i've started weaning dd (6m) and she's been really grumpy today due to tiredness and constipation - so not fed as much as usual. the pain in my right boob started this afternoon in retrospect and is now killing me. there's a discrete area of swelling which really hurts. have tried hot flannelsand bath plus massaging, expressing and taken some ibuprofen. i really don't want to end up with mastitis and in any case i'm in agony already! any top tips would be appreciated. (this comes after me posting on a thread y'day saying i was lucky enough never to have had anything like this in 6m of bf.....)

[NotQuiteCockney]

Ok, is she still feeding? Is she still up? Will she feed on the painful side? If so, please feed her with her chin pointing to the lump. This really really works.

If you can't get her chin at the lump, use a wide-toothed comb (or your fingers spaced like a wide-toothed comb) to comb the lump while feeding. That should sort it out.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Oh, if she's not up, please express lots from that side, while combing the difficult bit.

Ibuprofen is your friend. If you start getting fever, then you need to get ABs.

You might want to get advice on here about the constipation, too. It's a common problem with newly weaned babies.

[dcb]

thanks! will try. she's due to wake up any minute. i bet the little monkey will sleep "through the night" for the first time ever, just when i need her....

[cropper]

Had the same sort of thing for two days last week i feel for you!! I kept latching her on for frequent feeds, used hot flannels nothing seemed to work!! Finally when she went to bed I had a red hot bath and massaged the lump in my boobs which helped then i expressed and expressed and expressed and thankfully it came out.Maybe a visit to the Dr?

[dcb]

thanks cropper - did it really last 2 days? had a v.v hot bath earlier - was bright red when i got out. NQC - can i ask you what you mean by pointing her chin. the hard bit is on the upper outer side of right boob so not sure how would do it. hooray she's awake - off i go....

[NotQuiteCockney]

Well, then you want to feed either with her lying down and you lowering your boob into her mouth from above, with her legs ending up around your right ear. Or with you lying down, with her lying on top of you, again, with her legs around your right ear.

It's always somewhere goofy like that, mine was on the top of my left breast, but DS2 was 1 by then, and so he could lie on top of me.

[dcb]

i've never been so grateful to dd for waking up so much overnight - fed her twice and settled whilst doing the "combing" on the second feed - thankyou! who needs nhsdirect when you have MN? far quicker and much more sensible.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Oh, good, so it's sorted now? Thank goodness. Blocked ducts suck. So to speak.

[Myrtle1]

Hi Dcb, I had one last week.
It took 2 days of coming the lump and massaging towards the nipple plus lots of hand expressing and ibuprofen. I hope its getting better, they really are painful

[Notquitesotiredmum]

Well done. I was going to emphasise that Ibuprofen do help as they take down the internal swelling and allow the milk to flow a little easier, whilst you are expressing/feeding like mad from the painful side.

IME no gp seems to understand the mechanics of it and they always seem to offer antibiotics immediately!