Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Clogged Duct? What do I do?

Hi.

For the last several days, I've had very little milk come out of my left breast. Today, the same breast has been very sore to the touch like it is bruised but it isn't. The left breast also looks visualy bigger (swolen) conmpared to the right one. It is becoming quite painful to the touch.

I've been trying to massage the breast and hand express after pumping to get excess milk from it but still very little comes out - maybe a drop with hand expression and just a few drops with the pump.

We're due to travel for the delivery of our baby on Friday. Any additional advice? Should I schedule to see the Laction nurse though I don't know what she would do for me.

So, I think I unclogged the duct. I used a heating pad and hand expressed until I emptied the breast and it feels much much better!

It appears as if the left breast does not like the pump for some reason and does much better with hand expression so I guess that's what I'll do to empty the left breast. It's a lot work though.

So, I think I unclogged the duct. I used a heating pad and hand expressed until I emptied the breast and it feels much much better!

It appears as if the left breast does not like the pump for some reason and does much better with hand expression so I guess that's what I'll do to empty the left breast. It's a lot work though.

Jill,
Glad that helped. I have to sometimes massage the breast when I pump if I have lumps.

I was going to suggest taking Lecithin. You can get it at Walgreens. My LC suggested taking 1 pill per hour until it unclogs. You can take it regularly (like 3-4 per day) to help avoid future clogs.

I got clogs a lot the last time I induced, but mine were caused by a milk blister, so I had to pick out the milk blister and then the clog went away.

Glad you solved the problem.
Jennifer

Jill, I also have a breast that doesn't respond as well to the pump. I pump for 20-30 minutes and after pumping I can always express more from the R breast. Glad you got the clog taken care of. Sounds painful.