If you have ever experienced a clogged milk duct then you will know how painful it can be. Whether you are thinking about breastfeeding or in the midst of your journey, clogged milk ducts are the last thing that you want! Read further to find out Will a Clogged Milk Duct Eventually Dry Up?
Will a Clogged Milk Duct Eventually Dry Up?
Will a clogged milk duct eventually dry up? The good news is that if you continue to feed then it should eventually work its way out in around 48 hours.
But clogged milk ducts are never on a nursing mom’s agenda. They can affect your supply and make your breastfeeding journey a stressful time. If you are lucky not to experience one yet then consider yourself lucky. Not only are they painful but they can cause further infection if left untreated.
Will Clogged Milk Ducts Dry Up?
Clogged ducts can be a pain! If you have experienced clogged ducts then you will understand that the sharp sensation can leave your feeding/expressing journey intense and stressful.
Generally speaking, if you continue to feed then your breast will work the blocked duct out without any need for intervention from you in around 48 hours but there are occasions where you may be backed up for longer than you anticipate.
Read further for more info about clogged ducts and ways to help release them.
What is a Clogged Duct?
Your breasts are amazing. During pregnancy, they are gearing up for the production of milk. Made up of the Alveoli, milk ducts, areola, and nipple, each part of the breast has a responsibility when feeding a newborn.
Alveoli is like the head chef, they are tiny sacs that produce your milk. Once they have made enough they store it and send it through to the milk ducts when you begin nursing.
Your milk ducts are like the quality control of the kitchen. They have many connections that come from the Alveoli and flow the milk to your nipples.
Finally, your nipple acts like the waitress, tiny pores release your milk once the areola has been stimulated by a nursing bub. Any stimulation at the areola sends signals to the body through nerve endings allowing the release of milk.
So as you can see this lactation team is readily busy transporting and delivering your milk to your budding baby. There are times when things don’t work in harmony, blockages appear in the milk ducts.
Blockages can work their way out many times without the need for you to do anything but dealing with a stubborn blockage can create further issues and lead to infection.
So what symptoms do you need to look out for?
Symptoms of blocked ducts
While you are nursing or expressing yourself, you tend to take care of your breasts and notice them a little more. Noticing a change may be obvious but just in case here are some of the symptoms to look out for.
- Pain – This is hardly going to go unnoticed but if you are feeling sharp pain while nursing then it could be a blockage.
- Temperature – If you are suffering with a fever or if your breast is warm to touch in areas then this could be backed up milk.
- Feeling unwell- If you feel full of cold, chills, and aches then check out your breasts.
- Blood – Blood in your milk won’t harm your baby but it will alter the taste. If you notice this then be sure to seek advice.
- Infection – Blocked ducts that haven’t been unclogged can develop into an infection.
- Baby – Does milk supply decrease after a clogged duct? Yes! A blockage can hinder your supply. If your baby seems unsatisfied after a feed then they may be struggling to get as much milk as they have done.
Drying Up Breast Milk With a Clogged Duct – Putting the Best Breast Forward
I have mentioned the importance of identifying a clogged duct but once you have one what can you do?
‣ Warm Compress
When I suffered from a blockage this felt like heaven! The warm compress helps to soften your breast allowing it a chance to freely pass through to the nipple.
I found standing under the shower was best as you could wash away any leakage without becoming sticky.
‣ Gentle Massage
Again this helped so much, kneading the blocked area gently breaks down the lumps and bumps of the clog. Not that I spent the entire time in the shower but it was a great relief just letting the force of the water patter on the sore area.
‣ Continue to Nurse
A blockage won’t harm your baby, apart from having a negative impact on your supply you can continue to nurse, and sometimes the suckling from the baby is enough to unclog the milk duct itself.
‣ Pump or Hand Express
I honestly found the pump too painful when I had a blocked duct but hand expressing allowed me to ease the pressure and reduced engorgement of the breast. Instant relief! However, as I was trying to reduce it, it was a vicious circle, the more you express the more your body thinks it needs to make, hence I needed to express in order to dry up eventually. A long process indeed! Seek advice from a lactation consultant for the best ways to reduce supply and never stop cold turkey!
Causes of a Clog
So rather than put all our attention on will a clogged milk duct dry up? Let’s look at why they occur and tips to prevent one in the first place.
‣ Pumping
When you use an electrical pump it can be quicker and more convenient. It is crucial that your breast pump fits. One piece of your pump is called the flange. This is the funnel that attaches to your breast ensuring that milk collection is transported to your storage bag or bottle.
Using a flange that is too small can create friction on your nipple preventing the release of breastmilk. On the other hand, using one that is too big can cause gaps not creating a snug suction leading to a backflow of milk.
As every woman’s breasts are different it is important to measure your flanges correctly. Check out this link to correctly determine the size you need.
‣ Feeding Routine
The routine I am talking about here is not how many hours you go in between feeding but ensuring that you are using both breasts whilst nursing.
Many babies can prefer one breast over the other, or if you are still in mombie mode it is easy to forget which breast needs to be released next.
It is important that you switch breasts in between each feed. Sticking to one side will result in a clogged duct as you will have an imbalance in supply.
To help you remember try putting a loose hair band around the wrist of the side you last fed on. This takes the hard work out of which side to go to next.
If you already have a blocked duct then see if your baby will spend more time on the affected side. This will help to release the blockage.
‣ Stopping Cold Turkey
This is the massive mistake I made! I was exclusively pumping and ended up with a blocked duct, as my supply reduced I recognized I wasn’t producing enough to satisfy my hungry bub.
As a mom of two, I turned to formula. Without recognizing I was infected, making my blockage worse! In the end, after speaking with my doctor they gave me the tip about hand expressing in the shower to release the blockage and eventually my milk dried up 3 months after.
Stopping cold turkey was not one of my best ideas I must admit!
How Long Can You Leave a Clogged Milk Duct?
Having a clogged duct is not ideal but it is common in nursing moms. Usually, if you have a blockage it will reside within a few days but if you are dealing with a more stubborn blockage then a trip to the doctor may be necessary.
Sometimes women need medication or professional advice to help alleviate their symptoms. Leaving symptoms too long can result in further infections like Mastitis which can only be cleared with antibiotics.
Wrapping Up
To answer the question, Will a clogged milk duct eventually dry up? The good news is that by continuing your routine as normal, with gentle massage and warm compress the blockage can clear itself.
Remember this can be the first time that your baby will be looking after your needs, by feeding a little more on the affected breast they too can shift the blockage.
In all, ensure you stick to a good feeding routine, ensuring both breasts are emptied equally, and if you are using a pump make sure it fits appropriately then you shouldn’t have an issue with blocked ducts.
If you do just follow the tips mentioned, you will soon be on the feeding train full steam ahead.
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