Patient's question:
The breasts during lactation are often blocked with milk ducts, causing. Heat application and massage have been ineffective, and the blockage recurs after a few days of relief. What could be the reason for this? Can antibiotics be used if the milk ducts are not draining, or are there other solutions? I clean the nipples before and after each feeding, but why does this still happen?Doctor's answer:
Hello:Mammary duct blockage refers to the presence of painful points or lumps in the breast, but the mother does not have a fever. The cause is that a duct is not fully unblocked, becoming inflamed and swollen. The pressure behind the blocked area increases, causing inflammation in the surrounding soft tissue. This "lump" phenomenon often occurs only on one side of the breast at a time.
If the pain and lump are accompanied by fever and flu-like symptoms (fatigue, aches, etc.), this is mastitis. Other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, may also occur. Breastfeeding mothers may sometimes develop mastitis when other family members have colds or the flu. Mastitis also often occurs only on one side of the breast at a time.
Regardless of whether the breast pain is caused by duct blockage or mastitis, the treatment is the same: applying heat, nursing more frequently from the inflamed side, and resting.
Applying heat enhances blood circulation in the painful area, thereby accelerating healing. Some mothers use heating pads or baby water bottles. Gentle massage also helps with treatment, starting from the back of the painful point, and expressing any dried milk from the nipple with warm water. One simple method is to lie sideways in a warm bathtub or stand under a warm shower, soaking and gently massaging the breast. Use both hands to cradle the breast—one palm above and one below—and perform gentle, firm circular movements, starting from the back of the lump and gradually moving toward the nipple. After heat treatment and massage, immediately nurse the baby or use a breast pump to help relieve the blockage.
Frequent nursing helps prevent the breast from becoming overly full and keeps milk flowing. As long as the breast feels