Breastfeeding Challenge: Plugged Milk Duct Although a plugged milk duct can be painful it is not serious, however left unattended it can turn into a serious thing, such as the breast infection Mastitis. There are some things that can cause a plugged milk duct and there are a few things that you need to do to get through one. You may experience a normal breastfeeding day and all of the sudden you get a plugged duct and for this reason it is a good idea to know how to take care of one.

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What Causes Plugged Milk Ducts and How You Can Unplug Them

When you are breastfeeding and you find a tender spot on your breast, that sometimes you can feel as a lump or the area appears to be red, you probably have discovered that you have a plugged milk duct. Getting rid of the plugged milk duct can be easy and may disrupt you very little in your everyday life.

As soon as you see that you have a plugged milk duct it is a good idea to start to get rid of it right away, to avoid a breast infection. Apply a hot pack to the area that their is a plugged duct, again you will likely feel a small lump and the area may be red. Continue to use the hot pack throughout the day and even while you sleep if you like. Some moms find that a hot bath where they are able to soak their sore breast helps their plugged duct and even a hot shower where you are running water over the sore area will help.

Breastfeed your baby as often as possible, by nursing frequently you will drain your breast which will keep things a lot more comfortable. As much as you should always switch sides so that your breast are emptied at the same rate when you have a plugged duct in one breast it is better to nurse on the side that has the plugged duct more often. When it comes time to feed your baby nurse on the plugged duct side, then nurse on the other and then on the side with the plugged milk duct again. Then the next time that it is time to nurse feed your baby first on plugged duct side, even though it was the last side you nursed on, and then the other side and then again with the side that has the plugged duct. Nurse as much as possible on the side will the plugged duct, but don't forget to empty the other side as well.

Be sure to rest up when your have plugged duct. Taking it easy and resting will help you get over your plugged duct a lot quicker. You may feel a bit of flu like symptoms when you have a plugged duct so you will probably want to rest anyway.

You may wonder what caused you plugged milk duct in the first place. If you became engorged, or even if your milk supply increased but your baby decreased their nursing session slightly you may develop a plugged duct. If you baby was positioned in a way that put uncomfortable pressure on your breast might cause a plugged duct, or if your baby was not effectively suckling or latched on my cause a milk duct to become plugged. The most common reason that you get a plugged duct is when you baby chooses to nurse less abruptly, and sometimes even gradually, if you will feel that your baby has decreased in asking to breastfeed you might offer them the chance to nurse to keep your usual routine. Although a plugged milk duct does not need to be a serious issue it is a breastfeeding problem that should be dealt with immediately.

A plugged milk duct is actually one of the most common breastfeeding problems that a mother can experience but thankfully it can easily be dealt with, especially if you are prepared for it. Breastfeeding Challenges and Solutions can offer information to help prepare you for other potential breastfeeding problems that you may experience.