Blocked milk ducts – The mother will provide exclusive breastfeeding for six months after the little one is born. From breast milk, newborns will get the nutrition they need. After 6 months of age, your little one will get additional nutrients from complementary foods with the breast milk that he consumes.
Breastfeeding has many benefits, both for babies and nursing mothers. In the process of breastfeeding a baby, there are mothers who can give their milk smoothly without any problems, but there are also mothers who experience problems so that the breastfeeding process is hampered and their little one does not get the maximum milk.
Breastfeeding mothers can experience various problems while breastfeeding, one of which is a blocked milk duct. Recognize the characteristics of blocked milk ducts and how to deal with them as follows.
Blocked milk ducts
Giving breast milk to your little one is certainly a must for a mother. Your little one will get the various nutrients he needs from breast milk before he gets to know complementary foods. It’s just that, sometimes in the process of breastfeeding your little one, there are many obstacles that mothers experience. Where because of these obstacles the breastfeeding process becomes obstructed and your little one does not get enough breast milk.
One of the problems that may be experienced by mothers while breastfeeding is a blocked milk duct. Blocked milk ducts can occur at any time, whether it’s when you start breastfeeding your little one or even if you’ve walked around to breastfeed your little one.
Causes of Blocked Ducts
Problems with blockage of the milk ducts usually only occur in one breast. However, there are some mothers who experience it on both breasts. There are several things that can cause a mother to experience blocked milk ducts. The following are some of the causes of blocked milk ducts in nursing mothers.
- Breast milk production is more than the amount of breast milk that your little one sucks
- Mothers do not give breast milk to babies regularly and routinely
- Excessive pressure on the breasts, such as using a bra that is too tight, when expressing milk, sleeping in an improper position, etc.
- Mothers experience milk blisters or white spots that cause clogged nipple holes
- The mother experiences several conditions such as fatigue, stress, a weak immune system and anemia
Characteristics of Blocked Milk Ducts
When the milk duct is blocked, you will experience several symptoms, one of which is swollen and painful breasts. Well, here are some of the symptoms or characteristics of a blocked milk duct that you need to know.
- Breast pain
- When pressed there is a hard part of the breast
- In clogged areas, some mothers experience reddened skin
- Feeling hot on the breast
- There is a small lump in the breast
- In one or both breasts the milk ducts become slower
- In certain breast areas the skin texture becomes harder
Blockage of milk flow is usually not accompanied by fever. It’s just that, if it’s accompanied by a fever you have to be more vigilant about the condition of mastitis. Mastitis is a condition in which breast tissue becomes inflamed.
When you experience a blockage in the milk ducts, your little one may become more fussy while feeding. This is because babies when sucking on the nipples find it difficult, different as usual.
How to Get Rid of a Blocked Milk Duct?
One way that you can do so that the blockage becomes smooth is by continuing to breastfeed your little one. You can breastfeed your little one frequently. Even though you may feel pain, you still have to do it. Do not delay breastfeeding your little one because it will cause the breasts to hurt even more.
The mouth of the little one who sucks your breasts will help the blocked duct return smoothly. If after breastfeeding your little breast still feels full, you can fix it pumping breast milk.
Not only breastfeeding or pumping breast milk, to overcome blocked milk ducts, you can try some of the tips below.
Compress Using Warm Water
You can compress the sore breast using warm water. However, make sure the water is not too hot as it will cause irritation. Apart from compressing the breasts, bathing using warm water will also help.
In addition, you can do gentle massage on the breasts to get rid of blocked ducts. Avoid pressure on the breasts such as using a bra or tight clothes. While sleeping you can take off the bra.
Eat Healthy Foods
Eating healthy food is certainly highly recommended. Sufficient daily nutritional needs to keep the body healthy. In addition, eating healthy foods for breastfeeding mothers will affect breast milk. Where the quality of breast milk will increase, besides that your immune system will also increase so that it will not be susceptible to disease.
Sufficient Fluid Needs
It is advisable to meet the needs of fluids in every day, as well as breastfeeding mothers. For breastfeeding mothers, getting enough fluids will help increase milk production. Therefore, it is highly recommended for nursing mothers to meet their fluid needs.
Enough Sleep Time
Adequate sleep time is very important. You can ask your family for support so you can set a bedtime. Ask for support from husbands or other families in looking after your little one while you are resting.
Avoid Stress
As we know, stress has a bad impact on health. You must be able to manage stress well. Do things that are soothing and make you feel more relaxed like reading, exercising or doing meditation. Some fun and fun activities will help you deal with the stress you are experiencing.
Pay attention to the position of the baby when breastfeeding
You must pay attention to the position of the baby while feeding. You can do various positions when breastfeeding your little one, but make sure you and your little one stay comfortable. It is known that the position of breastfeeding with your little one’s chin on the sore breast can help make the blockage smooth.
Choose the Right Bra
Blockage in the milk duct can be made worse by pressure. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right bra. Using a narrow bra or a tight top will create blockages.
Therefore, make sure the bra you use fits and matches your size. You should also wear loose tops. You must still pay at
tention to comfort with what you use.
If the pain you are experiencing does not get better, it would be better if you have your condition checked by a doctor. In addition, you should go to the doctor immediately if you experience blockage of the milk duct for more than 2 days. This is because the blocked milk ducts can cause infection in the breasts and cause fever.
Those are some of the characteristics and ways to deal with blocked milk ducts that are important to know. Hope it is useful.
