I was an exclusive pumper that dealt with a lot of clogs. If I can offer any advice to other pumping moms, make sure you have the right flange size! Also be aware that your flange size can also change throughout your journey. Also, if you have measured and know you have the right flange size but still see a lot of tissue being pulled in and/or your bipples are hitting the back of the flange, consider that you might have elastic nipples. This can also cause you to not empty well. Once I learned this for myself and tried some other flanges (other than the hard plastic ones) that are more geared for elastic nipples, I emptied better than I ever had and had way more comfortable. I really liked both LackTek flanges and the silicone Pumpin Pal flanges. Hope that helps someone!
@@TheWesternWolfe yes I have a spectra now and it works wonders with the right flanges too. I still however have a hard area that doesn’t seem to want to budge. Maybe it’s just my breast? Idk.
@eldaz3986 I would suggest maybe trying Pumpin Pal flanges if you are sure you're in the right sized Medela flange and are still getting clogs. The Sympony is like the G Wagon of pumps so you should be emptying.
Thank you for posting updated, evidence-based advice! I followed the traditional advice with my first child, and it made the situation much worse, ultimately ending my breastfeeding journey. I followed the BAIT protocall this time, and my breast health improved within 12 hours! I am so grateful for your channel and the important information you share.
Guys, I used the BAIT method and it worked immediately. I took Children's Motrin because I didn't have the adult version. Then, I used ice cubes and put them put them in a Ziploc and then wrapped them in a paper towel because I didn't have ice packs, and then I napped for 30 minutes. When I woke up from my nap, I had a bunch of milk leak out, and the pressure and hardness were gone, as did the pain.
Thank you. I had a clogged duct last week and spent an entire day trying to get it cleared. So painful and annoying. Thanks for the updated information. I have to take Sunflower lecithin daily, if I skip more than one day I end up with a clog... but I was one of those people who used heat! I don’t know why I never made the connection between heat and inflammation. 🤦🏻♀️I’m also a certified lymphedema therapist and never understood the “aggressive massage” recommendation. You’re literally crushing all those lymphatic pathways making it impossible to clear. I use a wide tooth comb and gently sweep the area behind the lump towards the nipple. That’s what I’ve found works for me.
I had a preemie 8 years ago. I had MAJOR oversupply!! I was constantly nursing, pumping, and bottle feeding. No joke, I had blocked milk ducts in sections of BOTH breasts for 3 days a week for 9 months!! Agony would have been an improved feeling compared to what I went through. When my kiddo wanted to stop at 9 months old, I danced a jig!!! No advice at the time worked. I stumbled on ice myself. Thanks so much for helping other women to cease suffering. I personally completely understand women not breastfeeding. I stuck with it but it can be horrifyingly, excruciatingly painful. My sympathy to all moms suffering. Just do your best. Don't let women NOT suffering shame you and cause you more suffering. Had my baby NOT been a preemie, I would probably not have made myself suffer for so long. I did it because I was medically advised to keep nursing as they said preemies need it desperately.
I had my first very painful clogged milk duct and was miserable until I saw your video and followed your tips. It disappeared completely in 24 hours. You are a life saver, God bless you for this video!
I was told by a friend to use heat and massage when I got my first clog a couple of weeks postpartum. It was horrendous, so painful to do, ended up making the swelling worse and full on mastitis, had to take antibiotics which led to a drop in supply 😩 The second time I used ice packs, anti inflammatory and sunflower lecithin, so much better. I take a daily dose of the sunflower lecithin now and exclusively pumping so always make sure to fully empty every time.
As an exclusive pumper I had a ton of clogs. To a point where I had issues with keeping up with supply. I tried this for my last clog and it resolved overnight! So thankful for this I’ve tried everything!
This is great advice. One other thing I noticed was that I tended to get plugged ducts every morning after I had had alcohol the night before. My theory is that the alcohol was inflammatory for me. After I stopped drinking while breastfeeding I started getting a lot less plugged ducts. I also got less clogged ducts after my milk supply calmed down a bit several months postpartum.
Please see a lactation consultant and make sure if you’re pumping that your flanges are sized correctly. I’m currently about 5 months into breastfeeding my daughter. We had to start by exclusively pumping because she was in the NICU and I was getting horrible clogs every other day or so. Turns out I was using flanges that were too big although the LC’s at the hospital didn’t catch that detail. I hired a LC to come to our house and she was a godsend to correct the size I needed. Also once we were able to start nursing more that helped tremendously. The body responds so much better to baby than to a pump. It’s psychological. Those were the two things that have made the biggest difference for me. I also take sunflower lecithin daily.
I started getting weekly clogged ducts at 3 mos, my baby is 7 mos now. I think I was using flanges that were too large as well. I have a clog now going on day 4 that nothing I normally do will budge😢.
SO glad you are sharing the updated recommendations - I’m ebf my first (14 1/2 weeks) and I had two bouts of mastitis in the first 2 months - I went to see a lactation consultant who shared with me the updated recommendations (I had also aggressively tried to massage out the clog/apply heat) and since then, while I have gotten several clogs, no more mastitis thank goodness. I take sunflower lecithin daily now, and whenever I have a clog I take ibuprofen, feed/pump regularly but not any more than usual, and keep ice on in between feeds, and it typically clears within 12 hours. As always, love your content and so happy you’re back!
Thanks for this - really interesting and helpful. I’m on my third breastfeeding journey and have got lots of clogs each time. I wish I’d had this advice sooner! First time round I also did heat, heavy massage, etc. and it was miserable. The most helpful things for me are ice when baby’s asleep, ibuprofen and feeding with the baby’s chin pointed towards the clog.
This video helped me so much today. I woke up with a couple clogged ducts that became a big huge ball on one side. It hurt so bad, I did heat, shower, massage, had baby try to unclog it, nothing worked. I put ice and took ibuprofen and waited about 40 minutes. Latched baby on and ducts got unclogged! Thank you so much.
Super helpful. My doula had said something similar. Been having issues for days and not been getting any better. So now I'm going to try this and hope things get better. Thank you for the video!!
Just here to complain about my experience. As an exclusive pumper, I had sooo many clogs. I had a particularly bad month that started with full mastitis (ie fever, red, pain, etc), treated with antibiotics, then I kept getting clogs followed by redness on either breast, so not infectious but inflammatory mastitis. I finally went to see a gynecologist who, to keep it short, said that didn't make any sense and that it maybe was skin irritation. I eventually gave up on asking about inflammatory mastitis and asked about therapeutic ultrasound for the frequent clogged ducts, imaging, or other labs, and she just doubled down that there was nothing to do. And while I was telling them about all the things I had been trying including sunflower lecithin, she looked at me like I had 3 heads. I was so mad I left crying, because my supply had taken such a hit from all the clogs, and I was exclusively pumping for my son who, at the time had been hospitalized since birth till 5 months. I did actually know about these recommendations at the time, though they were released a little after I started pumping so I definitely did massage and heat in the beginning. But yeah, breastfeeding and women's medicine has a long way to go.
I just spent an entire day using the hot shower/aggressive massage method and it feels worse and the area is more inflamed than it was yesterday🙄thank you for posting this I’m excited to try this method🤞🏻
Could you please do a video about relactation. I want to start breastfeeding again after 4 months of formular feeding but it's so hard. Glad you are back. Love your Videos! ❤
That helped me alot! It worked.. first i was little afraid of the icepacks but it helped alot! Now my breast are getting better :) Thank you🥳 I wished that i saw your video before!
I got mastitis 2 weeks postpartum. First time mom, stressed as heck, this was a nightmare…fever and pain. I was miserable. Kept applying heat/cold, antibiotics, and massage. It took a full week to start feeling better. Thank you for the info!!
Thank you, thank you!!! I was freaking about over this. I've never experienced a clog duct before. I followed your recommendations and was unclog' after 18 hours.
Thank you so much for this updated advice! I had a clogged duct after having surgery and taking antibiotics. I had to pump and I felt the left breast hurting so much. I did everything you recommended and less than 24 hrs it was gone!!!
Wow. This is great because I think we are all used to the “old” info that you used to get as well. Thank you for this information. Just a suggestion to add the word “updated” tips/information on your title to get more clicks. I know you say “new” but since it’s such a short word it may not get the attention from ppl who will find this information helpful and they may just pass it assuming they have “heard it all before” without realizing this talks about new studies and recommendations.
I have found your videos so helpful throughout my motherhood journey! Do you think you could do a video on the the new RSV vaccine for pregnant women? I think it might be getting approved soon for pregnancy
One additional thing to note, this only happens to 2% of women, but it’s important to know if you can not get the clog out it can turn into a galactocele and needs to be drained by an ultrasound guided needle, and may need to be drained more than once. This happened with my first baby. I currently have a clog with my 2nd took ibuprofen last night and did ice, still clogged. Hoping it resolved soon..
Thank you for the tips! I slept with a cold compress last night and took anti-inflammatory medicine. I was scared of my supply and the hardening off my affected side when I had to “rest”. But bub managed to nurse the next morning.
i had so many clogs like the first 3-4 months. Thank you for this. If I have another baby, this will help! the WIC lactation consultants tried to help but they gave me the "massage", "hot shower" talk, asked if my clothing was too tight or my pump was too small.
Hey i just came to ur channel to say thanks to u I got duct clog on the weekend and it was veryy painful just came across ur video and took the same prescribed medicines and did massage The issue got resolved in 12 hrs Alhamdullilah Again thanx alot to u keep posting good stuff for us thanks
Thanks for the awesome tips !! Something that can work as well is to have an adult (ex husband) breastfeed and really empty the breast I know it’s not the traditional advice but it can work
I wish I hadn't come to this video after a whole day going the heat and massage route! My friend who is a doctor also shared her experience with heat and massage, although she also used ice packs and Ibuprofen, so she was closer to BAIT than most of the internet. I'm adjusting my approach. Thanks so much for sharing, I always enjoy your videos.
Thank you so much! I had a bad clog with my first pregnancy and did all the things you're not supposed to do! I'm due with my second baby in February, so I'm thankful to have this information now before I start my next breastfeeding journey! ❤
Hot shower for me would cause a strong let down so it would help to empty the breast. Also gentle massage towards the nipple while breastfeeding. Actually, when I was pumping with previous baby, I could visually see how massage increased milk flow, helped to evacuate the milk.
I agree!! My first clog I did all the old school stuff, my nurse friend even lent me her massage gun to try and get it out. But it wouldn't come out and turned into mastitis. I came across the new protocol and I've had 2 clogs since that have cleared with relative ease although I do admit I gently massaged it while nursing/ pumping. Someone told me doing block feeding so only nursing baby from one breast per feed helps prevent clogs since you're completely emptying the breast every time. But something else I read said it can decrease your supply. What do you say?
This confuses me so much. I was told to add heat and massage them, and that works decently well. Sometimes it doesn’t come out with a pump until I press it the right way and then the clog is free. Now I have one that’s not coming out but I’m nervous about trying the opposite of what I’ve been doing. I guess I should try it, but I liked my old method, it’s just not working now
Thank you so much for this video! Welcome back ♥️🥰 I have been getting clogged ducts frequently while nursing my 5 month old and did notice that the heat makes it worst. Only way that I was able to resolve them was with ice! 🙏 but obviously I wasn’t sure that was it because everywhere on the internet they tell you to massage and take hot baths. Even my doctor said to “massage vigorously” 🙁
i’m currently 6 days postpartum and they keep getting clogged every time i try to pump or breast feed. until watching this video i didn’t know that massaging and heat were not the answer. i was literally doing it until i heard it in the video but i got tested negative for mastitis. i went to the hospital with a fever of 101.9 and ive got no help
I really hope this ladies advice helps you! As a mom who suffered terrible agony, (clots in sections of both breasts for a few days every week for 9 months), just do your best. I was THRILLED when my daughter quite nursing at 9 months old. I was very heavily criticized!! But plenty of women and some medical staff have no idea what they're asking of you. They've no comprehension of your pain. My heart is with you.
This is my second clog and I’m doing BAIT this time. I massaged and did hot showers last time and it seems to work but wasn’t comfortable. Thanks for the info.
I think the advice may be wrong on this one. I am suffering a clogged duct, extremely painful. I’ve been following this “new recommendation” and taking ibuprofen and icing it for 2 days, and gently pumping with a Haaka (manual silicone hand pump). No improvement. I go to one of the best private Obgyn practices in my city- I should have called them first instead of YT. Called them, they said I’m doing the opposite- they said don’t use ice, use heat AND massage the breast. Take warm shower, hand express, and Continue with the ibuprofen. That is standard advice for (suspected) clogged ducts. Think about it- a clog, cold will make it thicker and worse. (Might be different for mastitis, I don’t know)
Due to clogged ducts. Doctors provided pills to stop milk segregation and cleared the ducts. But now there is no milk segregation its almost 10days. Is there any chance to start milk segregation. Please reply to me :(
I had the worst pain for about two weeks it I'm guessing it's a bleb. It was a yellow white spot on my nipple and when my daughter nursed it was burning me so much but I had to keep letting feed so that it could clear out. I tried picking at it and it was so painful. It felt so raw when I removed it with twizzers gently after shower I don't even know how that happened... the pain disappeared immediately.
I went to urgent care today and was given Bactrim! I will do the B.A.I.T! Hoping it will work. Mines been clogged for 3days now and it’s really painful!
How much advil and Tylenol do you take ? Do you take them together ? So you said 800 mg of advil but do you take Tylenol with Advil and if so, how much ??
I had a clogged duct once and I didn’t know it until I pumped it out. I saw blood in the bottle and freaked out. I read that it was probably from a clogged duct and I could still give my child that milk, but it grossed me out so I dumped it. That was when I saw the little milk clot. Lol. Shaped like the duct and everything. So crazy!
Thank you for this! If we usually trade off either pumping or nursing on each breast every feed, how would you suggest giving a rest to the clogged breast? Should we cut back on pumping and allow it to get more engorged? Help!
literally while watching this, I was pumping and deep massaging my clogged area. i was so distracted with the video pumped 5 minutes past my usual time on a higher setting than normal🤦♀
My daughter is 8 months and I have a really bad clog. Hard spots in multiple places. I am also sick (cold/virus) causing congestion. Can being sick be a cause for the fact that it isn’t resolving as quickly? And is it normal to have issues now that she is older? She is easily distracted while feeding these days
I am 3 weeks PP and have thrush. Pain pain pain. Super engorged and i pump but there is barely anything coming out. I dont know what to do. Super stressed. Cant feed my baby on my right side. Just pain even when pumping. Im allergic to Ibuprofen. Cant sleep. HEEEEELP
Sarah thank you so much😢 for this video! I have had mastitis for the last week, the lactation consultant massaged it aggressively and made things so much worse… I’m on antibiotics but I still feel like a tangerine sized hardness in my breast. I’ll start bait today and hope it helps me! A million thanks ❤
Please consider reporting the LC. A qualified IBCLC should really keep up to date with their professional development. Im sorry you had to go through this!
Is Epsom salt still recommended for clogged milk ducts? I'm 6 months and 3 weeks PP and I noticed my first clogged duct today. I am also trying to heal a cracked nipple. The crack started over a week ago and was caused from my baby suddenly tugging/pulling my breast while nursing and I also experienced more than a few unexpected chomps and high suctioned releases due to my baby being distracted. The clogged duct doesn't hurt yet, but I want to do everything I can to heal quickly and resume our normal breastfeeding.
This is something that frustrates me so much, I had my baby 1 year and 2 months ago, I could just breastfeed for 3 months :( and was so certain I could do it for at least a year, but failed, I had million clogs every single hour after I lost one got a new one had fever every single day it was HORRIBLE one of the reasons I don’t want another baby but I pray if I do get another baby I can breastfeed her/him for at least a year
Never feel badly about doing your best. Some women have a much easier time of it. I was like you. I suffered horribly. I did my best. I got criticized anyway. Forget foolish clueless people. Your best is good enough! I do hope another baby would go better for you but I've no idea. I decided one was enough for me. We lasted 9 months. She quit. I was THRILLED!!!! No more agonizing pain!!! 🥳
