Increase your fluid intake.
Give your baby the affected breast first (though if that's too painful, you can start with the other one) and make sure he drains the breast thoroughly at each feeding.
Sometimes plugged ducts are aggravated by external pressure (e.g., from a too-tight shirt or bra). Make sure your bra is snug but not binding, and consider steering clear of underwires for the time being.
Change breastfeeding positions (from cradle to football to crossover) so all milk ducts get stimulated equally. Depending on where the plugged duct is, you can position your baby so that his chin massages the lump as you nurse.
Warm compresses (dip a washcloth in warm water) on the affected breast before each feeding can help get milk flowing. Another tactic: Stand under a warm shower stream, letting the water hit the spot.
Applying gentle pressure to the plugged duct both before and during a feeding can help loosen the clog. Try a circular motion right on the lump itself.
Avoiding or limiting feedings on the affected breast can actually make matters worse, causing more milk to back up and compound the clog. Remember, the best treatment for a plugged duct is to get the milk flowing again.
When you need more help:
Castor Oil Compresses can relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and aid in removing persistent plugs (do not use on broken skin).
- Use a high-quality, cold-pressed Castor oil (available at Whole Foods).
- Take a flannel cloth sized to cover the plug. Fold three times for thickness.
- Saturate flannel with Castor oil and warm in microwave—beware of hot spots—wring it out so that it remains wet but not dripping.
- Apply the cloth to the plugged area of the breast.
- Cover with Saran wrap and then apply heat (a hot cloth, heating pad, hot water bottle, etc.).
- Keep in place for 20 minutes.
- After treatment, rinse the breast so the baby does not ingest the castor oil, then pump or feed the baby while massaging plug toward nipple.
- Repeat treatment 2-3 times a day. Plug often resolves within 24 hours.
- The flannel pack can be reused several times. Place it in a ziploc bag for future use. No need to wash—it can be used as is. If it dries out, more castor oil can be added.
