Contents:
- Medical Video: Your Ears Can Indicate Your Health: Don't Ignore These 8 Factors
- Signs of blocked breast milk ducts
- Tips for overcoming blocked clogs of breast milk
Medical Video: Your Ears Can Indicate Your Health: Don't Ignore These 8 Factors
Breastfeeding is one of the natural interactions given by the mother to her baby. Well, the experience of each mother in breastfeeding your child is not always the same. Some people can breastfeed smoothly. Conversely, there are also those who experience problems that inhibit breastfeeding. One of the few problems when breastfeeding is when the milk canal is blocked. Then what should be done to keep breastfeeding?
Signs of blocked breast milk ducts
The breasts are composed of various channels which are responsible for flowing milk from the mammary glands to the nipples. Unfortunately, the mammary gland can experience problems that then block the flow of milk. This condition can occur at any time, either when you are just starting the breastfeeding phase or it has been going on for some time, as explained by Rebecca Kramer, RN, as a lactation consultant at the Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States.
Do not underestimate if you suddenly notice swelling in the breast accompanied by pain. In addition, several other symptoms that you should pay attention to when the ducts are blocked, such as:
- A small lump appears on the breast (or may have swollen)
- Breasts hurt when touched
- The breast feels hot
- Slower milk flow on one or both sides of the breast
- Skin texture in certain areas of the breast feels harder
On the other hand, you might observe your little one who looks more fussy while breastfeeding. Because the baby will find it difficult when trying to suck your nipples, because they think it is different than usual.
In some cases, blockages in the breast can cause you to have a fever. If this happens, chances are that you have a breast infection.
Tips for overcoming blocked clogs of breast milk
For those of you who are breastfeeding a baby, not completing when giving breast milk can also trigger a buildup of milk in the breast glands so it is difficult to get out smoothly. Therefore, one of the keys to the milk canal flowing back smoothly is by feeding alternately on both sides of the breast until it is completely finished.
As an alternative, you can use a breast pump to squeeze the remaining milk that might still be left in the breast. Especially if your child is unable to breastfeed until it's finished.
Although it may feel a bit painful, it doesn't hurt to routinely massage your breasts slowly.
Begin at the very top of the breast, until it gradually drops down towards the nipple. This method is allegedly able to help launch the channel in the clogged breast. In addition, various other tricks you can do to speed up recovery, such as:
- Wear warm compresses for approximately 20 minutes in the part of the breast that is blocked.
- Changing the position of breastfeeding, by pointing the chin and baby's mouth to the side of the breast that has a blockage. The goal is that the breastfeeding process is easier and can be completed.
- Breastfeeding your baby with your position above your baby. The position of the breast that is pointing down will help facilitate the release of breast milk.
- Give a massage to your breasts while you are feeding the baby.
- Apply a warm compress for a few minutes before you want to breastfeed the baby, to facilitate the release of breast milk.
If it is severe enough, the blocked ducts of breast milk may be difficult to cure just by doing home remedies. Immediately consult with your doctor about the problems that you experience during the breastfeeding period before it develops more severely.
