I can touch and feel small little pebble-like lumps at my breast area. Yup not one lump, but lumpSSS. I can see redness on my breast.What even worse? When milk clots at nipple; the milk turns dry and hard; forms a small white dot at nipple. If you want to know how it looks like search the word "milk bleb/ milk blister". My breast gets bigger and bigger, feel like it's going to burst; but it's not; it's as hard as a stone. (I DO NOT EXAGGERATE)
What to do?
Latch
I quickly get back from my workplace and latch my baby. Baby suction is different from breast pump or hand expression. Of course, at the first place, baby rejected to latch, cause there's no flow. I try to communicate with baby and let baby latch as much as he can. I can't agree more; the best way to get unclogged duct is to continue nursing baby.
Massage & Hand Express
Before I start the real game of massaging the lumps, I use ice pack to cold compress the sore part of my breast; cold compress helps to soothe the pain for a while.My personal tip is always massage from the armpit towards outer breast and then nipple. Another tip is to slowly press on 乳根穴 a massage point below our 5th rib bone; align with our nipple, at our lower breast.
Then follow by, hand express to make sure breast is empty. At this moment of pain, I prefer to hand express as it allows me to control the speed and strength unlike breast pump. And ya, after multiple times of warm soak, massage and hand express, things get better, the milk bleb gets softer and able to be removed with my finger tips. I moisture my nipple using my own breast milk; just apply it over and over again.
Rest
I think this is the most crucial thing; sufficient rest is the best recovery method. I literally just sleep throughout the day and night but routinely wake up to pump. When this happens, it's very important to get supports from the other half. TQ dar for fully take charge of baby on that day. ♥
* If all these can't help to soothe your situation, please please consult a doctor.
As a working mom, routine of work plus breastfeeding is honestly not easy. But will I continue breastfeeding? YES, YES, YES I WILL. Although breastfeed baby get sick too, but I believe all the nutrients, antibodies, vitamins, minerals are the best for baby! It's all worth it for my little one!
Together with all the efforts that I have done, I am blessed with good supply of milk.So, checkout some useful tips that I have been practicing daily to keep my milk supply. If I skip any of these, then "OH NO".
Choose the correct bra
A wrong bra not only hurts my breast; but causes clogged duct. I am currently wearing Shapee Nuring Bra.
*If you got to know any great nursing bras, please shares with me too.
Drink plenty of water
I need a lot of water during breastfeeding; As 88% of breast milk is made up of water. Not just 1.5 litres of water, I also drink plenty of liquid, not just soup during meals but also dessert soups, milk and oat drink. PS oats have beta-glucans that act as milk booster too.Thanks to my MIL and my mummy; they both cook realgood soups.
Schedule pumping
Our body is smart; if you empty the milk in the mammary gland; it will reproduce. So the more frequent you empty your breast; the more milk you will get. When I was at home with my baby for the first 2 months, I pump after I breastfeed my baby; cause newborn baby has small stomach, he can't empty my breast. I fix my schedule to pump; if I delay my schedule; I will get lumps at my breast. Now that my milk supply is steady, I only pump 3 times per day, 5-6 hours apart; and breastfeed before sleep.
* Want to know what breast pump I am using, check on this post Being A New Mom.
Everyone is different. As a mum, I believe we know what's the best for us and baby !
Baby Jayden is 7 months 4 weeks old ; growing up into a big baby. He crawls, sits,eats solid food and grows teeth (Sprouted 2 bottom teeth). Mummy hopes you grow up happily and healthily.
Love,
Yvonne
