What Causes a Clogged, Plugged, or Blocked Milk Duct?
Milk ducts in the breast are like little sacks or tubes that channel milk in the breast to the nipple. The main reasons the ducts in the breasts get clogged is due to the milk flow getting obstructed or slowed down. For example, if a duct isn’t drained often enough or not drained properly then the ducts can become clogged. This can be caused by a number of reasons such as:
- Inadequate milk removal: If the breast is not completely emptied from nursing or pumping or if the milk remains in the breast ducts for longer than it should.
- Pressure on the breast: Sometimes tight clothing such as a poorly fitting bra, or even pressure from a baby carrier will compress the tissue in the breast and prevent milk flow.
- Engorgement: When a breastfeeding mother’s breasts become engorged with milk for too long, breast tissue can become swollen and firm. This can make it hard for milk to flow freely.
- Infection: Mastitis is a type of bacterial infection of the tissue in the breast. It can cause inflammation and blockages in the milk ducts and can also lead to a great deal of pain and discomfort including a fever and flu-like symptoms.
- Changes in breastfeeding patterns: A sudden change in breastfeeding frequency or routine can lead to clogged duçts. For example, weaning, returning to work, or starting solid foods will sometimes cause clogs as the breast adjusts to the new milk production and flow.
What is Lecithin?
Lecithin is a type of fatty substance that is found in many foods including egg yolks, soybeans, sunflower seeds. It is a type of molecule that is both water repelling and water attracting. This makes it ideal for emulsifying (or combining) substances that don’t typically want to mix. It is found in a huge variety of foods because of this very property to mix things that don’t want to mix.
How Can Lecithin Prevent or Relieve Clogged Milk Ducts?
As was mentioned above, lecithin is an emulsifier and it can help emulsify the breast milk by breaking down the fatty deposits in the ducts. The fatty molecules sometimes clump together and make it hard to pass the milk through the ducts. The lecithin causes the fat in the milk to get broken down into smaller particles so it is able to flow more easily through the ducts. This prevents clogs and can help remove any clogs already in the ducts.
How Long Does Lecithin Take to Unclog Breast Ducts?
Lecithin generally works pretty rapidly. Most mothers see results in a day or two (24-48 hours). It makes the milk smoother and thinner pretty quickly. We’ve even had women tell us that taking lecithin to remove and prevent clogged ducts was, “indisputably, the biggest turning point in my breastfeeding.”
What Other Remedies Exist for Clogged Breast Ducts?
Besides lecithin, there are other natural remedies that may help alleviate clogged ducts in the breast. Any and all of these can be done in conjunction with the lecithin.
- Heat: Heat can be very helpful to help with blocked ducts. There are several things to try in this category. Start with taking a hot shower or a hot bath. Put the water on the affected breast and let it heat up a bit. Then use the second step and gently massage the clogged area with firm pressure. You can also use a heat pad or put rice in a sock and heat it up in the microwave and apply that heat to the area where the blockage is. Again, you can massage in conjunction with the heat to help the clog break down.
- Gentle Massage: Massaging the plugged breast duct can help break down the buildup. You can use your fingertips to apply the pressure or you can even use a lactation massager specifically for this purpose. These two massagers are getting good reviews because they are waterproof and can be used in the shower or bathtub.
- Dangle Breast Feed: To do this nursing technique, lay the baby on its back on the floor or bed. Then, the mother gets on her hands and knees above the baby (think bridge pose). You might need to move down to your elbows and drop or hang the breast into the baby’s mouth. You should also have the baby’s chin toward the clogged duct because that is where the baby sucks the hardest. This will have gravity as a friend trying to get the blockage out.
Conclusion
We believe that breastfeeding is an incredible way for mothers to connect with their babies while providing them with essential nutrients. The most common symptoms during breastfeeding is clogged or blocked milk ducts. However, lecithin is a great way to prevent and relieve blocked or clogged milk ducts for breastfeeding mothers. Our Organic Sunflower Lecithin Softgels are a great way to prevent any obstructions in the milk ducts. We suggest taking one 1200 MG softgel twice a day for prevention. If you have a blockage, we recommend taking one 1200 MG softgel three to 4 times a day. You got this! Keep up the good work and don’t get discouraged.
