After you’ve weaned your baby and moved him to a separate feeding session, you may notice that your breasts don’t produce as much milk as they used to. This is perfectly normal. You may also notice that one or both of your milky ducts become clogged. If you have a clogged milk duct, it will cause your breast milk to back up into the nipple area and make it so that you don’t produce as much milk anymore. You may not even be able to tell that this is happening other than the fact that you may not be producing as much milk anymore. There are several things that can cause this issue and once you know about them, you can take steps to keep them from reoccurring in the future.
What is a Clogged Milk Duct?
As your baby grows, so does your body. This includes your breasts. New moms tend to produce less milk than before the baby arrives as their breasts are stretched beyond their normal size. pumping more often than once every 24 hours can also cause your ducts to become clogged. Ducts are a pair of glands in each breast that secrete milk into your milk duct. After a certain length, the ducts join to form a channel called the ducts, or alveoli. Breast milk passes into the channel with the help of the milk ducts, which transport it to the baby through the nipple. The normal length of a milk duct is about 2 cm. When you pump and collect milk, some ducts will be shorter than others. When feeding the baby, you will draw the milk from the channels at the front of your breasts—the ducts. A blocked duct prevents the milk from following the usual path, so some milk is left behind in the breast.
Causes of Clogged Milk Ducts
One of the most common reasons behind a blocked duct is engorgement, which is when your breasts become too full of milk. This can happen when you pump too often, when your baby is younger and has less frequent feeds, or if you’re exclusively pumping. A blocked duct can also occur when your baby is older and has switched to a slower or different pattern of feeding. A blocked duct can also be caused by other medical conditions.
How to Treat a Clogged Milk Duct
If you notice that one or both of your milk ducts are clogged, don’t panic. Clogged ducts are very common and can often be resolved with a few simple steps. Although you will have to rely on your own ingenuity and ingenuity, here are a few things you can try.
- Pump more often. Since your breasts are stretched and you’re pumping less often, your breasts have less time to produce milk. This means that they’re going to have to work a little harder to produce milk. Pumping more often can help your breasts rest and relax. When your breasts are relaxed and rested, they’re going to produce more milk.
- Switch to a different pumping method. If you pump multiple times a day, switch to a single pumping method. This can give your breasts a break and allow them to relax and produce more milk.
- Switch to using a double pump. Using a double pump can help you pump more often since you can pump two breasts at once.
- Try using a breast pump designed specifically for breastfeeding moms. Some breast pumps are designed specifically with breastfeeding moms in mind, allowing them to pump with less effort and less strain than with other types of pumps.
- Try manual pumping. Many women who experience blocked ducts don’t use the recommended method of pumping—they just plug the breast pump into an outlet and use a manual pump. Manual pumping helps you express milk more thoroughly, which can help to unblock clogged ducts.
Tips for Preventing a Clogged Milk Duct
- Feed your baby on demand. If you are exclusively pumping and your baby is too young to demand a feed, you need to feed him now and then.
- Switch between pumping methods. Pumping more often and using a different pumping method can help prevent a blocked duct.
- Switch between breast pumps. Using the same breast pump for too long can lead to a blocked duct because it becomes worn down and inaccurate.
- Switch breasts. You can easily change the breast you pump every few days so that your breasts are always in rotation.
- Pump while you feed. If you feed your baby while you pump, you will pump more milk. This can help you reach your pumping goals while also keeping your breasts relaxed and producing milk.
- Feed your baby while he’s asleep. If you feed your baby while he’s sleeping, you will usually wake up in the middle of the night to feed him. This will cause you to wake up in time to pump the milk you’ve been storing in your breasts.
- Switch to pumping at night. If you switch to pumping at night, you will be able to pump more milk because your breasts will be relaxed and your baby will be asleep.
Conclusion
Nursing your baby can be a wonderful experience. Even so, it can also be challenging. One of the most important things you can do to ensure that the experience is as easy for you as possible is to keep your breasts healthy and free from any form of clogging. A blocked duct is one of the most common issues that breastfeeding moms face. If you notice that one or both of your milk ducts are blocked, don’t panic; it’s nothing to be afraid of. Clogged milk duct treatment can be easily done by following the steps listed above.
