Can you breastfeed after having a blocked milk duct?

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Hoang Thi Anh Tuyet - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

Milk duct obstruction is a phenomenon in which the milk glands are blocked, milk cannot flow out, stagnation in the breasts causing discomfort, tightness, even pain, many women also have a fever. The phenomenon of blocked milk ducts makes women worry about how to handle it, should blocked milk ducts breastfeed?

The phenomenon of blocked milk ducts after cesarean section often occurs in women in the first days after giving birth. There are also many cases of women having blocked milk ducts during breastfeeding.
There are many causes of blocked milk ducts such as: the mother does not breastfeed the baby early, does not breastfeed the baby regularly, does not let the baby drain the breast, does not clean properly, causing bacteria to enter the nipple leading to to inflammation of the milk ducts... Women who have indented nipples, too big nipples... make it difficult for babies during sucking, it's easy to block milk ducts. Babies often bite the nipple, causing many wounds on the nipple, creating conditions for bacteria to easily attack, causing blocked milk ducts.
Blocked milk ducts after cesarean section not only cause extreme discomfort and pain to the mother, affecting the milk supply for the baby, but also can lead to breast abscess, even the formation of fibrous bands. breast fibroids.

After giving birth or during breastfeeding, if you feel your breasts are full, heavy and unusually hot, it is very likely that you have blocked milk ducts. Milk is secreted, and the lymphatic ducts in the mammary glands and blood vessels swell and press on the mammary glands, causing the milk ducts to become blocked. Sometimes women also feel like their breasts are about to explode, hard lumps appear in the breasts. When having the above phenomena, women should continue to breastfeed their babies, even increase the amount of sucking and feeding sessions to suck less milk out. At the same time, use your hands to squeeze the milk to flow out or use a breast pump to pump out the milk. After about 1-2 days, this condition will gradually improve and disappear, and your breasts will return to their normal state.

However, there are also many cases that have applied the above methods and still have blocked milk ducts. The breasts are getting bigger and bigger, tight, hard and painful, the skin is red, hot, the mother has a fever... At this time, it is necessary to drain the milk duct as soon as possible, otherwise it may lead to breast abscess. Women can self-vent by continuing to breastfeed and use their hands to force milk out. The breast should be rubbed, especially the hard lumps to melt the frozen milk, in a circular shape and gradually increasing. Mix and apply a warm compress, breastfeed or use a breast pump to pump out milk. If the condition still does not improve, you should go to the hospital to check or ask the professional milk duct unblocking unit.
Currently, at Vinmec International General Hospital, spinal manipulation method is applied to treat blocked milk ducts after giving birth without using drugs. With the Spinal Impact Method, the treatment technician mainly uses the fingertip software to work on the patient's back spine to adjust and open the milk glands, help clear the rays, and soften the breasts. Therefore, in urgent cases, pregnant women should go to the hospital for timely examination and treatment, to avoid unnecessary complications.