Treatment of blocked milk ducts after birth with physical therapy

Article written by BSCK I. Tran Thi Thu Huong - Head of Rehabilitation Unit - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital

Milk blockage is a fairly common phenomenon in postpartum mothers, because the milk gland system is blocked, so milk cannot flow out. If not treated in time, it will reduce the amount of milk secreted daily, in addition, cause stagnation of milk in the ducts, which can easily cause mastitis, breast abscess and may cause fibrosis or fibroadenoma in the future.

Milk secreted in the first days after birth is colostrum, so it is often thick and thick, if not breastfed early, it will cause stagnation, causing blocked milk glands. Women express milk at the wrong time, causing milk to be secreted not to come out, causing stagnation and blockage of milk. After breastfeeding, the mother does not express all the excess milk in the breast, because the thick milk of the mother stays in the breast for a long time, it will clump into tiny condensed milk residues, causing blockage of the milk ducts. Due to the improper position of the mother when lying down, the milk ducts are folded, causing compression leading to blockage. Or because the skin on the nipple is inflamed and scratched, causing blockage in the nipple. Maternal hygiene of the nipple is not good, causing bacteria to enter from the outside through the nipple and the mammary duct system. The infected milk duct system will be narrowed, preventing milk from escaping. Inflammation of the milk ducts, if not handled, timely taking medicine as prescribed by the doctor will lead to a breast abscess that requires going to the hospital to extract the abscess. Because the mother has cracked nipples, causing inflammation on the outside, it will gradually cause inflammation in the milk ducts. Because the milk is clogged for a long time without knowing or the mothers do not pay attention, the stagnant milk ferments in the chest, bacteria develop to create inflammation in the chest. Pregnant women have psychological trauma during lactation, or the mother's diet is not reasonable, which can cause lactation during this period.

Blocked milk ducts usually develop gradually, sometimes also suddenly appear with chest pain and high fever
The mother feels fullness and pain in one or both breasts, the milk is less, the pain is getting more and more painful, sometimes fever, fatigue. When touched, there are round blocks with rough surface, hard density with many different sizes, very painful to the touch. Sometimes there is a red patch on the breast surface and a lot of pain. Examination: there may be unilateral or bilateral axillary lymph nodes.

The purpose of the treatment of blocked milk ducts with physical therapy is to dissolve the frozen milk spots, help circulate the duct system and limit the appearance of new locations that will solve the problem. resolve symptoms and limit the consequences caused by occlusion such as mastitis, mammary gland abscess, mammary fibrosis.
The treatment method for milk blockage is to use ultrasound with appropriate frequency depending on the location and level of the blockage to treat.
Treatment course: 1-5 times depending on the degree of obstruction (If the blockage is new, the treatment course will be shorter)
Treatment time each time 30 -45 minutes.
In addition, it also combines manual lactation to increase milk secretion and increase circulation of milk ducts.

Clogged milk can be repeated during lactation, so mothers need to pay attention to some issues to avoid blocked milk:
Breastfeed as soon as possible right after birth and continue to suckle according to demand. The interval between feedings should not be too long. Drink twice as much water as usual, eat full of nutrients, meat, fish, eggs, milk and vegetables. Limit eating saturated fat Good nipple hygiene: use physiological saline to clean nipples before and after breastfeeding and combine breast massage to help soften and better milk circulation. postpartum is very common, if not detected and treated promptly, it will lead to very dangerous breast abscess. To be treated safely and effectively after giving birth, you can contact the rehabilitation department of Vinmec International General Hospital for doctors to designate specific treatment for each case. The Department of Rehabilitation is fully invested, with a complete and rich system of physical therapy equipment and machinery originating from the world's leading manufacturer of physical therapy equipment. like the Netherlands; Japan....
Spinal traction bed Neck spine stretching machine Large short wave machine Treatment ultrasound machine Pulsed electric machine Passive knee extension machine Programmable bicycle system Muscle exercise machine system, Joint training Strength training machine system with multi-function bed system BoBab exercise bed system... The technicians are formally trained, at the university and college level, having worked in various departments. Rehabilitation of large hospitals. In addition, from time to time, the Faculty also has an increase of foreign technicians working together and exchanging experiences. The care support team is available to assist the patient in safe mobility.
To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact the nationwide Vinmec Health System Hotline, or register online HERE.