Trouble with Blocked Ducts or Mastitis?
/Have you had a blocked duct or bout of mastitis while breastfeeding?
Specialized women’s health physical therapy may provide solutions.
Occasionally when breast-feeding, a blocked milk duct may occur. Milk duct blockage is a common condition that can cause painful breasts, mastitis, decreased milk supply, and cause some moms to stop breastfeeding! Blocked milk ducts can occur for a variety of reasons, such as missed feedings, waiting too long to pump, over supply or underwire or tight fitting bras.
While it can be tempting to stop breastfeeding on the side you are experiencing the blockage and pain, do not stop. It is actually beneficial to purposefully nurse/pump more often on the side of the blockage until it clears. Nursing and/or pumping on the affected side is important to keep the milk moving. If the blockage does not clear, an infection may occur. Try the following things on your own:
· Emptying your breast well each time you feed or pump is important so milk stasis doesn’t occur. If you have a blockage, gently massage the area while baby nurses, or while you are pumping your milk. This should encourage the blockage to clear.
· Use moist heat or take a warm shower for up to 15 minutes prior to feeding or pumping, this can open up the ducts and help to release the blockage, decrease pain and improve drainage.
· Self-massage the affected breast gently, massaging in circles near the block, and working toward the nipple. Continue to progress the starting point closer toward the nipple as the blockage moves or is clearing. Never use forceful pressure which can cause bruising and trauma to your delicate breast tissue, making the pain and inflammation worse. This compounds the problem and the swelling will make clearing take longer.
In most cases, moist heat, gentle massage and regular feedings can break up the blockage, but if you still feel the blockage or the area is painful after 48 hours of trying the above remedies, more specialized help is needed.
Physical Therapists can help! A recent study in 2015 in The Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy showed that comprehensive physical therapy intervention can be effective in treating blocked milk ducts which have not responded to self-clearing techniques.
What can a Physical Therapist Do?
A treatment can include heat, ultrasound, specific massage techniques and patient education. Therapeutic ultrasound often works. Ultrasound allows heat into the tissues deeper than a hot compress, as well as providing pressure changes within the breast tissue to facilitate the break up of the blockage. Therapeutic ultrasound helps to relax tissue around the blockage, provide a mechanical assistance in breaking up the clog and improve pain tolerance to manual clearing techniques. After providing therapeutic ultrasound to the area affected, we then utilize massage and educate the patient on proper manual clearing of the blockage.
Bring your baby or your pump with you!! We highly encourage bringing the baby to the treatment session, to allow for immediate breastfeeding or pumping after the ultrasound and manual clearing.
How do you find a Women’s Health Physical Therapist?
Many physical therapy clinics provide this treatment, however women’s health/pelvic health physical therapists typically have the most experience addressing blocked milk ducts. Symptoms are usually resolved quickly within 1-3 treatments on consecutive days. When making an appointment, tell them what type of treatment you want to make sure there is a specialized therapist available. You can usually see someone in 24 hours. (See contact info for local locations below)
Women who suspect or have had a clogged milk duct, mastitis or difficulty with breast feeding should also seek care from a certified lactation consultant to determine if physical therapy is an appropriate option. A Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) can also identify the cause or the problem and help you find solutions to prevent the problem in the future.
In addition to breastfeeding, women’s/pelvic health physical therapists can address the other issues which may occur during pregnancy, postpartum, and throughout the life span. Many conditions we treat include:
- return to exercise postpartum
- healthy lifting and carrying techniques
- incontinence (bowel & bladder)
- pain with intercourse
- pelvic pain
- restoring and minimizing abdominal wall separation
- pelvic organ prolapse
- scar management – C-section, episiotomy, abdominal surgery/laparoscopy
Author: Cait Bryant PT, DPT, COMT -Senior Womens Health Physical Therapist
SSM Health Physical Therapy Locations
300 Edwardsville Road Suite 1 101 United Drive Suite 100
Troy, IL 62294 Collinsville, IL 62234
P: (618) 667-3900 P: (618) 343-1122
See other locations in the Metro East for Women’s Health Physical Therapists
About the Author: Caitlin Bryant, PT, DPT, COMT is a pelvic health physical therapist at SSM Health Physical Therapy in Collinsville and Troy, IL. She treats women with pelvic floor dysfunction, including, but not limited to, incontinence, pelvic pain, and pregnancy & post-partum impairments. When not working, Cait loves to run, experience new food, and spend time with her husband and dog.