The Sorta Crunchy Mama

Everything you need to know about clogged ducts, how to relieve them, and support your body with a gentle, holistic method.

So you woke up with a sore breast, feeling engorged, possibly a lump, and it hurts when your baby latches? Girl, you most likely have a dreaded clogged duct! It’s a completely common experience during your breastfeeding journey, but let’s get you some relief! The best part? I bet most of these things you already have in your home!

What is a Clogged Duct?

A clogged (or blocked) duct is an area of the breast where milk flow has been obstructed. It usually comes on gradually and only affects one breast. Clogged ducts can be caused by not emptying the breast fully, or skipped feedings. Ultimately, your breast is inflamed and needs help.

Symptoms of a Clogged Duct

Symptoms of a clogged duct include engorgement or a hard lump (note: lumps do not happen for everyone) in the affected breast. The affected area may feel tender, hot, swollen, and could look reddened. Nursing on the affected side can be painful at letdown, but typically the pain subsides after nursing.

If pumping, you may notice lumps or “strings” of milk. Don’t panic, this is common and will not affect baby. You can safely feed this milk to baby, or you can throw it away if you feel uncomfortable. But just know, it is not harmful to ingest.

Treatment for Clogged Ducts

Here are my favorite tried and true remedies for releasing that pesky clogged duct. I want to emphasize the importance of maintaining your regular breastfeeding schedule. Try not to skip feedings (I know, it’s tempting because it hurts!), or add additional feedings (we don’t want your body producing more).

Vitamin C

This is my first line of defense! I always load up on vitamin C anytime my body is trying to fight something. While you may not be sick, your body is still in need of support. Vitamin C is known for its antioxidant immune support, tissue and wound healing, healthy skin, and much more! Upon first sign of symptoms, I usually take a larger dose anywhere from 1,000-2,000mg to start. Then I’ll drop down to the common 500mg dose the next day. I’ve known people who take more than that, but take whatever you feel is best for your body.

Two of my favorite vitamin C brands are Thorne and Garden of Life.

Sunflower Lecithin

Legendairy Milk makes one of the best sunflower lecithin products! I really love all their products for breastfeeding, but this one is specifically made for clogged ducts. Lecithin is an emulsifier usually used for smoothing food textures. Sunflower lecithin, specifically, is a natural fat emulsifier that keeps your milk from clumping together, and helps reduce the stickiness of your milk to get it flowing again. It encourages the milk to flow by loosening any existing fatty clogs. This is the second thing I grab right after my vitamin C!

I usually take one capsule 3-4 times the first and second day, and then taper off from there as needed until my duct is fully clear. But follow the directions on the bottle and use as directed.

Haakaa

The haakaa is one thing I will never be without while nursing. It’s truly *the* best tool to help your body release that painful clogged duct. Hear me when I say it is a-MAZE-ing!

Here’s what I do— I fill the haakaa to the top with warm water, and dissolve about one teaspoon of epsom salt (here is what I use). Suction it to the affected breast and allow it to suction for about 5-10 minutes. I do this a few times a day when I have a clogged duct, usually after I’ve nursed. You want to make sure not to over pump (even with the haakaa) because, like mentioned above, that will signal your body to produce more milk, and that’s definitely not what you want! Since this method gives you that sense of release and ultimate relief, it’s easy to overdo it thinking you’re helping, so just be aware of how many times you are using this method.

Cold Compress

There are a lot of sources that will tell you to use warm compresses. While that may feel good, and can relieve some pain, a clogged duct is inflammation. So you want to think cold, not hot, when dealing with inflammation in the body. This could be a cold rag or an ice pack wrapped in a towel. You want to put the cold compress on the affected area of your breast. Leave it there for 10-15 minutes at a time. Repeat this often throughout the day. I usually do a cold compress 3-4 times, sometimes more if I need pain relief.

Castor Oil

If you have yet to try castor oil packs over your liver or other parts of your body, you’re missing out! This, in my opinion, was one of the vital steps I needed for releasing a clogged duct and healing my breast quickly. A few quick benefits of castor oil (note: I am *only* discussing the benefits of applying this oil topically): increases lymphatic flow and drainage (which helps reduce fluid retention through increased circulation), anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, as well as hair and eye health. Whew, I could go on but I’ll just leave it at that. It’s amazing.

I use a warm castor oil pack for about 20 minutes at a time, and I do that twice a day. You can place the pack right over the affected area to help encourage lymphatic flow (i.e. get that milk flowin’!).

I’ll be honest though, castor oil and the whole process of applying can be a little messy. So if you are wanting the benefits without the mess, try using this milk flowin’ salve. It’s easy to apply and edible, so it’s safe for babies and you don’t have to wipe off before your next nursing session.

Anti-inflammatory

As stated above, having a clogged duct (and mastitis) is the start of inflammation in your body. Taking an anti-inflammatory will help support your body in this state. Turmeric is a powerhouse for inflammation as it is packed with anti-inflammatory properties.

My favorite to have on hand is this anti-Inflammatory tincture (what a perfect name, right?). I take one dropper full (you can take it straight or mix it in with water/juice) around three times a day when I’m trying to support my body in an inflammation state. You could also use turmeric powder if you have some on hand or from your local health food store. Mix the powder with water with a pinch of black pepper or make golden milk (yummy)!

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!

Last but not least, please make sure you are hydrating! Many women overlook the importance of drinking water during breastfeeding, but especially when trying to heal a clogged duct. Find a cute water bottle you love and look forward to using, and add in your favorite electrolytes to encourage more consumption. Bonus! Drop a few drops of trace minerals to help support your body even more and get to chuggin!

Now, go get to unclogging!

I know all of this may seem overwhelming, and you’re already tired and exhausted from breastfeeding and taking care of your baby. But I promise if you support your body well through this process, you will feel relief soon! Good luck, and go get to unclogging!

For quick reference, I have most of the products linked all in one place here.

Note: This is *not* medical advice. This information is for educational purposes only. Please consult your physician or medical professional before starting anything new. See the site’s disclaimer for more information.