Former breastfeeding moms- milk duct issues?

[pagewolf]

After pumping with the noogleberry, it feels like a few of my milk ducts get swollen or something. It has only happened with the mediums and maybe it is because I need more powerful suction to keep those domes on me. When breastfeeding, I had problems with oversupply and my ducts would get clogged and hard if I did not nurse or pump enough and it feels very much like that in a few places after I noogle. Has anyone else experienced this? It goes away after about a day's break. I don't think it is bruising because I see no bruises, but I feel hardness in my breast right around where I used to get the hardness from clogged ducts. The noogle is not causing me to relactate or anything but I do still produce milk and still have occasional leaking milk so I assume the ducts are active. My baby weaned over a year ago so I don't think waiting to dry up will help. I really don't believe I'll ever completely dry up because I never have since I had my first kid 8.5 years ago and all my kids are 3 years apart. I think it is just a reflection of my oversupply problem. But- if anyone has had similar hardness and lumps that feel like a clogged or irritated duct, what did you do? Did you keep pumping and did your body adjust, or did you take a break until it felt better? I've been taking breaks but I hate missing noogling days.

[MariahsDs]

Hi,

I have been meaning to ask this same question. I had this happen to me as well. I am not sure why. I have 2 kids, the last one I breastfed almost 3 years ago. I never have leaked any milk in that time. I also take PM and drink a lot of milk.

One day, I pumped with the L cups then with the XL cups. After taking them off, my boobs were massive!v
But then when the swelling went down, I felt these hard lumps in my breasts. I was really scared and went to the doctor, she confirmed that indeed it was swollen milk ducts and that they should go away. I took a break for about a month or so, because I had eczema and the swollen ducts. I massaged them hard because that is what I read on many sites to do that. It seemed they got bigger! I stopped taking PM, stopped massaging and stopped pumping and they went down somewhat, but not completely. So I decided to take it easy, but I soon got them again. I am not sure if they do go away completely, or if I should keep pumping, or if having swollen ducts will cause any complications.

I am sorry I can't be of any help, but I wanted to let you know that you are not alone!

[TT]

hello there,

i had/still have this problem, i think i posted here when it first happened, in panic thinking it was the big C!!!
i was calmed down by other members.
ive always had a little lump that gets bigger at certain times of the month, but this particular time i took off my domes and had a golf ball sized lump in the lower part of my right boob,
after several pumping sessions i noticed a pattern with it. so yes its a milk duct,

since being put on steroids 6 years ago i started to leak from my boobs what looks like milk, the gave birth last year , milk came in very well, but had some problems with mastitis (same area) when i stopped expresing suddenly,

anyways i know that i will probably always have some leaking but it only comes when i squeeze the nipple.

when i get swelling i try and massage that area to help relieve it and bring it down (i sleep on my front and it gets painful otherwise).
i think it may be something that we will have to put up with. it doesnt happen every time to me, mabe 1nce a week or so now.

but basically apart from the first time when the lump was hue and quite sore, ive continued to pump as normal,

[pagewolf]

I'm glad to hear others have experienced this too!

		Quote:			Sent by TT on February 09, 2010, 12:00:33 AM
	since being put on steroids 6 years ago i started to leak from my boobs what looks like milk, the gave birth last year , milk came in very well, but had some problems with mastitis (same area) when i stopped expresing suddenly,

That's interesting- I knew right away it was a milk duct because it was the same one that has always given me problems. I guess some are just more prone to irritation than others. When nursing, I would massage it and express some milk out to help it resolve itself, but since I'm not nursing and don't want to start, I wasn't sure how to help it. This one...if I massage, it will leak. Maybe I'll try motrin and heat if it does it again. And yeah, it was pretty big. I was surprised it could get so big since my boobs are much smaller than they were when nursing.

[MariahsDs]

Hi,

I am wondering if it is a problem to have a swollen milk duct. Does it go away? Do I keep pumping? Is it serious?  I have no idea!

I don't even know when I got mine, I could have had for years and not notice.

If somebody could help me figure this out, that would be great! Until then I guess I will have to keep trying to look up info online.

[jaybee]

After weaning at 8 months my supply totally dried up and I haven't experienced what you're describing after/during noogling..no milk ducts or anything...