Blocked Milk Ducts & Mastitis in East Amherst

Blocked milk ducts are a painful condition impacting lactating women. Blocked milk ducts can result in pain, inflammation, and decreased available milk supply. Blocked milk ducts can also result in mastitis, breast abscesses, and cessation of breast feeding. Unfortunately, many women develop problems that make breast feeding painful, difficult, or impossible. If you suffer from blocked milk ducts in East Amherst, continue to read to see how our team at Northtown Chiropractic & Injury Rehab can help.

The World Health Organization has asserted that babies be exclusively breastfed for at least the first 6 months of their lives in order to achieve optimal “growth, development, and health.”

Studies have reported that breastfed children are less likely to have sudden infant death syndrome, otitis media, asthma, or respiratory tract infections. Long term breast feeding has been associated with decreased infections, enhanced cognitive development, prevention of obesity, hypertension, and the development of insulin-dependent diabetes.

The Issue: It has been estimated that two-thirds of women may experience blocked ducts!

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Causes of Blocked Milk Ducts

Blocked ducts are associated with breast engorgement, a localized breast lump, tenderness, and possibly a white painful bleb on the end of the nipple. Mastitis may also develop resulting in a bacterial infection and low-grade fever.

There are several causes of blocked milk ducts. Some possible causes include:

• Insufficient emptying of the breast
• Not positioning the nursing baby properly
• Waiting too long between feedings
• Supplementing nursing with bottle feeding
• Use of a pacifier
• Tugging, pulling, or twisting of the nipple by the infant
• Infant tongue tie/ latch dysfunction (This is often overlooked or misdiagnosed, please consult with a pediatric dentist.)
• Missed feeds
• Carrying heavy front-holding infant carriers, heavy purses, heavy diaper bags, or wearing bras that are too tight.
• Stress and lack of sleep (every new mother)

Although most blocked milk ducts will resolve with at home care, for some mothers this will not be the case.

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Treatment Options for Blocked Milk Ducts in East Amherst NY

Conventional therapies include watchful waiting, application of heat, cold compresses, or cabbage leaves, self-message, and the use of supplemental lecithin. Lecithin is often consumed by women experiencing blocked ducts because it acts as a lipid emulsifier, speeding up the rate of breast emptying. The recommended dose is 1200mg four times a day. You can find lecithin at your local supplement store.

At Northtown Chiropractic & Injury Rehab in East Amherst NY, we offer several treatment options for blocked milk ducts. Most treatments should only require one or two visits. For more complex cases, longer treatment plans may be required.

The therapies provided will vary on a case to case basis.

• Therapeutic ultrasound (very different from diagnostic ultrasound)
• Manual gentle tissue massage
• Instrument assisted tissue massage
• Moist heat therapy (prior to treatment)
• Gentle cupping therapies
• Low level laser therapy or cold laser therapy
• Kinesio tape therapy
• At home massage techniques
• Patient education

Prior to your fist visit to Northtown Chiropractic & Injury Rehab, it is important that you have spoken to your OBGYN, pediatric specialist, or lactation specialist regarding mastitis, abscesses, or breast cancer.

Mastitis is a bacterial infection in part of the breast. Mastitis is associate with a hard, swollen, red, painful area of the breast. Symptoms can include flu like aches, chills and fever. Treatment for mastitis is similar to that of blocked milk ducts.

Antibiotics may be prescribed to control the bacterial infection but do not correct the underlying case. Failure to treat the underlying cause may result in reoccurring mastitis infection.

If mastitis is not properly treated an abscess may develop. An abscess is a pocket of puss formed in an infected area. If an abscess is suspected or the mastitis has not cleared in about 5 days diagnostic ultrasound or drainage may be indicated.

Once you have arrived upon the diagnosis of a blocked milk duct or mastitis give Northtown Chiropractic & injury Rehab in East Amherst a call today. Please request to speak with a doctor prior to your first appointment to review all necessary details regarding your initial consultation.