Clogged Milk Ducts: Another Joy of New Motherhood

Being a new mom has all kinds of post-partum implications. Your body is healing from
 
 carrying and delivering your baby and as you learn to bond with your bundle of joy, the last
 
 thing you need is a complication. Unfortunately, obstacles can arise during your breastfeeding
 
 sessions and they are called clogged milk ducts. These blockages can cause pain, inflammation,
 
 and decreased milk supply to your baby [2]. Breastfeeding can feel frustrating on its own, so a
 
 clogged milk duct could make you want to give up altogether. Luckily, there are simple physical
 
 therapy techniques that can clear your clogged milk ducts and have you happily breastfeeding
 
 again in no time!

 
 If you’ve tried self-massage and heat treatments without much success, being treated by a
 
 women’s health physical therapist could be your solution. After completing a quick medical
 
 history and physical assessment, your therapist will use an ultrasound machine to clear the
 
 blockages within the milk duct. Ultrasound followed by skilled soft tissue mobilization and
 
 massage techniques will reduce your pain, inflammation, and improve lymphatic drainage.
 
 Within one to two treatments, you’ll notice an easier and more confident breastfeeding
 
 experience [2]. Visits are typically shorter than traditional physical therapy appointments and it
 
 is helpful to bring your baby with you. Nursing immediately after treatment increases the
 
 likelihood of positive results, so there’s no need to worry about childcare for these appointments.

Before you get frustrated and stop nursing, call us at (516) 304-5373 to schedule an
 
 appointment. Breastfeeding is one of nature’s great gifts that has benefits for both baby and
 
 mother. Benefits to your child include improved cognitive development and decreased risk of
 
 obesity, while more recent studies have focused on the amazing health benefits nursing provides
 
 for mothers as well [1]. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer, gestational diabetes, and
 
 heart-disease, which is the number one cause of death in American women [3].

According to doctors at Brown University, if 90% of American mothers breastfed for one
 
 year post-partum,14,000 heart attacks would be avoided annually and 54,000 other women
 
 would be at decreased risk for hypertension [3]. While there are instances where breastfeeding
 
 may not be a viable option for you and your baby, a clogged milk duct should not stand between
 
 you and healthy milk expression. With all that’s at stake, you deserve to give you and your baby
 
 the best breastfeeding experience possible!

Notes:

3. Schwarz, E. B., & Nothnagle, M. (2015). The Maternal Heal