Postpartum moms may face clogged milk duct which can be painful, and produces less milk. As a result, your baby will not have sufficient breast milk. Therefore, it’s important to get an ultrasound treatment to unclog the milk duct and encourage better milk flow through your breast.
Signs of Clogged Milk Duct
Clogged milk duct is an obstruction of milk flow in a portion of the breast of a nursing mother, leading to excessive milk in the breast, poor lactation, and pain or swelling.
Causes of Clogged Milk Duct
- Your baby cannot empty the breast, infrequent feeding or pumping sessions.
- Prolonged excessive milk in the breast.
- Breast engorgement – oversupply of breastmilk which is not drained out properly.
- Wearing tight bra can block and compress your milk flow.
- Consumption of high fat food and drink; less fluid intake.
- Stress causes decrease of milk – stimulating hormones.
Symptoms of Clogged Milk Duct
- A lump in one area of the breast.
- Deformed nipple and areola.
- Sometimes there are noticeable bulging veins.
- Pain or swelling near the lump.
- Breast pain.
- Swelling and redness without fever.
- White dot or ‘bleb’ on the nipple which is caused by the clog inside the breast.
How to Treat Clogged Milk Duct
If not treated properly, clogged milk duct may cause inflammation. There are many ways to treat the condition. The best way is to feed your baby the right way, i.e., frequently and regularly. Aside from that, you may have hot compresses and light massage, or use medication to break down fatty acid in breast milk. But if those treatments do not work well, you can try ultrasound treatment.
Ultrasound to Unclog Milk Duct
An ultrasound sends high frequency sound waves into your breast tissue around 2 – 5 centimeters deep. The vibration will shake the breast tissue and create deep heat energy. You will feel warm during this treatment.
In order to induce milk flow, low frequency ultrasound is applied around the entire breast. However, treatment of clogged milk duct requires higher frequency and focuses on the affected area. The treatment may take about 15 minutes per breast.
Benefits of Ultrasound
- Painless.
- Require less time to treat.
- Accelerate the healing process of injured tissue.
- Increase tissue flexibility and blood flow.
- Stimulate increased blood flow in the ultrasound – treated area.
- Reduce pain from clogged milk ducts.
- Help expand breast milk duct.
- Stimulate clogged milk ducts to loosen more easily.
How to Prevent Clogged Milk Duct
- Do not leave the breasts full for a long period of time.
- Manage time to drain them.
- Let your baby suck and completely drain your breasts.
- Feed your baby every 2 – 3 hours.
- Avoid sweet food with high fat, carbohydrate and sugar.
- In case of frequent clogging, take medication to neutralize fat as directed by your physician.
- Choose a comfortable bra that will support the breasts sufficiently.
Ultrasound treatment helps unclogged milk duct for nursing moms with poor milk flow having little or no milk. But it should be done under the care of a specialist and lactation consultant who knows how to solve your problem correctly.
