Getting a bit stuck? Relieve those milk blebs and clogs

What are milk blebs and clogs?

Clogs can occur in the breast where the breastmilk has blocked the milk ducts. The blockage prevents breastmilk from properly draining out of the breast and creates hard, often painful lumps.

Milk blebs often present as white spots on the nipple that can look like a tiny blister. The creamy milk can build up on the skin of the nipple and blocks the nipple pore. The skin around the milk bleb may also be red and inflamed. You may even feel a sharp pain while breastfeeding your baby.

Causes

Often poor drainage of the breast or missing a breastfeeding session could lead to a buildup of breastmilk in the breast and could clog the milk ducts.

Poor latch can also cause the breast not to drain properly and lead to milk blebs on the nipples.

Poor hydration can also lead to poor drainage of the breast and cause the breast ducts to clog up.

On the rare occasion, certain nipple structures combined with breastmilk that is high in viscosity (sticky texture in the breastmilk) may also cause occasional milk blebs despite correct latch of the baby while breastfeeding.

How to prevent them

Make sure you don’t miss a feed. Drain the breast often and if you are feeding from a bottle, pump to ensure breasts are still drained. Check the latch to make sure baby is latched well and effectively draining your breast. Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated as this will help move the creamier and fattier part of the milk better and prevent the creamier part of the milk from blocking the breast ducts. Without proper hydration and proper drainage of the breast, the breasts can become blocked and milk blebs could also develop to further prevent proper breast drainage.

After a feed, clean the nipples to avoid any clogged nipple pores that can turn into blebs.

Pump at night if necessary. You will notice engorgement of the breast may occur first thing in the morning after your baby has slept through the night, or sleeps longer. The breast becomes very full and hard like a rock. It may also feel slightly painful. This does not mean it is a clogged duct. Drink plenty of water and massage the breast before feeding your baby and the hard lumps should disappear after the feed. If they don’t disappear after the feed, then it has become clogged ducts.

How to treat them

Should you get clogged ducts, massage the breasts under a warm shower. This will help move the milk build up through to drain the breast properly. Ensure to keep hydrated, which will also help fill up the breast with enough water to move the creamier milk through and unclog the clogged ducts.

For milk blebs on the nipple, soak the affected nipple in an Epsom salt bath. You can use a Haakaa breast pump to soak your nipple in an Epsom salt bath for approximately 20mins and then pat dry. Another way to help relieve the milk bleb is to dip some cotton wool or cotton facial pad in olive oil and place it on the nipple for half an hour, then gently wipe the nipple with a face washer soaked in warm water and wrung out. These two methods should help to break the milk bleb and release the clog. Do not pop the milk bleb with a needle on your own without consulting a medical professional, as this may cause an infection.

What can happen if left untreated?

If left untreated, the clogged duct could cause infection in the breast, which can cause the pain to worsen. The infection can become a serious case of Mastitis, which will require antibiotics. Symptoms of mastitis include:

• Breast pain
• Swelling
• Tenderness or inflammation in the breast
• A breast that is abnormally warm to the touch
• A burning sensation while breastfeeding
• Discharge from the nipple
• Fever
• Chills
• Nausea or vomiting