Over 60% of breastfeeding women experience clogged milk ducts.
Physical therapy can help support orthopedic conditions related to breastfeeding, including assessment and treatment of clogged milk ducts.​
​
An in-home evaluation and treatment session includes assessment of your breasts and surrounding areas.
Treatment includes:
-
Extensive education on breastfeeding techniques
-
Manual techniques, such as lymphatic drainage and therapeutic breast massage
-
Therapeutic ultrasound to break up the clog
-
Instruction on how to perform at-home massage techniques
Defining Engorgement, Mastitis, and Clogged Milk Ducts
Mastitis is painful inflammation of the breast tissue and can include symptoms like swelling, redness, warmth, fever, and chills. Often times, mastitis is just inflammation, not an infection. Many women with mastitis are often treated with antibiotics; however, that is only effective if there is an infection. So how does mastitis occur? Many women are told that mastitis is due to inconsistent feedings, such as skipping a pumping session during the day or night time, or not emptying their breasts all the way. Some women are told to pump or breastfeed more to prevent mastitis. This is a myth! Mastitis is due to hyperlactation (oversupply), which results in engorgement of the breast tissue as well. Therefore, trying to pump more and empty to breasts after each feed will not solve the problem.
​
Engorgement is defined as swelling of the breasts and generally peaks on postpartum day 3 to 5. This is because breast milk production ramps up. Many people with mastitis also have engorgement.
​
Clogged milk ducts can be extremely uncomfortable and painful, and may be coupled with mastitis and engorgement. You may feel a hard lump in your breast, which is backed up milk that is unable to drain.