Expert: ruth kraft - 11/17/2010

Question
Hi, my child just before 6 months just stopped taking the breast. I tried to take it(not force it) but, wouldn't she had a cold so thought it was that.( Wanted to continue as long as I and her felt we could :(# Anyway, I got sick too. I tried to pump but just feeling sick and drained, hair falling out and so on. So, she is now on formula & loves holding her bottle she tries for her bubba sippy too lol. Anyway, I have been not pumping or breast feeding for over 2 weeks and my right breast is starting to have tenderness more and pain shooting down it. I have also had pain in my ribs lately on the same side. There is a knot that goes down from the top of the breast to the nipple. It is thick knot but not the whole breast just a few layers. My nipples are knotted too and they hurt as well. I have had mastitis with one of my children that I feed as well and didn't do this it was the whole breasts. Sorry, so long just thought better details would help. The main question is how long should this knot be here without being of concern? I know it could be the glands swelling but my milk has only let down a few times that I felt. What should I do. I am taking an antibiotic due to still being sick #flu/cold like symptoms) that my doctor gave me since I had been in the ER and had a URI and plurecy but that doc. didnt give me one.

Answer
The know is a clogged duct likely which can lead to mastitis. You can use a warm compress on the knot and massage down towards your nipple frequently to get it to unclogg. Since she is no longer nursing you can take cabbage leaves and place them inside your bra until they wilt for a few days and this will dry up your supply. You can also drink sage tea as that will dry  up your milk as well.

I hope that helped!