This is an automatically translated article.
The article is professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Pham Thi Mai Nhung - Obstetrics Department - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital
Blocked milk ducts is a condition that can be encountered during breastfeeding. If the milk stasis in the breast tissue lasts for a long time, it can cause inflammation, breast abscess, and seriously affect the health of the mother and the quality of breast milk.
1. Causes of blocked milk ducts in nursing mothers
Blocked milk ducts, also known as blocked milk ducts, this is a condition in which breast milk is stagnant and blocked in the milk ducts that cannot drain well, with enlarged glandular cysts compressing the duct system milk and cause local congestion. Blocked milk ducts need to be detected and treated early to ensure the health of the mother, as well as not affect the breastfeeding process.
There are many causes of blocked milk ducts, some of the main causes can be mentioned as:
New mother: After giving birth, breast milk is produced a lot but has not been drained out, causing the milk ducts to stagnate. blocked milk ducts, hard breasts. If the baby still latches on to the breast but does not latch on to the right breast, it will be very difficult for the baby to suck all the breast milk secreted. At this time, the amount of milk will stagnate and cause a blockage. Mothers who breastfeed less: Because of work, many mothers may not breastfeed often, from which milk will also remain in the breast and cause blockage. Breasts are under pressure and improperly supported: If the mother wears a bra that is too tight after giving birth, it can cause the milk ducts to be compressed and block the milk ducts. In addition, if the mother has a history of trauma, breast surgery can also cause blockage of the milk ducts out. In particular, psychological factors and stress also have the most influence on the body's production of breast milk. Therefore, mothers need to know the above causes to prevent effectively.
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2. Blocked milk ducts after giving birth are very dangerous if not treated promptly
Milk duct blockage is a common condition in many postpartum women, if not detected and treated in time, it can cause dangerous complications such as breast abscess, mastitis, and eventually will causing fibroadenoma, ....
When the milk duct is blocked, it will cause milk stasis, thereby stimulating a local non-infectious inflammatory response in the breast tissue. Clinical symptoms of ductal obstruction are symptoms of local stasis, localized in one area of the mammary gland, accompanied by signs of inflammatory symptoms.
If the stagnation of milk has provoked inflammation of the breast tissue, the mother may feel pain in part of the breast tissue, feel a sharp pain when pressed, and when breastfeeding or sucking on one side, it feels very painful. . This long-term situation can make the mother suffer from stress, stress, postpartum depression, ... greatly affecting psychophysiology and health. Therefore, when detecting symptoms of blocked milk ducts, mothers should go to the doctor and consult a specialist for treatment and intervention when necessary.
3. Treatment for blocked milk ducts causing infection
The first purpose of treating blocked milk ducts is to help the mother dissolve the stagnant milk clots, helping the breast milk to circulate well. In any case, try to help your baby enjoy breast milk fully.
Mothers can apply the following ways to treat blocked milk ducts:
Before feeding the baby, apply a warm towel on the breast, and gently massage the nipple to help the milk flow easily. pine. At the end of the feeding, the mother should suck the remaining milk in the breast to avoid causing stagnation. The mother should feed the baby from the blocked breast first, then switch to the other side. If you apply the above methods, but you find that the blockage does not improve or there are signs of a breast infection, breast abscess, or cracked nipple that does not subside after 24 hours, please contact your doctor for advice. specific issue. Because this 24-hour period is very important, early intervention will help limit severe inflammation, progressing to breast abscess. In case of severe infection, the mother may have to take antibiotics, extract pus to minimize life-threatening complications. If you need support, customers can directly contact the Obstetrics Department - Vinmec International General Hospital for treatment advice. In addition, the Rehabilitation Department at Vinmec now has painless infrared and ultrasound irradiation services, which dilate the milk ducts, making it easier for milk to be circulated, limiting the progression of inflammation. and spread. The service is suitable for customers in the early stages with signs such as: breast engorgement, milk stasis or weak milk ducts, no inflammatory masses, no fever.
Blocked milk ducts are a common condition in nursing mothers. Understanding the causes, levels of danger and specific symptoms will help mothers prevent and intervene in treatment, unblocking milk ducts when necessary.
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