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Discover some traditional remedies passed down by our ancestors that are sure to assist many mothers. As soon as you sense firmness in your chest and a lack of milk flow, it's likely a blocked milk duct. At this point, mothers should apply these tips immediately.
10 Effective Ways to Treat Blocked Milk Ducts
Utilize Banana Leaf for Clearing Blocked Milk Ducts
A simple method – mothers just need to take a few fresh banana leaves, warm them (avoid excessive heat to prevent burns), place them on the chest, and gently massage. Combine this with strong hand pressure and slow downward strokes. If done consistently several times a day for consecutive days, it will undoubtedly yield positive results.
Purple Onion
Purple onions have warming properties, so mothers can cut a few thin slices, approximately 1.5 mm thick, and place them on the chest (excluding the nipple). Then, take a thin cloth, cover it, and tie it up. Repeat this process for 4 days, twice a day.
Cabbage Leaf Compress
Similar to using banana leaves, mothers can take a few cabbage leaves, clean them, remove the central vein, dry them, and warm them up. After that, wrap them in paper or cloth and apply them to the chest, combining with a gentle massage until the milk ducts are completely clear, providing relief and reducing pain.
Green Papaya Fruit
Mothers should use peeled and thinly sliced green papaya. Warm it over heat, wrap it with a cloth or gauze, and apply it to the chest, gently massaging. This helps dissolve the blockage, making milk flow more easily. Many mothers have successfully applied this method.
Sticky Rice Compress
Cook a pot of white sticky rice and wrap it in two thin cloths while still hot. Use the wrapped sticky rice compress on both breasts, gently rolling from the outside in until the rice cools, helping the milk ducts clear faster.
Dong Quai Leaves
Dong Quai leaves are excellent for treating blocked milk ducts. Just take a handful of cleaned Dong Quai leaves, steep them in water, and drink. The water is easy to drink and also makes breast milk more aromatic.
Use Basil and Coconut Water
For rural mothers, coconut water is easily accessible. In that case, take a handful of coconut water combined with basil leaves, clean and crush them, then apply to the chest and bandage. Doing this for a few days has a very effective milk-clearing effect.
Apply Rice Wine Lees
Applying rice wine lees is another method to help mothers treat blocked milk ducts. Take a bit of wine lees and apply them around the chest area, feeling the warmth gradually increase, effectively clearing the milk ducts.
Include Herbal Congee in Your Diet
Mothers can easily purchase herbal ingredients from traditional medicine stores. Take a handful of herbs, boil them in water for about 20 minutes, then strain the water and use it to cook congee or soup for consumption.
Hand Massage Technique
Mothers, use both hands to press both sides of the breast together, then gently move in a circular motion about 20-30 times. This helps dissolve the hardened milk in the breast.
Preventive Measures to Avoid Blocked Milk Ducts
– After giving birth, mothers should encourage the baby to breastfeed as much as possible to stimulate milk production and reduce the risk of blocked milk ducts.
– In many cases, if the baby doesn't finish breastfeeding, excess milk may lead to blocked ducts. Therefore, mothers should use a breast pump to express milk, which can be stored in the freezer to prevent milk blockages.
– Keep the nipple clean before and after breastfeeding, as residual milk can cause clogs if not cleaned. This can lead to blocked ducts, preventing milk from flowing out.
– Oversized or inverted nipples can also cause difficulty for the baby to latch and contribute to milk duct blockage.
Blocked milk ducts are one of the 'nightmares' for mothers breastfeeding. Any mother can experience this issue, and without timely treatment or proper handling, it can worsen and lead to complications such as fever, engorgement, infection requiring injections, or painful surgeries. See more reasons at: Causes and Prevention of Blocked Milk Ducts
Use a Breast Pump
A breast pump is an extremely useful tool for mothers. If there is excess milk and the baby doesn't finish breastfeeding, it can easily lead to blockages. A breast pump is the solution to address such issues. Here are some types to consider:
Mamago Manual Breast Pump
Designed and manufactured with Bellema USA technology (USA), this product meets all safety criteria of the health department, complying with FDA, CE, ISO standards. Featuring 3D technology, the cushion in the funnel directly impacts the nipple, mimicking the baby's breastfeeding action, helping express milk quickly and evenly.
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This is the unique feature of the Mamago breast pump that sets it apart from other models currently available on the market. The suction cups are made of soft plastic and silicone, ensuring complete comfort without causing any harm to the mother's skin and nipples during the pumping process.
Unimom Allegro Breast Pump
All Unimom milk bottles and accessories are Bisphenol-A-free (BPA free). The Unimom single electric breast pump Allegro boasts an elegant design, compact structure (0.4kg), and can be used on the go with its battery-operated feature or with an AC adapter. Its powerful suction capability addresses any issues related to blocked milk ducts.
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Medela Double Electric Breast Pump
The Medela Swing Maxi Electric Breast Pump is an excellent double pump, competitively priced, providing economic value and high performance. Its two-phase expression technology mimics a baby's natural sucking rhythm: first, a fast, continuous pace to stimulate the mother's milk ejection reflex, followed by a slower, deeper pace to facilitate the smoothest milk flow.
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Apart from these products, there are many other breast pump models such as Spectra, Mamago, Avent... providing great support for breastfeeding mothers and addressing issues like low milk supply, blocked ducts, and excess milk production. For more details, you can refer to: HERE
- Simple and effective remedies for blocked milk ducts
- Experiences with using breast pumps
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