How to clear milk knots under the armpits

Mothers with more milk are most afraid of milk engorgement and blockage during lactation. Some people find a lump under their armpit that is painful to touch. In fact, it may be a milk knot. If milk lumps are found under the armpits, they need to be cleared in time, otherwise the breast engorgement will become more and more serious, and there may also be symptoms of low-grade fever, and in severe cases it may develop into mastitis. There are many ways to unclog armpit milk knots, such as ice application, taking lecithin or letting the baby suck more.

1. How to clear milk knots under the armpits

1. Massage the lump under your armpit, and you won’t feel the lump again in about two or three days. Although it is really painful, you must not ignore it because you are afraid of the pain, otherwise it will turn into mastitis and it will be even more painful.

2. You can apply ice, eat lecithin and let the baby suck more. It will be better if the baby's chin faces the direction of the lump for sucking. Otherwise, you have to ask your husband to suck it, and ask him to help massage and push away the lump. Because it is inserted into the accessory breast gland under the armpit, it is relatively thin, so it will take a little longer to retreat.

2. What are the symptoms of breast swelling?

1. Usually, when the breasts are engorged, they will become swollen, hard and painful. If it is serious, it will hurt even with the slightest touch.

2. The nipples may become inverted. If your breasts are swollen, your nipples will become hard and sunken, making it difficult for your baby to suck breast milk.

3. There may be a low-grade fever.

4. Lymph nodes may appear in the armpits.

3. Methods to prevent breast engorgement

1. Let the baby start sucking as early as possible and start breastfeeding within half an hour after birth. Pay attention to the number of feedings, about once every 2 to 3 hours, to remove milk, ensure the patency of the mammary ducts, and prevent milk engorgement.

2. If the milk secretion is too much and the baby cannot finish it, use a breast pump to suck out the excess milk.

3. Heat

Hot compress can make the milk lumps blocking the mammary glands unblocked and improve breast circulation. When applying hot compress, be careful to avoid the areola and nipple areas because the skin in these two areas is more tender. The temperature of the hot compress should not be too hot to avoid scalding the skin.

4. Massage

After applying hot compress to the breasts, you can massage them. There are many ways to massage the breasts. Generally, you hold one breast with both hands and massage alternately from the bottom of the breast to the nipple, and then squeeze the milk into a container.

5. Use a breast pump

When your breasts are swollen and painful, you can use a manual or electric breast pump to assist in expressing milk, which is very effective.

6. Hot Bath

When your breasts are swollen and painful, you might as well take a hot shower and massage your breasts, which will feel more comfortable.

7. Soak breasts in warm water

You can place a basin of warm water on your knees, then bend your upper body to your knees, let your breasts soak in the basin, and gently shake your breasts. Gravity will allow the milk to flow out more easily.

8. Cold compress

If the pain from breast engorgement is very severe, you can use cold compresses to relieve the pain. Always remember to express the milk before applying cold compress.