How to unclog the mammary glands during lactation?

If women do not take proper care during the lactation period, it is easy to cause breast blockage. At this time, milk secretion will not be smooth, and severe cases will lead to acute suppurative infection and induce mastitis. At this time, massage should be performed in time to promote milk emptying. If the symptoms are more serious, you can find a professional lactation consultant for treatment, and the effect is also good. In addition, treatment effects such as diet therapy and external application are also very good. You should also pay attention to your diet and avoid eating irritating foods. Pay attention to rest and avoid overwork.

Massage method for acute mastitis

Use negative pressure suction to drain out the remaining milk, such as using a breast pump or manual suction. Excessive negative pressure suction can easily cause temporary narrowing of the milk ducts, affecting the milk discharge effect. Breast massage uses the effect of squeezing to empty the milk ducts and promote the dissipation of congestion. This method is suitable for patients with blocked milk ducts, milk stasis, or early stages of lobular inflammation. This method is contraindicated if local edema is obvious, accompanied by fever, or an abscess has already formed.

① Manual massage

Put your five fingers together, pinch the base of the breast with the hypothenar eminence of both hands, and gently massage along the milk duct towards the nipple for 1 to 2 minutes. Then use your palm to gradually push and gently squeeze from the outer edge of the congested lump toward the nipple. Repeat the massage for 5 to 10 minutes to gradually push out the congested milk. During massage, you can gently lift the nipple with your hands several times to expand the nipple's output ducts. If you apply local hot compress before massage, the effect will be better.

② Back massage

Apply a small amount of oil (liquid paraffin or castor oil) to the affected area of ​​the breast to reduce friction and irritation to the breast skin and avoid skin damage. Use the back of a heated wooden comb (without burning the skin) to push from the base of the breast through the affected area and toward the nipple. This will allow the blocked milk ducts to gradually expand from the inside to the outside and from small to large. Eventually, the ducts will be completely open and the accumulated milk will be discharged. The patient can recover in a short period of time.

Massage precautions for acute mastitis

a. In order to reduce the spread of inflammation and the occurrence of sepsis caused by massage, massage must be performed under the premise of systemic application of antibiotics. b. To reduce pain during massage, inject 20 to 40 ml of 0.5% to 1% lidocaine into the surrounding tissues of the congestion before massage, and then continue massage after 5 minutes. c. When there is mild inflammation in the breast lobules and surrounding tissues, add 400,000 units of penicillin to the local anesthetic and massage should be performed 10 minutes after injection. d. During the treatment, you can gently wash the nipples with warm boric acid solution and apply penicillin or sulfonamide ointment, and then cover them with gauze to protect the nipples.

To sum up, the above content talks about massage therapy for acute mastitis, which can help women better treat acute mastitis. Patients with acute mastitis should also keep a good mood, actively receive symptomatic treatment, and maintain local hygiene.