What is milk duct obstruction and postpartum breast abscess and how to distinguish it?

Breast engorgement, which causes pain in nursing women, is very common. However, you should not ignore this as just normal pain. It is possible that this is a manifestation of blocked milk ducts or a breast abscess after giving birth, which significantly affects the health of both the mother and the amount of milk for the baby. Join lassho.edu.vn to find out what is blocked milk duct and breast abscess after giving birth and how to distinguish it.

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What is a milk duct?

The breasts contain a series of ducts that carry milk from the mammary glands to the nipples when a mother breastfeeds. The milk will flow when the baby sucks or has an effect similar to the force of sucking. For some reason, the milk ducts become blocked inside, causing breast milk to be trapped, unable to escape, or out in very small amounts. This is the phenomenon of blocked milk ducts.

According to statistics, about 15% of breastfeeding women experience breast tenderness, engorgement or fever or blocked milk ducts into hard lumps. This greatly affects the health, mental health of the mother and the amount of milk for the baby.

When the milk duct is blocked, the mother will feel tired, the baby will not suck because the milk is not secreted enough. The consequences can lead to breast abscesses, postpartum depression, and even life-threatening infections.

Blocked milk ducts cause pain for mothers

According to Doctor Hoang Thi Anh Tuyet – Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital, this phenomenon can happen at any time after giving birth, especially in the first week. Common symptoms of blocked milk ducts include:

• When you touch your breast, you feel one or more hard lumps.
• The breasts are firmer and larger than usual.
• There is a feeling of pain.
• Does not produce milk or produces little, does not produce milk.
• You may have blocked milk ducts, fever or blocked milk ducts with hardening if the milk has stagnate too much.

Causes of blocked milk ducts:

• Not fully lactation in each lactation.
• The baby sucks too little, causing too much excess milk.
• Irregular breastfeeding schedule.
• Uncomfortable breastfeeding positions, tight clothing or underwire bras put pressure on the breasts.
• The nipples have not cleared the milk ducts.
• Flat or inverted nipples make it difficult for your baby to suckle, as well as prevent milk from escaping.
• Improper nipple hygiene.
• Nipples can be affected by bacteria from the baby’s mouth due to improper cleaning of the baby’s tongue and mouth.
• After the baby suckles, there is still a certain amount of excess milk, if the mother does not express this amount of milk, it can also cause blocked milk ducts.

Causes of blocked milk ducts

See more: Tips to cure clogged milk ducts from grandparents’ folk, simple and effective to apply again.

What is postpartum breast abscess?

Postpartum breast abscess is also a common condition in nursing mothers. This is an infection caused by bacteria, which manifests as swelling, redness, tender lymph nodes in the breast, and possibly a foul odor in the breast.

Postpartum breast abscess

Postpartum breast abscess usually presents as follows:

• The mother has a high fever and chills.
• Feeling hot, swollen, painful in the breast area.
• Pressing on the axillary lymph node feels painful.
• Milk contains yellow latex.
• On ultrasound examination of the breast, there are many fluid reservoirs.
• CRP (C – reactive protein) test increased.
• Complete blood count: The neutrophil count is elevated.
• Most dangerously, a breast abscess can be a sign of breast cancer.

Causes of breast abscess:

• Usually, people with blocked milk ducts easily turn into breast abscesses due to the milk stagnation in the breasts for too long.
• Not cleaning the nipple properly.
• Not feeding the baby all the milk leads to stagnation of milk.

Causes of breast abscess

How long does it take to get blocked milk ducts to get a breast abscess?

The mean time to transition from duct occlusion to mastitis and finally to breast abscess was 4 weeks. So, when you notice or are diagnosed with blocked milk ducts, quickly clear the milk as soon as possible. Both help mothers ensure the health of having enough milk for the baby and avoid the possibility of developing an abscess.

Both the phenomenon of blocked milk ducts and breast abscess after birth have not too serious effects on the activities of mother and baby. But you should not neglect to observe and feel your breasts and milk supply every day to avoid contracting this disease.

Source: Vinmec International General Hospital

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