Plugged Duct

On April 4th I had the wonderful experience of my first postpartum illness. I had a fever that reached (the last temp read) 103.3, maybe a little higher, and my hubby stayed home from work to take care of me and Jayden. My fever abated by that night, so the next day it was back to work for my hubby.

Well, that Friday (the 5th) I noticed a lump on the inside of my right breast...oh crap. Luckily I don't panic, and I knew what it was - my first plugged duct.

Usually, a good way to clear it is heat before nursing/pumping, cold after (or before in case of swelling if the heat isn't working), lots of fluids. I even tried an Epson salt bath (which is NOT easy for one breast), and breast compressions/massaging while nursing/pumping.

Needless to say, this was one persistent plug. At my 6 week appointment (on the 16th) it was still plugged. My midwife suggested two remedies: the homeopathic phytolacca (see images and link below) and castor oil packs. Well, I purchased each and have tried the phytolacca. I saw an improvement within a day. Swelling that I didn't realize was there subsided making the clog much smaller. However the clog still didn't go away.

Well, I haven't tried the castor oil packs on it yet, but I'm at my wits end, and would hate to get mastitis, so I'll be trying that tomorrow, on the 23rd. The hold up has been making the packs and getting baking soda to make an after "rinse" per some instructions I was given a link to.

          

Another useful aid I was told about at a store in Raleigh, NC called Precious Arrows is a product called Happy Ducts pictured above, which is an herbal tincture by Wish Garden. Each time I take a dose of this (I have not used the phytolacca since last week, since the nature of a homeopathic remedy is to work in a few days or find another remedy...but I may use it again after the castor oil) the clog seems to shrink, and I could take it as often as every two hours, but I've only had about 5 doses. I seem to have a problem with consistently doing something that doesn't produce immediate results and isn't a prescription...well, perhaps tomorrow I will try to regularly take the Happy Ducts tincture and do the castor oil packs since I REALLY want to try to make lactation cookies, but am hesitant to increase my production with a clogged duct.

Updates and links to instructions will be added!

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http://www.drmomma.org/2010/02/castor-oil-pack-therapy.html

http://www.wishgardenherbs.com/herbal-remedies/Happy-Ducts-Lactation-Support-546/?return

http://www.preciousarrows.com/Mastitis_Remedy_Happy_Ducts_p/40620.htm

http://www.herbs2000.com/homeopathy/phytolacca.htm

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UPDATE!!!

NONE of the above things worked for ME, though they are all HIGHLY recommended! In the end I had an ultrasound treatment at my chiropractor's office on the plug, and about a week and a half later the plug just disappeared, though I did continue (halfheartedly) the compression while nursing. Good luck!

Happy Due Day and Sitz Bath Recipe

40 WEEKS TODAY!!! Its official - Jayden James is due today, March 5th. Now its just a matter of finding out how late he's going to stay in his comfy hotel. I'm trying to up my intake of red raspberry leaf tea to help, and I'm continuing with the evening primrose oil regimen as well. As a last resort (around 41 weeks) I'll try the Start It Up to get things going, though of course they won't really get going unless he's ready.

As for my postpartum healing plans, I have come across ingredients for an herbal sitz bath in a useful book called Birthing from Within by Pam England & Rob Horowitz (copyrighted of course, and all info taken from it below used purely to educate and maybe to encourage you to buy a copy - click the pic!).

             

In the book, they list "your herbal friends" and a few of their properties:

• comfrey - builds new cells rapidly which speeds healing, softens skin and soothes wounds; decreases itching and pain
• rosemary - mild antiseptic
• yarrow - astringent & antibacterial
• marshmallow root - soothes inflamed, swollen tissues
• uva ursi - antibiotic properties
• goldenseal - antibiotic properties
• myrhh - helps keep herbs fresh

So, along I went to an all-natural grocery called Harmony Farms in the area with one of my friends that just HAPPENS to also be pregnant. With the expertise of the co-owner Steve we came up with a more exact "recipe" than just the equal parts suggestion...since we all know that all herbs are not created equally, with my science background that was far too vague of a statement hahaha. There is also the fact that goldenseal is the most powerful component of the mix, and is so potent and rare that in powder form (which is the only good option for the sitz bath, a tincture contains alcohol which would obviously be a painful additive, and capsules are often mixed with other ingredients) it can cost around $200 per pound. Also a good reason we're working in OUNCES in this case!

 So, my final results are below, and I have mixed one set of it myself to judge the final mix amount. I believe the recipe below should yield about 8 cups of "sitz tea" (not to be ingested), since it feels like about 2 ounces or so of final product, and the suggestion in the book is to simmer 1-2 ounces of herb blend per 4-8 cups for 20-30 minutes, strain and save unused portion. SO in this scenario: simmer 2 ounces of herb blend in 8 cups of water for 30 minutes, or you can do it in two 1 ounce halves, but as a new parent you might not care for  the added work.
 

My recipe (which can be altered proportionally):

1. 4 parts COMFREY ROOT (leaf is better for ingestion, which we are not doing here)
2. 4 parts YARROW
3. 2 parts MARSHMALLOW ROOT
4. 1 part UVA URSI
5. maximum of 1 teaspoon MYRHH
6. maximum of 1/2 teaspoon GOLDENSEAL (powdered)
7. rosemary to preference (acts as a binder and brings out the effects of the other herbs as well...no limit)

Any questions please let me know! The owner was a BIG help, and quite knowledgeable!

***UPDATE***
Due to the work, and thought, I put into the herbs, I've decided to sell my extra!!! The finished sitz mix can be found HERE at my Etsy shop!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JaydensCraftyMom