Clogged Duct = Major Ouch.

I am about 99% sure that I have a clogged milk duct, and let me tell you friends, it hurts!

It all started just a few short hours ago, when I rolled over onto my right side and woke up wondering why someone had punched me in the boob! My right breast was so unbelievably sore, as well as extremely hard and engorged considering A had eaten last only 5 hours before. One particular spot seemed to be the root of the problem, with the pain centralized right around a tender nodule. I tried to massage the spot, but it was far too painful. Instead, I popped a couple tylenol and went back to sleep. Or at least attempted to, with minimal success. For the first time in recent memory, I said a little prayer that Ava would wake up and eat at 2AM.

Flash forward two and a half hours, with little miss still going strong in the sleeping department. Yay for seven hours straight, but could you kindly get up now little lady? My breast may explode! She obliged this time, mainly because I was making all sorts of noise to help her along, and while I followed the advice I found online of nursing with her chin towards the clog, it still seems to be as painful as ever despite our marathon middle-of-the-night nursing session.

Next up to try? A hot shower and round two of massage, though it'll have to wait until morning because I'm flat exhausted at this point. If that doesn't work, I've heard nursing on all fours can work wonders for getting the breast to empty completely, though the logistics seem both awkward and hilarious. Hopefully it won't come to that!

Please, please don't let me get mastitis!