Breastfeeding mothers, have you ever experienced the appearance of “clots” of milk that your baby sucks or that you pump. Sometimes you also feel a sharp pain in your breast. Is this abnormal? Is it true that breast milk clots are caused by fried foods, fatty foods, and other foods you eat? Is it related to blocked milk ducts? Is it dangerous if your baby drinks clots of breast milk? We have answers for all these problems.
Why? Is it true that breast milk clots because of the food you eat?
The reason why breast milk clots is not related to the mother feeding the baby greasy foods like milk, butter, fried foods, bread, or any other foods. Under normal circumstances, we can find that breast milk clots sometimes, but it must not happen often and there must not be any breast pain. In the case of a sharp pain, it is considered normal due to the effects of hormones. The main reasons why a mother’s breast milk has a clotted appearance are:
If a baby does not suckle regularly or stops breastfeeding for a long period of time, milk may accumulate in the breasts.
Breast milk is made up of fat, protein, and water. When left to stand, the fat separates and floats to the top, making the clot or sediment visible. Hindmilk, in particular, has a higher fat content than foremilk, making the clot more visible.
Stress or lack of rest can affect milk production and milk flow.
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Incorrect breastfeeding posture
Incorrect breastfeeding posture can cause compressed milk ducts, preventing proper milk release.
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Wearing clothes that are too tight or too thick
Clothing that is too tight or doesn’t fit properly can press on the breasts, causing blocked milk ducts.
In this case, if breast milk is clotted, along with breast pain and tightness, it could be a sign of a ” clogged milk duct, ” which is caused by fat in the milk clumping together into a hard lump, blocking the flow of milk.
Breast milk clots from blocked milk ducts
The appearance of breast milk that is clotted may be caused by a blocked milk duct. This is often found in mothers who produce too much milk.
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Breast milk clots from clogged milk ducts
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| Breast swelling |
The area where the milk duct is blocked will become swollen and tight. |
| painful |
There is often localized pain that may occur immediately after breastfeeding or while the baby is nursing. |
| A lump in the breast |
You may feel a hard lump in your breast, which could be a buildup of milk. |
| High body temperature |
In some cases, fever and inflammation may occur if the blockage of the milk ducts persists until it becomes infected. |
In addition to the mother having too much milk and not draining it on time, blocked milk ducts can also be caused by the following factors:
- Pumping milk frequently during the day and sleeping long hours at night, not waking up to breastfeed or pump milk regularly
- The baby does not suckle often enough or sucks only a little, causing milk to remain in the breasts and not completely drain, as well as allowing the breasts to become engorged for a long time.
- Wearing a bra that doesn’t fit properly or is uncomfortable. Bras that are too tight prevent milk from flowing smoothly. Bras that are loose and not tight cause the breasts to sag and press on the milk ducts.
- Your breasts are too large and sagging, causing poor milk drainage.
- Breastfeeding mothers do not drink enough water or are dehydrated.
How to drain milk , prevent breast engorgement, and blocked milk ducts
When expressing milk, mothers should use their fingers to express milk rather than pumping. This is because pumping stimulates the body to produce more milk, resulting in more milk than needed. Furthermore, breast pumps do not express the milk sacs surrounding the areola, causing milk to stagnate and leading to blocked milk ducts. Therefore, expressing milk with fingers by expressing from the areola area will allow the milk to flow out best. The method is as follows:
- Place your fingers and thumb behind the areola (the brown part).
- Gently press down on the breast, milk forward and release. Do this several times until milk flows.
- Squeeze the milk into a clean container.
- Keep squeezing the breast area until it reaches the entire breast.
Breast milk is clotted due to mastitis.
If the blocked milk duct is not severe, simply draining the milk can clear the breasts and the problem will go away on its own. However, if mastitis occurs after the blocked milk duct, there is a risk of infection, particularly bacteria called coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause breast milk to clot, become lumpy, and sticky.
Mothers with mastitis often experience an infection as well. Symptoms may include cracked nipples, nipple infections, or deep-seated mastitis, which can cause milk to become thick and viscous, forming clots. When expressing milk, you’ll often encounter large, long, or thick clots, along with sharp pain. Sometimes, the viscous, stretchy lumps can be squeezed out. This is definitely not a result of the food you eat, but rather an infection that requires treatment. Therefore, if you experience any of these symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible.
How to prevent breast milk from clotting?
- Encourage your baby to suckle more frequently and consistently, in the correct position and posture, to ensure effective suckling and prevent milk buildup in the breasts.
- Massage your breasts before breastfeeding. Gently massaging the swollen areas of your breasts before breastfeeding can help stimulate milk flow and may help prevent blocked milk ducts.
- Getting enough rest will help reduce stress, allowing for better milk production and flow.
- Wear appropriate underwear. Choose underwear that is not tight or does not press on the breasts. This will help the milk flow normally.
- Apply a hot compress. If your breast milk clots or milk ducts are clogged, applying a hot compress to the swollen area before breastfeeding will help open the milk ducts and allow milk to flow better.
- Try changing breastfeeding positions. Changing your breastfeeding position allows your baby to latch on in different positions, allowing each milk duct to open more effectively.
- Use your hands to help express and drain the milk. If there is still milk accumulated in the breasts, mothers should use their hands to help express and drain the milk after finishing breastfeeding.
- Observe and care for your breast health. If you experience breast pain or swelling, seek appropriate and timely medical attention.
Generally, it’s normal for your breast milk to have clots and isn’t harmful to your baby. Your baby can still drink clots, just by gently shaking the bottle before feeding. However, if you have other symptoms, such as breast pain, hardness, or a fever, consult a doctor immediately to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment. Also, if your breast milk clots don’t go away within 24 hours or if there are signs of a breast infection, see a doctor or breastfeeding specialist immediately for proper treatment and to ensure the safety of both you and your baby.
Republished with permission from theAsianParent Thailand
