Clogged ducts and blisters, oh my!

Clogged ducts. Nipple blisters.

Let's face it, breastfeeding is not easy!  At least it wasn't for me.


I went through months of these, coupled with my son crying hysterically at the breast, bouts of fevers from the clogged ducts, and I finally folded when the biting wouldn't stop.  My son didn't have a great latch so he didn't seem to completely empty my breast, making me more susceptible to clogs.  However, towards the end I was able to nip the clogged duct in the bud much faster because I knew what to do and what signs to look for.
  
Symptoms I experienced:
Breast pain, lump or part of the breast is hard, feverish, headache, dizziness, not pumping as much milk as normal


Remedies I tried:

1) Use hot towel or shower and massage the breast to try to unclog the duct
2) Take an ibuprofen for fever and chills
3) Breastfeed/pump more often
4) Taking oral granular lecithin (purchased at Whole Foods) since studies have shown that lecithin is helpful in preventing or treating milk ducts. Lecithin didn't seem to make a difference for me.
5) Repeat all of the above

Outcome:
It would typically take me about 2-4 days to get rid of a clogged duct. Massaging in the shower seemed to work the best for me.  

Leave a comment if you have any other tips!