Health Library

Narrowed Milk Ducts

Causes

Potential causes of milk duct narrowing:

• Baby sleeping for longer periods of time
• Baby not sucking well
• Skipped feedings or pumping
• Breast too full or an oversupply of milk
• Weaning too quickly
• Outside distractions that prevent or delay breastfeeding
• Using an ineffective breast pump
• Pressure outside the breast such as a tight-fitting bra or clothing

Treatment

Milk removal to help relieve symptoms of milk duct narrowing

If you are directly breastfeeding the baby:

• Breastfeed as frequently as the baby is hungry, starting with the affected breast.
• Offer both breasts at each feeding.
• Latch the baby deeply so there is no pain with breastfeeding. If there is pain with latch, seek help from a lactation professional to prevent nipple soreness.
• Change the position of the baby from one feed to the next to help with drainage of milk ducts.
• After breastfeeding, do not remove more milk by pumping. This causes your body to make more milk than your baby needs and can worsen breast swelling.
• Do not compress or massage the breast since this can make the swelling worse.

If you are pumping exclusively:

• Pump your milk each time the baby eats from a bottle.
• Leave pump suction strength at a comfortable level. Do not turn the suction up too high and cause pain at the nipple.
• Only remove the same amount of milk your baby takes by bottle. Pumping significantly more milk can cause an oversupply of milk, which worsens breast swelling.
• If you have less milk than your baby eats, stop the pump when the milk stops flowing. Feed your milk to the baby in addition to formula to give the full feeding amount.

If you are combining breastfeeding and pumping:

• Breastfeed as frequently as the baby is hungry.
• Offer both breasts at each feeding.
• Latch the baby deeply so there is no pain with breastfeeding. If there is pain with latch, seek help from a lactation professional to prevent nipple soreness.
• Do not massage the breast since this can make the swelling worse.
• If you do not feed the baby at the breast for a feeding:
• Pump on a comfortable setting only while milk is coming out.
• Only remove the same amount of milk your baby takes by bottle. Pumping significantly more milk can cause oversupply and worsen the swelling.

Prevention

• Rest, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy foods.
• If possible, get help with household tasks and caring for the baby so that you can get rest.
• Do not massage or compress the breast as this can lead to more swelling of the affected area.
• Use cool compresses to the breast between feeding or pumping sessions to provide comfort and reduce swelling.
• Avoid soaking the nipple and do not put topical products on the breast.
• If you are prescribed any medications, make sure to ask your healthcare provider if the medication is compatible with direct breastfeeding or pumping. If safe for you, take an anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen as recommended by your healthcare provider.

To prevent milk duct narrowing from occurring or from occurring again after the first episode:

• Breastfeed the baby at the breast as often as the baby is hungry.
• Latch the baby deeply so there is no pain with breastfeeding. If there is pain with latch, seek help from a lactation professional to prevent nipple soreness.
• If you pump, pump the amount of milk that the baby takes during a feeding. Do not pump more volume than the baby needs. An oversupply of milk can lead to milk duct narrowing.
• If a direct breastfeeding session is missed, pump the amount of milk that the baby takes during a feeding. Do not pump more volume than the baby needs.
• Avoid a tight-fitting bra. Do not wear an underwire bra.
• If you want to wean your milk supply, do so very slowly to prevent swelling of the milk in the breast and potential milk duct narrowing symptoms. Get tips on weaning.

When to Call the Doctor

When bacteria enter the milk glands where milk duct narrowing is located, the area of the breast may develop worsening redness and soreness. Any individual with milk duct narrowing symptoms who develops fever, chills or a fast hear rate could be developing mastitis and should seek medical care right away.