this would not be an accurate blog if it did not include at least one 'adventures in breastfeeding' story, and today is the day for it. i have suffered from what i assumed was a clogged milk duct for a while--it happens periodically, but with enough frequency that it has become more of a concern than an annoyance. and it is always the same place, same symptoms, and same "gee i feel like crap and this really hurts" type of attitude from me. and as anyone who has had one can attest, they really do hurt. so, i did all of the things that are listed on all of the standard websites for getting it to go away, barring cabbage leaves in my bra-and i would have done that but i don't have any cabbage and wasting 3 hours to go get a head of cabbage seemed silly, but it was all to no avail. nothing helped--the hot compresses, the hot bath, the nursing, nothing. so i kept googling 'clogged milk duct' and any and all synonyms. then i came upon the following suggestion: "sterilize a pin and gently insert it into your nipple to get rid of any dead skin that might be causing the problem..." they went on to assure readers that this did not hurt. oh, sure. sounds like a great plan. but, i honestly would have preffered the pain of a pin in my nipple over this, so off i went to the bathroom. i assembled the alchohol, the pin, etc., took a deep breath and tried to pop my balloon.
there was a white spot that i assumed was the issue (for some reason i keep imagining yourt or sour cream getting trapped), and it really did not hurt to move it aside ever so gently. and then.
it was like old faithful. milk came streaming out of me at full force--i did not have to do anything. i was just standing there. i started to laugh, and this got ava's attention, and she poked her head in, saw what was happening, and started to get hysterical. this got carter's attention, and he came in, and he laughed, but then looked at me and opened his mouth...he could not believe that i was allowing this to go down the drain. but i just could not allow myself to turn and aim it at him. that was too much. so i told him it was sour milk.
eventually, the duct drained and i was no longer in pain. despite the entertainment value, i hope never to have to resort to that again.
