Ongoing clogged ducts
I am so exhausted. Baby is nearly 6 weeks old and I’ve just managed to get out the house to a local infant feeding group where they showed me that my biggest issue is latch. I’ve been doing my best since then (been around 5 days) to ensure latch is correct. This in itself is a challenge as she latches correctly on right using cradle but can’t on the left unless I use the rugby hold.
Key information is I had clogged ducts in my left boob (at the start of the week) which is now better, it feels normal. But I have now woken up with a wedge shaped lump in my right. This happens on rotation, since I started. I time feeds to know which side was last and that they’re both getting used equally.
I have a very large chest (currently 34L) but I don’t leak (did for around one day during the second week) so I don’t sleep in a bra to prevent clogs and sleep on my back to not apply pressure. I have also consciously stopped pressing down my boobs during feeds (latch has improved so that’s helped as not really needed to do that). I have sized up to the bra size above in my nursing bra (neither are wired) as I suspected the previous size was too small now (had some overspill) as I thought that may be causing some problems too.
I’m at a loss. I’ve introduced a bottle (formula) around a week and a half ago due to the ongoing issues to start weaning. Haven’t introduced any further since as my boob issues are constant and I feel so stuck. I feel like I can’t stop cold turkey because I constantly have duct issues and I’ve already had mastitis once in the 2nd week but how am I meant to introduce more bottles when I keep having issues?! Why can’t my boobs just stop being problematic. It makes me regret pushing for bf this time, my first baby was formula fed.
I’d like to either completely stop at this point but I’m so scared of complications as they’re already painful generally or keep nights as boob and combo feed but I’m physically and mentally exhausted. How long can I take ibuprofen for and ice my chest, because 6 weeks is a long time 😭