Should You Squeeze a Clogged Duct?

Should you squeeze that blocked duct until it pops open?

If you’ve been battling a clogged milk duct, you might be tempted to squeeze, push, and prod at it, hoping for relief. It’s a natural reaction—after all, it feels like something is stuck, so shouldn’t you just push it out? But here’s the surprising truth: a blocked duct isn’t caused by a clump of milk stuck in your breast. Instead, it’s a swelling of the duct walls that narrows the space, making it difficult for milk to flow. The milk backs up because the walls are inflamed, not the other way around. So, what’s the best way to handle this situation? Let’s dive in

Why Squeezing Isn’t the Answer YOU wish it was!

When you try to squeeze a clogged duct, you risk causing more harm than good. Forceful squeezing can irritate the sensitive tissues, worsen the swelling, or even lead to bruising. In some cases, it might push milk into surrounding tissue, increasing the risk of inflammation or infection. While gentle massage has its place in managing duct issues, aggressive handling is a no-go.

Instead of focusing on squeezing out the milk, the goal should be to reduce the swelling of the duct walls. Once the swelling subsides, milk can flow more freely, and the blockage often resolves on its own.

At-Home Remedies for Blocked Ducts.

The good news? There are plenty of effective, gentle ways to manage a clogged duct at home. Here are some tried-and-true methods:

Warm Compresses
Apply a warm compress or take a warm shower before nursing or pumping. Heat can help increase blood flow to the area, reducing swelling and promoting milk flow.
Gentle Massage
Use a number of techniques can be useful to target how inflammation drains out of the breast. Always be gentle—think of it as coaxing fluid/tissue rather than forcing it. Our online course are the GOT-TO for this specific education tutorial!
Frequent Nursing or Pumping
The best way to keep milk moving is to continue to feed or pump to your regular routine. And it doesn't really matter which breast is offered first. Do what feels right for you.
Change hand holds
Sometimes, a change in hand position can help milk drain more effectively. For example, are you pressing into the breast in a particular spot blocking milk flow? Check it off the list!
Cold Packs Between Feeds
While heat is helpful before feeding, cold packs can reduce swelling and relieve pain between sessions.

Did you know?

Mastitis affects approximately 30% of parents, so that figure will be heaps more for blocked ducts!!

You are not alone and we are here to show you and support you through it.

Bad Strategies to Avoid for Clearing a Blocked Duct.

When dealing with a blocked duct, it’s easy to resort to strategies that seem logical but can do more harm than good.

Aggressive squeezing or pushing on the lump is one of the most common mistakes—this can worsen inflammation, bruise the tissue, and even risk milk leaking into surrounding areas, potentially triggering mastitis.

Avoid using extreme heat, like scalding-hot compresses, as this can irritate your skin without helping the swelling.

Another bad idea is using sharp objects or attempting "milk blister popping" at home, which risks introducing infection.

Lastly, skipping feedings or pumping sessions to "rest the breast" can make the blockage worse by allowing milk to build up further. Instead, focus on gentle, evidence-based strategies for relief.

BE KIND TO YOU!

When to Seek Help

If the blockage doesn’t resolve within a day or two or if you develop symptoms like fever, chills, or severe pain, it’s time to call in reinforcements. These could indicate mastitis, which might require medical attention.

And if you’re feeling stuck (literally and figuratively), you don’t have to figure it out alone. That’s where Your Two Jugs comes in.

**Why Choose Your Two Jugs to help you out?**

We understand that clogged ducts can feel overwhelming, especially when you're juggling the demands of motherhood. That’s why we’ve created fully online courses designed to provide you with expert advice and actionable steps, all from the comfort of your home.

Our courses are easy to access and packed with practical tips to help you manage common breastfeeding challenges, from blocked ducts to mastitis and beyond. Whether it’s the middle of the night or the middle of a feeding session, we’re here to support you when you need it most.

Final Thoughts

Here’s a bonus: continuing to breastfeed through mastitis is often recommended because it is important to keep milk flowing but only at the frequency of your regular routine. When your baby feeds, they’re helping keep the milk flowing, which can ease the pressure in the breast and get you on the road to recovery faster. Plus, the skin-to-skin contact during breastfeeding can be comforting for both you and your baby, making the experience less stressful.

Author: Dr Katie Willy

Osteopath & Your Two Jugs Co-Founder

Elise Fuller & Katie Willy

Osteopaths & Your Two Jugs Co-Founders

Elise & Katie are Melbourne based osteopaths who have been actively treating breastfeeding women in clinic since 2015. During 2020 lockdown they launched Your Two Jugs to educate more mamas about how to treat their own mastitis, blocked ducts and engorgement. Their online video based courses Boobology and Mastitis Rescue is available now with all the techniques we show our mamas in clinic.

Your Two Jugs is passionate about support for mamas from the top. Boob Hero is a comprehensive health care practitioner course to educate manual therapists on their contribution to supporting breastfeeding women with hands on care. Empowerment all starts with education, and the more support available for women, the better.