week 12 (boobs ahoy) 78-84 days

i tried to avoid pumping during the weekend, which meant i spent a good deal of it dealing with engorgement and almost caused a nursing strike in the process. (note to self: boo is not fond of overly-full breasts literally hosing breastmilk down her throat.)

whenever i find myself engorged, i worry about plugged ducts. in fact, to date, i have yet to wear an underwire nursing bra for fear of a plugged duct.

"...causing a tender, lumpy, and sometimes reddish area that doesn't improve with nursing or pumping. some moms see a white pimple-like bump right on the nipple, which is a milk blister, or plugged nipple pore. plugged ducts and nipple pores result from a lack of milk movement, often caused by a change in your baby's feeding routine." -the milk memos, page 179

the milk memos mentions the "warm wet washcloth technique": apply a warm, moist compress for 15 to 20 minutes right before you nurse or pump. other recommendations include take a nice long hot shower or bath and massage the breast; massage the area when nursing or pumping; and let gravity help by getting on your hands and knees and lean over the baby to nurse (or hunch over the pump).

of course, good ol' kellymom has a page dedicated to plugged ducts and mastitis.

in the end, i finally admitted defeat and weekend pumped.