Mastitis & Blocked Milk Ducts
Painful, frustrating and exhausting, especially with a newborn. We can help.
Mastitis and blocked milk ducts are among the most common and most distressing conditions of the early postpartum period. They can derail breastfeeding, leave you feeling unwell and add significant stress to an already demanding time.
At Fitt Physiotherapy we offer fast, effective treatment, including therapeutic ultrasound and lymphatic drainage massage, to help clear blockages, reduce inflammation and get you back to feeding comfortably as quickly as possible.
What is the difference?
Blocked milk duct A blocked duct occurs when milk cannot flow freely through one of the ducts supplying the nipple, causing a firm, tender lump in the breast, localised pain and sometimes visible redness or swelling. Without treatment, a blocked duct can progress to mastitis.
Mastitis Mastitis is inflammation of the breast tissue, with or without infection. It causes breast pain, redness, swelling and warmth, and is often accompanied by flu-like symptoms including fever, body aches and fatigue. It can develop quickly and feel severe.
If you have a fever, increasing redness or feel systemically unwell, contact your GP promptly as you may require antibiotics alongside physiotherapy treatment.
Symptoms
Seek treatment promptly if you experience:
✦ A firm, tender lump in the breast
✦ Breast pain, particularly during or after feeding
✦ Redness, swelling or warmth in the breast
✦ Flu-like symptoms, fever, chills, body aches or fatigue
✦ Pain that is worsening rather than improving
✦ White spot or bleb on the nipple
Early treatment significantly reduces the risk of progression to abscess, so please don't wait and hope it resolves on its own.
Common causes
Understanding what causes blocked ducts and mastitis can help prevent recurrence:
✦ Incomplete breast drainage — skipping feeds, long gaps between feeds or difficulty with latch
✦ Nipple damage — cracks or trauma creating an entry point for bacteria
✦ Tight or underwire bras — constricting milk duct drainage
✦ Sudden reduction in feeding — including when returning to work or beginning weaning
✦ Pressure on the breast — from positioning, tight clothing or sleeping posture
✦ Oversupply — when more milk is produced than the baby is removing
✦ Stress and fatigue — both of which affect immune function and milk flow
How we treat
Our mastitis and blocked duct treatment is fast, targeted and gentle.
In your appointment your physiotherapist will:
✦ Assess the location, size and severity of the blockage
✦ Apply therapeutic ultrasound, a safe, painless treatment that uses sound waves to generate gentle heat in the breast tissue, dilating the milk ducts, improving circulation and reducing inflammation
✦ Teach you lymphatic drainage massage, a gentle technique to support milk flow and reduce swelling, which you can continue at home
✦ Provide advice on feeding position, latch, bra choice and prevention of recurrence
Therapeutic ultrasound benefits:
✦ Dilates blocked milk ducts to facilitate drainage
✦ Increases circulation and milk flow
✦ Reduces pain and inflammation
✦ Safe for use during breastfeeding
What to bring to your appointment: Please bring your baby or a breast pump if possible, draining the breast immediately after treatment maximises the benefit and helps clear the blockage most effectively.
Relief is closer than you think.
We often see same-week appointments available for mastitis and blocked ducts, contact us and we'll get you in as soon as possible.