This post is part of our complete guide on treating engorgement and clogged ducts. Refer back to the guide if you want a complete list of topics covered, from prevention to diagnosis and treatment. If you're specifically interested in understanding whether your breast milk can go bad from engorgement or clogged ducts, please read on!
Can breast milk go bad if you have engorged breasts or plugged ducts?
The answer to this is a resounding no! Breast milk doesn’t go bad if you have engorged breasts, plugged ducts or even mastitis. It’s perfectly safe - and even highly recommended - that you keep breastfeeding your baby (or pumping) while you deal with those issues. Even if you see your breast milk tinged with a bit of blood - something that’s relatively common if you have plugged ducts or mastitis - your milk is still safe to use for your baby.
Engorgement or plugged ducts are typically caused by your breasts having more milk than what they can bear. As a result the last thing you should do if you encounter those issue is stop breastfeeding as it’ll result in even more milk accumulating in your breasts, thus worsening the issue! See our dedicated article to learn how you can deal with engorgement or plugged ducts issues.
So to summarize, can breast milk go bad if you have engorged breasts or plugged ducts?
- No, your breast milk is still good for your baby if you have engorged breasts or plugged ducts.
- It’s highly recommended you keep breastfeeding when you have engorged breasts or plugged ducts as it’ll help resolve the issue.
> Back to our complete guide on engorgement and clogged ducts
Article tags: Breastfeeding and maternity
