The first sign of a plugged duct may be a small, hard lump that is sore to the touch, or a very tender spot in your breast.
Some women also notice redness on the breast.
In addition, you may feel achy, run down, and feverish, which may indicate your clogged duct has become infected. Ducts become plugged when milk fails to drain completely. This can happen because of a poorly fitted nursing bra, incomplete or skipped feedings, an inadequate pump, an illness such as a cold, stress brought on by the holidays or work, or simply out of the blue. Left untreated, a plugged duct can evolve into a full-blown breast infection known as mastitis , so don't ignore these symptoms. Add your comments to the bottom of this page.