Can an Underwire Bra Cause Clogged Ducts?

As we know, there are already a whole lot of Do’s and Don’t set for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers to follow, but who knew that underwire bras could possibly lead to clogged milk ducts and mastitis? Though there is no actual evidence that shows underwire bras are linked to lactation problems as all reported issues of such are anecdotal, there are women who complain that they are experiencing clogged ducts since wearing underwire bras. So, do underwire bras really cause clogged ducts or is it just something else? 

Is an Underwire Bra the Culprit of Clogged Ducts? 

It is true that underwire bras aren’t the only culprit of clogged ducts but in general, wearing anything that wraps tightly around your chest can contribute to it. If the bra you are wearing is not a perfect fit, the underwire can indeed apply excessive pressure on the breast tissue and cause clogged ducts. Not only do underwire bras contribute to the possibility of you getting clogged ducts, but these can also cause you to have mastitis. Mastitis is known to be caused by both, breast engorgement and clogged milk ducts, which you can have when wearing bras of the wrong size – due to being unable to dispense sufficient amount of milk to your hungry baby, and will lead to an oversupply of milk stuck in your breast. 

Should Bras be Worn? 

Firstly, you have to be able to identify if you are someone who is affected when wearing underwire bras because it doesn’t affect everyone. Underwire bras are not suitable for ladies with breasts that spread to the armpits as it will apply pressure onto your breast tissues and that will cause a plug at the ducts, not allowing the milk to flow properly. Should you require an underwire bra for comfort but don’t want to suffer from mastitis and clogged ducts, you may want to opt for a Medela underwire nursing bra that is made in a special way – having the wire rests placed strategically away from your milk ducts. An alternative to that would be a seamless bra or a Bravado bra. The seamless bra gets the job done by supporting your breasts and allowing space for it to grow, while the Bravado bra provides a lot of cushioning without being too constricting. 

At this point, if your breasts are still engorged, the only thing left for you to do is to empty out your milk ducts – either by expressing the milk on your own or using breast milk pumps, should your baby not want to feed. If you have mastitis, you should know that the condition of your breast milk changes, as levels of lactoferrin and secretory immunoglobin A (antibody) rise to protect your baby from the infection. However, this would also bring about a change in the taste of breast milk – being saltier as levels of sodium and chloride increase as well, and this may be another reason as to why your baby does not want to feed on your breast milk. Visit your doctor for immediate treatment as mastitis is an ongoing infection and cannot be treated by expressing breast milk only. 

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