There are two sides to breastfeeding (pardon the pun). The serene, sweet moments of calm and the horror story symptoms nobody usually tells you about.

This story, dear readers, is about the latter. So if you’ve got a weak stomach, look away now.

Mum Tyler Marie Oates has shared an extremely painful breastfeeding horror story, detailing how clogged ducts led to mastitis which eventually turned septic. And to really put an exclamation mark on the whole situation, she shared a TikTok video of the huge clot that she passed.

“In case your significant other doesn’t believe you that a clogged duct hurts, show them this,” she wrote in the video captions. “I went septic from mastitis and this was one of the many clots I passed.”

@tylermarieoatesBreast feeding is not for the week ##HowIBathAndBodyWorks ##MyTeacherWins ##ChimeHasYourBack #mastitis ##breastfeeding ##medical ##medicaltiktok ##gross♬ original sound – tylermarieoates

The video understandably attracted a huge amount of comments from horrified women and men, many who swore off having children after viewing the clip. “I’m literally shaking, crying and throwing up,” commented Scoop. One woman even revealed her husband helped with her breastfeeding clots. “My husband sucked mine out. He gagged so bad, he was not expecting blood. Bro, when it came out I felt such relief!” Tyler has since followed up with a second video, showing yet another passed clot – and this one looks even bigger!

@tylermarieoates Another day…. another clot ##NissanShowUp ##SoFiMoneyMoves #mastitis ##breastfeeding ##medical ##medicaltiktok ##gross ##fypシ ##HowIBathAndBodyWorks ♬ Oh No – Kreepa

What are blocked milk ducts?

If you’re a breastfeeding mum and your feel a sudden, sore lump on your breast, but you feel ok, it’s probably a blocked duct, according to Raising Children. The lump isn’t actually the clot, but the milk backing up behind the blockage.

It’s usually caused by not fully draining the breasts. This might have happened if bub dropped a feed, or even if your bra is too tight. You can try a few things to try and ease the blockage:

• Take a hot shower and massage the lump and breast
• Use a warm compress against the lump to try and soften it
• Frequently drain the affected breast
• Make sure baby is in a good feeding position and get them to feed on the affected breast often
• Try hand expressing
• Use an ice-pack or cold cabbage leaf on your boob after feeding to help with the pain

If the blockage isn’t clearing within a day, or you start to feel flu-like symptoms, you need to see a doctor, to check for mastitis.

 Yowsers! Have you ever passed a breastmilk clot?

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