Any parents who've treated a blocked tear duct in a newborn?

Question

My 12-day old son had his first doctor visit yesterday and all was well, except for his loud cries while being poked and prodded. A few hours later, his eye swelled and reddeded a bit and white/yellow discharge started coming out. This has been going on since yesterday afternoon. I called his doctor and was instructed to keep it clean and massage the duct, and they would check it next week when he goes for weight check. They told me not to worry but how can I not? It looks so uncomfortable! Any tips, or anyone succssfully treated blocked ducts? Are there any red flags I should keep an eye out for? Should I demand he be seen by the doctor, even though they don't feel he needs to be seen? HELP!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Hi!

As scary as it seems, its normal.. been there done that.. the worry is all part of it too!
My son had double blocked tear ducts when he was just a few days old too!
They do clear up on their own... Honest!
Best thing to do; however painfull you might think it is for your son... is instead of "massaging it" take one of those little baby wash cloths, run it under warm water.. (the same temp you would use to bathe him in!) and Gently apply pressure from right under his eye lid (where the duct is) and gently push up. This is unloadge anything that might be blocking it.
It will take a few days.. you will not get imediate results. But its way easier than the massaging thing all doc say to do!.
Keep the area clean of all goop that is coming out of the eye.. using a new washcloth each time (hope you have enough!) even rincing it does not insure that it is "Clean". NEVER use the same wash cloth over the other eye.. (In case its a bacteria that caused the blockage in the first place!)
If it is prolonged as my son's was. (He had his blockage from 14 days old till he was almost a month and a half old.)
They may give you a little ointment to rub into his eye's so that the eye is protected.
(good luck trying to get that in! it takes a few pairs of hands. and alot of patience!)
I wish you the best of luck...
Rest assured it is more nomal than we hear about... and no worries.. it will go away..
and baby really isnt in all that much pain.. as long as his eye can open and close... he is ok...
Just keep it clean! the white and yellow goop is normal.. its the eyes way of riding itself of infection!
RED FLAG - if his eyes swells to a point he can not open or close it. Then there is an infection. Take him to the doc.. or emerg room! (not sure he will but mine did!) try to keep him from trying to scratch it... that will irritate it more!

Best of luck.. let us know how he is...

Source(s):

First time mommy who went thro the same thing!

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

great answer, clear and to the point, answered my questions and eased my mind a bit

Answer 2

This is something that alot of docs use a wait and see if it resolves on its own.

You can try putting a warm moist washcloth on it as a compress. Massage the duct every time you change his diaper (after you wash your hands of course). They can treat the discharge with an antibiotic cream if it does not resolve on its own.

http://www.childrenshospital.org/views/j…

Answer 3

Blocked tear ducts are very common!! There is no need to worry, it will go away on its own. Doctors will all tell you the same thing , to massage the area. Just continue to massage the inner corner of the eye and apply warm wash cloths to loosen any crusted areas and wipe away discharge. My daughter had this at around 4 months and it lasted a good 2 weeks or so. Some babies it can last a little longer than that even.

Source(s):

nurse & mom

Answer 4

My daughter also has a blocked duct. We are using the same approach that your Dr recommended. We wipe the eye from the inner canthus outward with a warm washcloth a few times a day and gently massage the duct. It has been 10 days and she still has yellow discharge but the eye is noticeably less red and swollen now.

Answer 5

my son had those as well when he was born. my doc also recommend a warm cloth compress and the whipping from the outside of the eye in to get the tears flowing out oft he duck. it went away and came back a few times but hasn't now for about 3 months so its just another thing to watch.

Answer 6

Massage and breastmilk.

Source(s):

http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_ba…