I don’t see this brought up often and I’ve only just learned within the last couple days myself. But please please please stop using heat and excessive massaging you are gonna give yourself more clogged ducts and higher risk of mastitis. The protocol changed within the last 6 months. Here’s a couple links to look into: https://www.formodernmothers.com/blog/new-mastitis-protocol#:~:text=So what we previously called,- heat (the opposite!).

https://www.health.state.mn.us/docs/people/wic/localagency/topicmonth/mastitis.pdf

https://uihc.org/educational-resources/management-cloggedplugged-ducts

Other unsolicited advice I have is from my own personal experiences. I have elastic nipples and don’t have a lot of money to spend on fancy stuff like pump cushions and my current pump is not compatible with the silicone flanges. Pumping thus far for me has been painful to the point where I wanted to just quit despite my supply and want to pump. I had a nipple shield given to me from the hospital that I was using in the early stages of trying to breastfeed my son while he’s in the NICU. I thought to myself why don’t I try to pump with the shield. (Second link does say to avoid nipple shields but I digress) What’s the worse that can happen pumping with it on, I’m gonna be in pain, I’m already in pain. So I went ahead and I started pumping with the shield on and OMG it has made a world of difference for my pumping journey not only am I no longer in pain but I’m able to efficiently empty my breasts with just the pump and maybe a minute combine with both breasts of hand expressing and I get 8 oz regularly now.

Today I did a couple pumps infront of the L.C. at the hospital one with and one without the shield after they gave me a second one for the other nipple. And she was amazed at the difference in output between the two pumps. And she is actually going to start recommending it to other struggling mothers (At least what she told me) The shields have made me almost excited to pump and feel the relief of removing the milk from my breasts. I have such a better outlook to pumping now then I did so previously. I will say this. If you do decide to use shields while pumping you have to be careful of the shape of it because my fiance bought me some shields at Walmart and the have a pacifier shape to them, avoid those you’ll end up hurting more instead look for the ones that have a complete circle around the nipple area and definitely use some lanolin cream before each pump this helps keep the shield in your nipple and it allows you nip to move a little easier in the shield

I don’t know if anyone will read this but if you do I hope this can help you regardless if you listen to my personal experiences, and just find better relief from clogged ducts and helping prevent mastitis. Happy pumping mamas