I am in pain! I have been nursing for 5 months. Yesterday, I noticed a "lump" or hard place near my armpit - I wasn't engorged so I thought it was odd. It didn't hurt, so I wrote it off. It went away when I nursed the next time around.
Now it is back and hurting! Very sore to the touch. The lump runs from my armpit through my entire breast. What can I do? Nursing is somewhat helping - but it is not eliminating the problem completely - and it just keeps coming back. Is it a clogged duct, mastitis? I have never had any of these kinds of issues before so I am not sure how to handle this - but I am in such pain!!
I should be more clear - the lump itself is very much on my breast - it just starts near the armpit area and runs the entire length of my breast toward the nipple.
Nursing now - that is giving me some relief - but it keeps coming back. If it were a clogged duct would it go away then come back like this?
No fever, no chills, not red on the area. Getting in shower now! Thanks so much!
Here's a site that might be helpful: (although it doesn't mention "the cow"):
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html
If it is not red and you are not feverish or experiencing flu like symptoms, it is most likely a clogged duct (but keep an eye on it as it can turn into mastitis).
The cure for a clogged duct is to nurse, nurse, nurse, and pump, pump, pump. It will help if you put a warm/hot washcloth on the lumpy area before nursing and before/during pumping. You can also take a bath or shower before. Also, make sure to massage the area while nursing/pumping.
Note, you might get bloody milk when you pump or your baby might spit up some bloody milk, but it's from the clog coming undone. (I learned that the "first time mom" way when I called our pediatrician when DS spit up with blood).
Afterwards, the area might still be tender for a couple of days but not like it is now.
Take as hot a shower as you can comfortably stand and massage that breast. Also - try different nursing positions - one that is VERY effective is the cow position. You lay over your baby on your hands and knees - allow the breasts to hang freely and put the painful side in his mouth. Then turn your body so your head is in the opposite direction then before and nurse like that again.
BY changing the direction, gravity and position of nursing - the chances of it fixing itself is greater.
Yes, get in the hot shower and massage, massage and massage the area. Push it towards your nipple. That will hopefully break up the clog. Even if you think it it gone, I would do this every shower for several more days.
I used to get these, so I would massage my breast every morning in the shower. Never got them again.
Good luck!
Nursing all the time and pumping is the best way to get rid of the clogging, also a hot bath or hot washcloth helps. If you are not experiencing fever or flu symptoms I don't think you're suffering of mastitis.
Here's another good website. It's from La Leche League International
http://www.llli.org/
Good luck and keep breastfeeding!
If it is near your armpit, may be a clogged pore/sweat duct. I had a few of those in the past on my armpit. Very sore, tender and painful to touch. Warm compresses worked wonders. Try applying a warm wash cloth a few times a day.
Or, do you think you maybe have more milk supply than your baby is drinking? If you pumped a little after nursing maybe that would help. Hope you get some relief
here is what i did, and it worked for me many times over the years.... if you dont have the advent isis hand pump, run out and get one tomorrow. use it in the shower, a hot (not burning or anything) stream of water on your breast, use the pump at the same time. if you have never used it before, there is def a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it it is worth its weight in gold. as you pump, when there is a stream coming out of a duct, keep the pressure on the handle so it empties that duct, then turn the pump a bit and repeat, all around the breast like the hands on a clock. you might even be able to feel when it is emptying the ducts in the area of the clog, i was even able to see it sometimes, it would come out thick. massage the area toward the nipple as you do it. i know it sounds like you need an assistant, lol, but you will get the hang of it. it was the only thing that ever worked for me. you want to get it out asap so it doesnt turn into mastitis. good luck. oh, and if you are wearing an underwire in the area of the clog, skip it at least until you clear it up.
You got plenty of answers but I would add mine: hot shower when you massage your breast, and watch for infection (Mastitis). I had it twice with the same kid and was so sturborn that I've have keeping breastfeeding him for 18 months!
Good luck
Ooh, I had that once. Take a hot shower and massage. If you can, if it's not too painful, try to express the milk with a breast pump. A hot shower helped me. Good luck!
Sounds like mastitis - call the nurse at the GYN even the after hours line and describe your symptoms and ask her to call in a perscription. This is what I did. A clogged duct opens with massage and nursing. It turns into mastitits when it is hard and warm and you start to feel crappy.
Keep nursing, and keep massaging it. But CALL THE DOCTOR! The antibiotic will knock it out quickly!! Sorry you are feeling this way, it sucks :(
This is directly from when I was in the hospital, pumping after my newborn son was sent to the NICU, from the lactation consultant on staff...
1. Use a heating pad, apply it directly to the "lump". Leave there for at least 10 minutes. Gently massage the area after 10 minutes. This will help break up the clogged duct. Once the lump gets softer, knead it gently with your knuckles until all hard spots are gone. THIS WILL BE SORE, but you need to do it.
2. Afterwards, you can either hand express milk, nurse or pump. The goal is to either knead the lump/spot as you express the milk. If possible, have the baby's chin directly near this spot. You want to continue massaging the entire time to break up the lump, and get it OUT.
3. Make sure your breast is drained. If the baby is done nursing and you still feel full/lumpy, try to pump more.
4. When you are done expressing milk, use cold compresses or freezer packs wrapped in towels. This will reduce swelling and inflammation.
No matter what you will be sore. This is not a pleasant process but the ultimate goal is to break up the lump and remove the milk. You may have to repeat this process several times.
If you notice a lump coming back, try to go into the shower and let warm water run on it while you massage with soap. If milk leaks out in the shower, that's ok.
Best wishes, I hope these ideas help you. They certainly helped me.
It's difficult to inflict that much pain on yourself in order to unclog the duct-you may have to go to the doctor-try hot compresses first.
