hi moms I am a breast feeding mom to my 18 month old child, it's been two days and the lump in my breast is still there. yesterday morning I woke up with a sore and painful breast, my husband helped me to pump it out but it's still painful, the rest of the day I feel like I am having fever, when I can no longer handle it I took Tylenol twice in the afternoon and in the evening before going to bed, and it helped me feel better. this morning my breast is no longer painful as yesterday but there is still a "lump"/plugged duct in the upper part of my left breast, and it is a little painful but not as much as yesterday, it's kind of itchy and painful that's how I feel now. I called the advise nurse and she told me I can go see a doctor about it, but I feel better now it's just that I am not used to having this discomfort for two straight days. by the way I have been doing the warm compress and warm bath, my mom said that I should nurse my child frequently and to drink lots of water. I am thinking that maybe my milk supply is no longer enough and that the milk will eventually dry out, that's why it's happening to me now. but my mom said that it's because I still have some milk that's why it's getting plugged and I am not expressing it. I don't know, I just hope that tomorrow the lump is no longer there. what do you think moms? have anyone of you experienced this and what did you do? thanks in advance!
I had this happen with both my daughters when I was breast feeding. The first time I tried to tough it out and do home treatment. Didn't work. Needed antibiotics. After that when I felt it coming on again, I didn't delay going to the doctor. You waste a lot of time treating it at home when you could be feeling better. Mastitis is no fun. Don't waste more time just bite the bullet and go in... You'll wonder why you waited so long.
Sounds like mastitis to me too...
You can take a warm shower, and let the spray hit the area where the plugged duct is, and massage it while in he shower. Drinking water and nursing as often as possible is also good advice.
I would also go to the doctor, and do these things in the meantime.
Shine,
You have Mastitis, a breast infection. It's serious. Call your doctor ASAP!!!
Really, right now. Don't wait until tomorrow.
It's common to have a problem duct while nursing. The recommendation is to gently massage that duct while your baby nurses, to help open and release the milk.
GL!
Follow Mum4Ever's advise...i had it an had to call the doctor immediately. Its painful and can only be treated with antibiotics. Once i got on med's i started to feel better.
Hope you feel better.
Ditto Marie. You actually DO need to go to the doctor, by the way. Stop putting it off.
Don't wait... call your doctor. An infection of the breast can turn into a blood infection very fast and then you could end up in the hospital with IV antibiotics. My husband had to go to an all night pharmacy a few times to get me medicine. FYI... My doctor always just called in a prescription. They never wanted to see me for this.
I agree with all the advice below.
It's common. It can be serious, and if you feel like you have a fever, you need antibiotics. Does your breast have any red streaks on it? That is another sign of infection.
In addition to seeing the doctor, nurse on that side as much as possible today (use a pump on the other side if it feels full). Sometimes it also helps to put a warm compress on the lump right before you nurse. Then, while you are nursing, massage your breast by starting with your thump clear at your ribcage above the lump. Then slowly run your thumb down towards the lump, putting some pressure the whole way. When you get to the lump, put pressure right behind it, hold it there for a few seconds, then keep going past the lump. Then start at your ribcage and do it again.
To answer your question about your supply - your mother is right on this one. It's not because your supply is drying up. It is a plugged duct.
I had one of those last week. I just kept having my daughter nurse. The pain went away after about 2 days. i didn't get a fever. If you have a fever, you need antibiotics.
