Breast feeding - lump - is this normal?

[prettyknackered]

I know that my breasts get hard when they are full and I have missed a feed, but yesterday and today I noticed after dd has fed, and the breast goes softer there is still a very big hard lump which is sore to touch on the lower left side of my left breast. It is only on the one side, the area isn't red just a vein going across it and it looks swollen, I don't know if I should be worried?

[BettyBi0]

It could be mastitis. I'd suggest chatting to a breast feeding specialist and maybe seeing your GP.

[prettyknackered]

Thanks I didn't think it would be mastitis as there is no redness but I will book an appointment with gp to be sure

[tattychicken]

Could be a blocked duct? I would put a hot compress on and massage it, trying to get the milk moving on through. Doing it while feeding your baby us best, it can be excruciating but is the best way to get things moving. And yes, it can quickly develop into mastitis, which is not a great experience.

[circlelake]

After a tip on here, I got rid of a blocked duct like this in a warm bath. It was a bit uncomfortable but if you massage/express in the bath it will hopefully clear it before any mastitis develops.

[tattychicken]

Yes, good tip Circle. Or a v hit powerful shower, direct the jet of the shower onto the area. Hurts like fuck but can help to shift things.

[5madthings]

Yep sounds like a blocked duct, I found using a wide toothed comb to comb my breast, from under armpit, over the lump and down towards the nipple helped. Pressing firmly, doing it in the bath or shower helps as well.

Try different positions to feed baby, getting bottom jaw near to the area of the lump if you can.

Warm flannel on breast can help, but basically you need to feed to clear the blockage and you are at risk of mastitis if you don't get it clear.

[prettyknackered]

How long will it normally take to subside? I've been following your advice all day and it's the same, the rest of the breast softens but the lump is just as big hard and tender. The lump is quite big the size of a tennis ball

[Caterina99]

Sounds like a blocked duct. I've had a few although not tennis ball big! As soon as the blockage cleared the pain stopped. It took work to clear it though, didn't go away by itself.

If the advice above of heat, massage and getting baby to feed as much as possible hasn't cleared it then I'd get medical attention as it can turn to mastitis.

[thestylethatdecadesforgot]

It does sound like a blocked duct, I had a few the last time I was feeding. The first one I was quite worried and tried all the massage techniques but nothing was shifting it. One evening I massaged as hard as I dared for a few hours, went to bed having decided to call the doc in the morning, fed during the night once and it was still there, then woke up in the morning and it had gone.

So I would keep going with the massage and if it's not clearing do try the Health Visitors, or see if you can speak to the midwife at your surgery.

[tattychicken]

Can you bear to really massage it with your knuckles, or the ball of your thumb? Pulling from the back of the breast to the front. If you can feed doing this, then great. Like a pp said, try diff holds when feeding, rub and rub it. If it's a hard lump, apply direct pressure on the lump. Mine were toe curlingly painful. If no luck tonight, then get to a doctor tomorrow. Don't get fobbed off for the weekend, you need to move quickly to fend off mastitis. Let your baby feed as much as poss. So sorry you're going through this, brings it all back. It's shit, but you can get through it. X

[tattychicken]

Picture your breast with milk ducts like this pic, have no idea if this works.

[tattychicken]

Your tennis ball is prob loads of these ducts that are blocked. I've had similar. The milk flows from the back to the front of the breast, so increase 'suction' from the front (baby/expressing). Working from the outside of the tennis ball, you should be able to feel an individual 'duct lump'. Massge that until you feel it unblock, then rest, then choose another. Its like clearing blockages in drains! But with boobs. But honestly,if you're worried and it's not working, get to the doctors.

[BumWad]

Sounds like a blocked duct!
Lots of massage and lying on your front in a hot bath works!

[thenewaveragebear1983]

I've been in agony with this over the last few weeks! See the lactation support team in your area ASAP, they will help you position the baby and check the latch etc. My DS was Tongue tied so wasn't draining the milk from that area. Massage, heat before feeds, check your bras (mine had an elastic part that was compressing part of the breast), and don't stop feeding! Mine recurred 3 times in 2 weeks. Mastitis would have signs of infection, such as fever chills etc. Good luck.

[prettyknackered]

Thank you everybody for all your advice. I continued to massage, then filled a dry nappy with hot water and covered my breast with it. I fed dd this morning and checked it afterwards and the lump had gone. I feel so much better now!

[tattychicken]

Yay!! Great news!! Well done.

[thestylethatdecadesforgot]

Ah phew, well done!