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Lump in breast - how do I fix??

12 replies

LifeAfterBump · 06/09/2007 07:00

Right breast developed a large, slightly pinkish lump yesterday(little bit tight but not overly painful - yet) Is this a blocked duct? Am I going to get Mastitis?? Please tell me what to do - don't think I can cope with many more problems. DS is 8 wks, have had problems latching on this side since he was born, only in the last week thought we were beginning to get somewhere - but obviously not!

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SauerKraut · 06/09/2007 07:33

Spread quark cheese over it- not joking, this tip from Switzerland cured my mastitis, and it was pretty bad.

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SauerKraut · 06/09/2007 07:34

Otherwise, empty the breast with a pump after feeding, put cabbage leaf in bra, warm showers.

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SauerKraut · 06/09/2007 07:36

And above all, don't give up- it's hard to get through this stage, but once you have, I promise it's worth it.

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Bibis · 06/09/2007 07:37

Just be aware that I suffered from this and eventually diagnosed as abscesses. Large amounts of pus were syringed from said abscesses, if I had gone through NHS I would have had my breasts cut open under general anaesthetic to have the abscesses drained - thank god for private health care.

I did not suffer from Mastitis before this, went straight to the abscessess

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Bibis · 06/09/2007 07:38

massage your breast whilst feeding or expressing - it is what I did on subsequent babies and I didn't suffer again - and boy did I suffer.............

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LifeAfterBump · 06/09/2007 08:39

Bibis - That might just be enough to tip me right over the edge! And I thought I was worried before

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Beachcomber · 06/09/2007 10:07

I had recurring blocked duct problems with DD2. You want to nip it in the bud ASAP so that it doesn't develop into mastitis (horrid).

Feed baby as much as possible from lumpy side.
Lean over baby (maybe with baby suppored on a pillow on your lap) so that breast is hanging down whilst massaging gently lump. Express after feeding to make sure breast is completely empty. Feed baby in different positions to help empty breast. Cold cabbage leaves in bra to relieve pain, help lump go down. Massage breast with warm cloth in shower.

Don't be too worried by abscess possibility, whilst this does happen, it is much more likely that you have a simple blocked duct. They can be very uncomfortable. I seemed to have a recurring problem which was helped by careful positioning when feeding (holding baby nice and high up against the breast or leaning over) and being really careful with bras and slings. A badly fitting bra can compress a duct as can a sling.

It is important to act straight away and sort out as this sort of thing quickly gets very painful.

Well done for getting through your latching problems. I found that my lumps were always on the same side, we obviously had a 'bad' side that we weren't so good at feeding on (and this was my second, you'd have thought I'd have the hang of it). Know what you mean about tipping over the edge!!

Good luck and look after yourself.

a read of this

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pooter · 06/09/2007 22:16

Hi,
This has happened to me a couple of times, and its worrying isnt it? I got a hot water bottle and held it to the lumpy bits whilst hand expressing. Once the duct gets unblocked (apparently the heat makes the passages wider) the milk come squirting out for what seems like miles.

For someone who has never leaked a drop the first time this happened i was shell shocked - i turned into a human fountain and soaked a couple of towels.

Anyway that seemed to do the trick and ive never it develop into anything more painful. good luck xx

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ruddynorah · 06/09/2007 22:20

when you shower you can 'comb' your breasts. go in the direction the milk goes, ie towards the nipple. and yes i mean using a comb. comb the lump out as it were. it does help. other than that you can massage the lump during feeding, and keep changing your baby's position. so try rugby hold, laid down, baby more sat up, anything at all to get the suckling action to work at different angles.

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bookthief · 07/09/2007 00:16

Ibuprofen is also useful for pain relief and as an anti-inflamatory. I've managed to get rid of several blockages before mastitis developed by following ruddynorah's instructions.

I also found that hand expressing in a very hot bath was useful (my version of pooter's hot water bottle!).

FWIW, all my episodes of mastitis and blocked ducts happened on the same side - my "bad" side. It is very possible to catch it before things get serious though. Do see your GP if things get worse as you may need antibiotics.

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katwith3kittens · 07/09/2007 22:03

Aaah, I feel for you.. its just awful isn't it ?

I've BF 2 babies without any problems, but the 3rd, I've had lumps and bumps and all sorts..you would have thought I'd know what to do by now ...

You have had some good advice so far, but for me feeding from the affected side, from the above position, using a hot water bottle and massaging towards the nipple with hands and a comb all helped in the early days.

HTH x