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Infant feeding

Massive hard lump in boob, can't shift it, panicking about antibiotics giving DD thrush - help!

14 replies

ElmMum · 04/07/2008 19:18

Two big worries - feeling v low and desperate - can't decide what to do..help please!

Right boob has developed massive hard lump today. Spoken to GP and health visitor, consensus is it's a blocked duct. Have tried hot bath, hot compresses, lots of massage, feeding DD in rubgy ball position and cradle on that side, using breast pump.

Cannot shift the lump or make it any smaller.

So, question 1) should I call the duty doc and get antibiotics (which HV said may help to shift the blockage as well as warding off possisibility of mastitis) or is there anything else I can do?

Question 2) If I take antibiotics, will DD get thrush and if so, how bad is that for her? What is it? Will she be in pain/have to have horrible treatment/will it cock up breastfeeding?

Also, my left boob has been pretty useless since started breastfeeding, and now the right one is blocked DD is hardly getting anything off either. Am persisting at the mo - putting her on each side when she shouts for food, but she's lasting a few mins at most before either falling asleep or crying and coming off. Then she's hungry again within half an hour.

So, question 3) Should I top up with formula until I can unblock this boob?

Help please!

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onwardandupward · 04/07/2008 19:24

Are you alone or do you have a Dh???

Here's the outrageous advice I was given:

Your baby is not the only person in the house with a mouth.

Your Dh would be able to tell you as soon as he'd cleared the blockage - he'd suddenly feel a huge gush of milk.

Best thing if you are willing to try this is for Dh to lie flat on the floor and for you to be above him on all fours, so your breasts are hanging straight down (mooing optional )

He should suck firmly on the offending mammary, while also pushing gently-ish (if you say "hard" the man will probably give you friction burns) from the very edge of your breast all the way over the lump to the nipple.

My prediction - it will be clear in less than 1 minute.

It'll take a while for it all to stop hurting, because you've been massaging it all afternoon, but he'll know for certain that he got the blockage out.

and dammit all, if he's going eurgh eurgh eurgh you can invite him to spit rather than swallow...

Truly, a minute or so of mild social embarrasment in the privacy of your own home will save you days of pain and misery.

That's the advice I was given.

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ElmMum · 04/07/2008 19:45

Dear god. Really?! DH is here. Your reply had him doubled over with laughter. We're now looking at each other trying to decide if we can really do that.

Before we do (will he ever look at my boobs the same way again!) does anyone have an alternative suggestion!?!?!?!?

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ElmMum · 04/07/2008 19:47

also, onwardandupward, did you actually do this? Did it work?

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MehgaLegs · 04/07/2008 19:52

onwardandupward that is a gem! The most fanatstic piece of advice I have seen on MN.

ElmMum - you poor thing. I hope you get it sorted, by one method or another. .

I had several bouts of mastitis and took antibiotics a couple of times but I have DSs so I guess the thrush thing doesn't necessarily apply.

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onwardandupward · 04/07/2008 19:58

I've done it. Well, I've been the one pretending to be a cow. It worked, every time.

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ElmMum · 04/07/2008 20:12

MehgaLegs - DSs can get oral thrush I would think. It's from the antibiotics killing all the good bacteria in their mouths. But good to know you had antibiotics and they didn't get thrush.

Agh, looks like we're going to have to try the DH boob suck. Am having a glass of red now, to try and steal myself.

Still not decided about whether to top up with formula if the blockage won't shift. Any advice on that anyone??

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scorpio1 · 04/07/2008 20:15

Elm - my first reaction is to try and carry on BF

dd has had oral thrush; your ds may not get it.

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Mummyfor3 · 04/07/2008 21:53

Do not top up with formula - the more hungry your babe is the more likely she is to put her back into sucking hard to get the blockage out: this might save you having to get DH involved - unless of course he wants to then go for it.

In my experience (currently BF DS3, have had lots of probs with blocked ducts/glands, thankfully no full blown mastitis) it takes about 24 hrs to resolve whatever I did (admittedly this does not include DH servises..).

Antibiotics are only of any use if you have mastitis ie a bacterial infection in your breast. This can start with a blockage, but then developes into flu-like illness with fever, aches and pains and being general unwell. So, if you get blockage resolved, all should be well.

I also always felt panicky when I had similar problems. I do not know whether this is due to simple dread worrying about it getting worse or what??

Do not worry about DD becoming a bit frustrated; she will be fine and lots of BF right now will allow you to continue BF as long as you want to after this episond is all over. If you stop feeding her now/give her FF and she is full, your problem may get bigger.

Also try feeding her after warm/hot shower/bath and good knuckle massage of offending boobie!

Good luck! Nothing wrong with taking some Nurofen if it agrees with you and you are sore.

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Tangle · 04/07/2008 22:43

Couple of things that haven't been mentioned.

Drink water. And more water. And more water.

If you peer really hard at your nipple, you may see a little white dot - if you can, that may well BE the blockage. I went through a spell of getting blocked ducts, and one time managed to "ping" the plug out - I didn't believe it could be that simple until I prodded the lump (which is where I'd assumed the blockage was) and squirted milk across the room .

You may also find cold compresses help to reduce the inflamation between feeds. Some women find relief in a return to the cold cabbabge leaves as well.

If you start to feel fluey then ABs may be your best course of action to avoid full blown mastitis - but I'd avoid them if you can: if your DD does get oral thrush there's a very high chance you'll also get thrush in your milk ducts...

Fingers crossed you get it sorted out.

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Tangle · 04/07/2008 22:45

ps - also meant to say I always felt a bit panicky with blocked ducts as well. Weird!

Oh - and I'm still laughing at onwardandupward's suggestion. DH looked distinctly dubious for some reason...

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MehgaLegs · 04/07/2008 22:50

ElmMum - oh of course oral thrush. I'm being dim,I always assoiate thrush with 'other' regions.

No DS3 never caught thrush, I think I had three bouts of mastitis with him and three lots of antibiotics.

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NorthernLurker · 04/07/2008 22:58

I had mastitis and abs when dd3 was 8 mths old ( I was very annoyed to get mastitis at that point - she was still feedingn a lot, we had a busy day right before Christmas, I forgot to feed her off one side, did the other one two feeds in a row and it got hugely engorged and then I felt really, really ill.) Anyway - she didn't get thrush and it cleared the problem up right away.

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ElmMum · 04/07/2008 23:06

Update...

Put DD repeatedly on the boob, despite angry flailing (her, not me), while DH pressed hot water bottle against lump and YAY it unblocked!

Am so pleased. DD now fast asleep for first time today having filled up and I've expressed the rest. Boob is now nice and squashy and empty.

DH was gearing up to do his bit! Must say, I am v glad it hasn't come to that this time. May resort to that remedy in the future if we have to!

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NorthernLurker · 04/07/2008 23:08

Well done you - and good on dh for being so supportive

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