Just when pregnancy bliss was starting... I've found a lump...

[GoldenPenguin]

So, last Wednesday I was really settling in to this pregnancy malarkey. I had been anxious up to 20 weeks due to a previous miscarriage at 16 weeks and when we hit this mark I was thrilled and felt I could perhaps relax a little.

I bought some bits including a breast pump! As this will be my first baby I was quite excited about this new purchase and got all the bits out of the box and put it together and fiddled about with it! While touching my right breast I realised I had a lump about 1 inch by 1 inch low in my breast and slightly to the left (centre of my body). I've read things about hard and soft and immoveable and moveable but to be honest I have no clue. Hard in comparison to what? Moveable in comparison to what!? I just know it's the only one in my breast :-/

Well I am FREAKING out. I admit i'm of a slightly negative outlook since the miscarriage and all I can think is "how ironic I finally get to a comfortable point in pregnancy and this happens". Credit to my GP who saw me on Friday and had me referred to a breast unit and the appointment is on the 5th May.

Thing is it feels like a lifetime away and I've never hated Google so much in my life! The temptation to google everything relating to this is overwhelming.

Anyone else been through this? Any advice you can give at all? I'm so frightened it'll be bad news and that I won't get to the end of this pregnancy as a result or I'll get to the end and not be able to breastfeed or will be too poorly to care for this new little life I'm carrying :-( (oh dear... getting teary).

[SueV14]

OP, very sorry you have to worry this much. I will not be of much help to you at this point but didn't want to read and run. I haven't been in the exact same situation as you but I did find a lump in my breast a few weeks after going through ectopic pregnancy (managed expectantly, thank god).

You did the right thing going to your GP straight away. Keep in mind only 1 in 1000 women get diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime (vast majority of these women are 50+), so chances that there will be bad news are absolutely minimal. Do not google anything until you have had your tests done as it will only freak you out. Try to distract yourself and don't think about it (I know much easier said than done).

Will be thinking of you and keep us posted.

[MishMooshAndMogwai]

Well done for going to the dr :)

Obviously I can't say what it is/isn't but I will say that throughout my 3 pregnancies (even though one ended at 11 weeks and I'm not yet at the end of the third) I have experienced many changes in my boobs including hard lumps similar to how you describe. I also get them sometimes at certain points in my cycle.

It could well be but a change due to pregnancy and your body preparing to produce milk.

Good luck and try (ha!) not to worry

[slightlyeggstained]

I found a lump when DS was just...well, when I finally admitted to myself that that thing I thought was a blocked duct wasn't going away and it really should have by now, he was just over 3 months. Well done for going straight to GP.

It turned out to be a milk cyst which are apparently relatively common. Fortunately they were able to confirm on the day that it was harmless - they did send samples off for extra testing just to be sure. I hope they'll be able to do the same for you.

Bear in mind that the effectiveness of the screening program depends on them checking out very large numbers of perfectly healthy people, in order to make sure they don't miss a genuine problem. So it is very likely that you'll go along and they'll be very happy to tell you all is well.

Will still feel like everything's on pause in the meantime, because all you can do is distract yourself & stay away from Google!

[manateeandcake]

I also had really lumpy boobs at various points in my last pregnancy. You absolutely did the right thing by going to the GP, but as you wait for the next appointment please try to remind yourself that it's very, very unlikely to be anything worrying. Sorry you're going through this, though. As a worrier myself, I know how hard the waiting must feel.

[helloelo]

I went to see my doctor exactly for this reason when I was 22 weeks pg with DS. Hard lump that wouldn't go away, I freeeeeeeaaaaaaked out, big time. It was nothing, turns out breast tissues change a lot and lumps are very common. I would get it checked but stay away from Google, it's very likely it's nothing!

[Number3cometome]

I had a lump under my arm pit when expecting DS, it got bigger and was rock solid. I was sent as a referral to see a specialist.

Turns out it was a milk duct, it reappeared with subsequent pregnancies.

Get checked, but don't panic until you need to.

[GoldenPenguin]

Thank you so much ladies. You're so kind for taking the time to come back to me on this. You've really helped ease the anxiety. The rational part of my brain knows the facts and figures and the possibility of it being bad news is so small but just like when I had the miscarriage the "nasty" part of my brain that loves to worry always says "well someone has to be in that minority - why wouldn't it be you?" - crazy what the brain does under stress!

Aside from that the baby is kicking like a trooper as I've just hit 6 months/24 weeks and she/he takes my mind off the worry because it's so lovely to feel. I don't want anything to prevent me meeting this little guy/girl in a few months time. I do wonder if maybe it's something to do with a duct or blockage. I've been leaking from both breasts over the last few days which is definitely a bit of a surprise! Pregnancy never stops surprising me!

I will keep you posted on what happens. thanks again.xxxx

[MishMooshAndMogwai]

How are you feeling OP?
I'm 28 weeks at the moment and just started leaking a bit too- the joys! Dp giggled at me having to break out the breast pads!

[Tranquilitybaby]

I hope you get on ok. Remember 9 out of 10 lumps.

I found one a few year a ago, it turned out to be a fibrodenoma which are quite common. Good luck x

[Tranquilitybaby]

• 9 out of 10 lumps are benign x

[pocketsized]

Boobs do weird things when your pregnant, and after the baby arrives. Whilst no one can be totally sure before the Dr's check it out its very unlikely to be anything sinister and much more likely to be pregnancy related :)