blocked duct: please help!

[ExistentialistCat]

Lump in left boob since last night that I suspect is a blocked duct. Started out the size of a golfball, now getting towards tennis ball (I Have huge boobs). Very, very painful. Worried about developing mastitis. Have been doing massage, hot water, feeding as much as possible from that boob - no luck.

Any other tips?!

Feed with the baby's chin to the lump. Yes, I know, the lump isn't in a location where the baby's chin would normally be. Yes, this probably means lying the baby down flat on his/her back on the bed, and crouching (elegantly!) over him like a madwoman. It works!

How old is your baby? Any idea what brought this on? (i.e. something pressing into the breast while you feed? Or missing a feed or two?)

If it doesn't clear in the next 12 hours or so, off to the GP for antibiotics, I think.

Thank you, NotQuiteCockney.

Trouble is, the lump is exactly where the baby's chin usually is! I tend to feed in rugby hold position and the lump is at the side of my breast, towards the armpit.

I think what brought it on is that I forgot to do up the cup on my nursing bra, and the clasp from that was pressing into the breast all evening (left quite a deep mark).

Baby is 6 weeks old.

Ack. Ok, then I would say fiddle with positioning ensure the baby's chin is pressing quite hard into the breast during the feed (nose clear, ideally).

Massage and lots of feeding might clear it, but if you get any symptoms of mastitis (fever, feeling generally fluey), then please get some ABs. I've had a GP give me the scrip so I could use it later if needed, so might be worth seeing a GP now so you can have the scrip (or pills!) in hand for later if you need them?

Worth noting: if the pain and redness goes away, with or without ABs, but the lump remains, then you really really have to see a GP, because it might be an abcess.

It's good that you know what caused this, anyway, so hopefully it won't happen again!

Having spent yesterday immersing my boob in hot water, pummelling it and settling down to a lfet-boob feeding frenzy has paid off: It is now soft again, if a little sore from all the squeezing. Thanks for your tips, Cockney!