Mastitis/blocked duct and lump the size of an egg

[heidipi]

I'm on my second round of anti-b's for mastitis, which I've had for nearly a month. This time I don't have the fluey symptoms and the lump doesn't feel hot or so painful but it's the size of a small egg and hard.

My question is: should the lump break down or get smaller and disappear? I've continued feeding on that side (3 feeds a day plus 3 or 4 expressing sessions to make up a further 2 feeds as both nipples are v sore and have been since DD was born 9 weeks ago. She now also has 2 FFs per day) but tonight she has twice completely refused that side, pulling away immediately, thrashing and screaming, hardly trying to suck.

The lump has definitely affected supply, I struggle to squeeze a drop out to get started and get very little when I express from it but usually she will take it and gets going after a bit though doesn't stay on as long as the other side.

Do I need her to keep feeding to clear it and what happens if she won't? I've been told to massage it too so I'm sort of rubbing it when I express and during feeds but it's too hard to massage properly.

Does anyone have similar experience and if so could you let me know what happened? I can't imagine how this is going to get better.

Appologies if my BF disaster posts are getting repetitive. I think I might pack in when this is sorted but know I need to keep feeding to clear it and in the meantime at least she's still getting the BM.

Thanks in advance.

How are you massaging? I found taking a hot shower, dangling boobs down and combing it in the direction of the nipple helped (using my fingers or a wide toothed comb). That while hand expressing. Then using a hot compress during feeding or expressing and a cold compress inbetween (fill nappies with hot or cold water works a treat).

During a feed I'd massage in the same way - you actually "combing" towards the nipple as opposed to rubbing.

It took 24 hours but all of a sudden cleared.

Thanks Iggly, I've been doing combing under hot showers but can't comb during feeds as I need to hold DD with one hand and position my boob with the other or the nipple pain is excruciating. If I express one side at a time with the machine I should be able to do it. I can't get anything out hand expressing on that side as the lump is so big and hard exactly where I'd be squeezing. The machine seems better able to suck from around the lump.

Was your lump a similar size? How did it feel when it cleared?

Thanks again.

How old is she? Can you try feeding in a different position?

My lump was quite big - probably two eggs! Once it cleared, it felt like the rest of my boob. Where the lump was, was quite red and hot.

I used to feed DS so he was lying back but propped up on a cushion and I would dangle on all fours above him. Same with expressing (all coming back to me now) - machine on the floor and I'd drop my boob into it. Looked silly but gave me better access to comb it.

Sorry I see your DD is 9 weeks. That means it's easier to feed in a different position as she's small.

this kellymom page had some tips I used to clear mine.

Heat before feeds/pumping and cold afterwards helps. I find the breast nurse gel pads a lifesaver.

I'd get checked out for thrush too - it can cause nipple pain and apparently makes blocked ducts more likely. I'm just going through that myself.

Iggly 2 eggs! Poor you. Thanks for the tips, i've just dangle-expressed (kneeling on bed leaning forward with head on pile of cushions and holding suction thing and bottle onto boob while combing. And I thought giving birth was undignified).I'll try leaning over DD to feed later.

japhrimel thanks but I've had 3 GP appointments, all with different docs and they all say it isn't thrush. The nipple pain is just from latching, I can't get get her to open her mouth and keep it open while she goes on, and now she can hold her head up a bit she keeps adjusting through the feed and bobbing on and off. I didn't get it right from the start and i'm just not a good BFer. off to pop a cold gel pack in now though, thanks.

I find ibuprofen really helpful for blocked ducts, top dose for a couple of days if you are OK taking it.
I recall reading that anti-inflammatories are very helpful in treating mastitis treating both the pain and inflammation - sorry can't find the link at the moment.

The blockage does seem to affect supply, DS1 (2.7) is also having bedtime bf (as well as DS2 8 weeks) and he complained that the breast with the blocked duct was "not working" and "milk is very slow".

I had a really difficult time initially bf DS1 with pain and blocked ducts, but it all seemed to settle down between 12-16 weeks.
I thought it was thrush but it didn't respond to fluconazole treatment and I ended up taking grapefruit seed extract tablets:
Am not really sure if that's what made the difference (sorry that's not very helpful) but it all just seemed to be OK after a few months of what felt like endless problems.
IMHO worth battling on for a few more weeks if you want to.

Good luck

Sorry xpost heidipi - I also felt like I didn't get off to a good start and was rubbish at bf in the beginning with DS1.

Would like to claim expert status after 2 and half years bf DS1 which was plain sailing after the 1st few difficult months but unfortunately am going through same issues with DS2 - am battling on (with paracetamol and ibuprofen as needed) and really hoping that it'll all be OK in a few weeks.

I wonder if it all gets better when their mouths get bigger and the latch gets deeper and easier.

I also had latch problems with DS - part of it was that I had oversupply so my boobs shot out milk (when expressing you could see just how fiercely it came out). I had to block feed to slow things down.

Also watch what bras you're wearing. I had real problems with mothercare ones. Best ones were frumpy m&s ones which were cut high. Also no bras at night and keep things lose in the day! I used to get engorged very easily.

A lump that stops hurting, and symptoms of mastitis stopping, points possible to a breast abcess. If this is what it is, you need medical treatment asap, I'm afraid.

Hi - went out for a couple of hours, now back and feeding on the good side with a shield, would love for nips to be able to heal and carry on mixed feeding bf as well as FF after the mastitis hopefully goes.

NQC I really hope it's not an abcess and doesn't turn into one. Only saw a doc about it on thurs and he gave 2 wks of anti-bs after which I see him again but I'm seeing a BF counsellor on Tues who is supposed to be v good so I'll ask her too.

Montifer thanks, I took ibuprofen last time so I'll try them again and will see. 2.7 years is amazing, I was only aiming for 6 months but getting disheartened and just taking a week at a time now, 12-16 wks seems an age away, I'm not v tough I'm afraid.

Iggly more likely to be under rather than over supply with me but I have had my bra unhooked for the past couple of days as it was digging in a bit. It's high cut and frumpy alright!

Thanks a lot for the replies, I'll keep it up and fingers x'd for improvement. Cheers all.