Sixth months into feeding - why do I suddenly have a problem?

[notjustamummythankyou]

My dd is 6mo and has been exclusively bf. She is my second child and, like my first, I am very lucky to have had no problems up till now.

Over the last day or so, I have developed two red patches on the same boob, both about the size of a 50p. I feel like I have a deep, sore ache in my boob, which feels like a bruise.

My dd feeds well and her latch is good, and she seems to empty the breast she feeds on each time. I'm not engorged and, while I do have a tendency to have an oversupply, I am never so full that it's painful, and dd tends to sort this out on the next feed anyway. I also express every morning after dd has fed, so any 'excess' milk is pumped off into the freezer.

So, what could it be? A blocked duct maybe? I've used hot flannels as compresses this morning, and have massaged the offending boob. I have also varied the position dd feeds in. Is there anything else I can do?

This is so frustrating, especially as we seem to be so far down the line with feeding, and this is the first problem I have ever had with either of my two children.

Any thoughts???

It might be a blocked duct, but the red patches sound like the beginnings of mastitis- have you been overdoing it ? Go to your GP and get some antibiotics in place and take them if you start to feel ill or fluey, in the meantime feed as long as you can and take anti-inlflammatories (like neurofen) as that can halt the reaction that leads to mastitis. Combing with a wide toothed comb towards the nipple while you feed can help.

Thanks hellymelly.

I always thought, though, that mastitis was caused by engorgement and/or milk not being removed effectively. dd does seem to be feeding well, and I am always 'empty' after a feed or having expressed.

This is why I'm a bit baffled - or have I got it wrong?

Well, I have been feeding for years and years, and have had a few blocked ducts. Once when I was really overtired and run down. The other two times were due to a bra pressing on a duct. Sometimes a sling can do the same thing, so even if a breast is well emptied sometimes you can get a block and then mastitis.

Ah I see. That makes sense. Thank you!

I has the same a few months back op and believe it was the start of mastitis or a blocked duct.

No changes to feeding but noticed red patch and felt achy and bruised. I managed to use home remedies without resorting antibiotics or a GP visit:

Hot and cold press simultaneously

Massage area of boob with fingers, working your way toward the nipple

Take ibruprofen for pain and as its an inflammatory, it should ease any swelling in the boob

Drain boob when dc is feeding (which your probably doing anyway, but you can use your fingers to massage area whilst feeding as the feeding motion will also help clear it.

Hope it helps, if still bad in a day or two, definitely visit GP.

Oh meant to add it was my bra that was tight when I was in the car, and seat belt pressing on it. Very random but worth being aware of tightness around your boobs causing blocked ducts.

I think you may have something there, god. Dd was unsettled for a few nights and I started feeding her again in the night. After a couple of days my milk supply had increased, and then she was back to sleeping through again. Result: v swollen boobs first thing, and a sleep bra that felt very tight.

Thanks for all your advice! and hope you didn't see typo in subject line. Dang