Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

mastitis - but I can't find the lump? help!

17 replies

minipie · 13/04/2013 23:10

I've got mastitis. boob is painful and hot and has red patch, plus I feel like I have flu (shivers etc). BUT I can't find the blockage?

I've had two blocked ducts recently and both times was able to find an obvious big lump and massage out the blockage before it turned into mastitis.

this time though I can't find any big lump, just some pea sized lumps under my armpit but they seem more like glands than milk ducts iyswim.

I've started antibiotics so that should deal with the infection, but what happens if I can't find and clear the blockage? will the mastitis just keep coming back?

and why do I keep getting these blockages dammit... Sad

any advice appreciated.

OP posts:
nametakenagain · 13/04/2013 23:21

I couldn't find anything but generalised hard area. Managed by getting dc to drink. It hurt a lot but didn't last more than 36 hours. I think I let it happen by not giving poor boob enough space to relax and get comfortable before letting dc latch on. Maybe

McBaby · 14/04/2013 05:41

I have had it three times. Once I couldn't feel lump and found it after a week it was underneath breast deep in the tissue. To their time I never felt it but I had an ultra sound to locate and drain and inch lump!

I would just massage breast and feed every. 2-3 hours to keep breast clear of milk untill you are clear of all symptoms.

Lora1982 · 14/04/2013 06:20

Someone recommended lecigram to me for blocked ducks. You mix it into porridge o

Lora1982 · 14/04/2013 06:23

(oops) or yoghurt. Its meant to help anyway. When i got mastitis i couldnt get any milk out at all and ended up with an abcess, which was beyond crap, touch wood ive been ok since.

The lumps in your armpit could be it because breast tissue goes up into your armpit doesnt it?

noblegiraffe · 14/04/2013 08:16

I don't know about mastitis, but a too tight bra, or sleeping on your side or front so that you are leaning on your boob can cause blockages. A milk blister on your nipple can also do it - milk can't get out past the bleb so backs up.

Original poster
minipie · 14/04/2013 08:18

thanks everyone. I think there is something deep under my breast actually, where the crease is, not exactly a lump but it's jolly sore there. will keep feeding and look into lecigram. thanks.

don't like the sound of abcess... poor you Lora

OP posts:
Original poster
minipie · 14/04/2013 08:20

mm noble, I have a scabby nipple (from clearing a previous milk bleb), I wonder if that could do it?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 14/04/2013 08:31

Hmm, it's possible, if the scab means that milk can't come out. I'd try getting rid of the lump without picking the scab if you can!

Do you have a problem with milk blisters? They can be the sign of a poor latch. I found I got them regularly when feeding lying down as the latch wasn't was good.

Original poster
minipie · 14/04/2013 09:37

no, that's the only one I've had and I'm not sure it was even a proper blister. I do have permanently scabby/dry patches on the ends of my nipples though. DD's latch isn't ideal but think that is due to high palate and lip tie (and posterior TT which has been snipped) so not much I can do about it I think. never been able to feed lying down!

will leave the scab alone!

antibiotics have kicked in now and I'm feeling much more human.

OP posts:
stella10 · 14/04/2013 10:27

Also I would feed as much as u can with no bra on at all just to make sure no area being blocked or restricted

Original poster
minipie · 14/04/2013 19:10

ok this is odd.

when I am feeding, the whole right hand side of my right breast (the affected one) feels sort of 'stringy', like there are lots of little lumps and tendons inside. never had that before so it must be connected to the mastitis. also milk production seems to have dropped a lot Sad.

what can I do? will massage help with this stringiness? boob is not sore except after I massage it.

OP posts:
McBaby · 14/04/2013 20:12

Milk production can drop massively due to mastitis as the lump sends the same signals as engorgement. Applying heat can help ease the breast and help the milk flow before feedi g expressing.

SpottyTeacakes · 14/04/2013 20:17

Oh minipie Sad I don't have mastitis but have my third blocked duct right now so I feel your pain (literally). Ds has lip tie too and not always the best latch but we muddle along. I use heat patches on my bra, you can get them at the pound shop and they last all day. I also dangle Blush in the bath and really massage it until I cry and it seems to clear it.

I read on kellymom that stringy/grainy is all part of it.

Hope you get it sorted soon Thanks

MoreSnowPlease · 14/04/2013 21:05

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

Original poster
minipie · 15/04/2013 07:47

thanks everyone. dd slept through last night for first time in ages, I should be delighted but woke to a hard right boob as as result. but not painful oddly. after this mornings feed it's a lot better but still grainy/stringy. off to heat, massage and express now (again!) to see if that helps shift things more.

scab is slowly coming off with each feed (suspect dd is swallowing bits, presume that isn't an issue?) so hopefully once it's gone I won't keep getting the blockages. though suspect it may also be due to dd's teething and consequent smaller feeds. going to get some lecithin today too.

thank you all.

OP posts:
VikingLady · 15/04/2013 07:56

The only thing that has ever helped my blocked ducts (same scabby problem as you!) was regular gentle exfoliation in the shower. Not just as a remedy but as a standard part of routine/prevention. I don't mean going at them with a scourer or similar! Just a thorough rub with the towel when getting dried, when the scabby bit was soggy.

Original poster
minipie · 15/04/2013 15:42

Thanks Viking - sounds like a really good idea (and appeals to my inner scab picker Blush) will do that.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread