Given up breastfeeding and my boobs have lumps - normal?

[ragtaggle]

Okay, this will teach me to rejoice so much about giving up breastfeeding. Its been four days since my last feed and my boobs are now full of hard, knotty lumps. I gave up one feed at a time as suggested but I'm a bit worried about how my breast are feeling. Should I be expressing them a bit or would that just stimulate my supply? Should I be worried or is this normal? Any advice gratefully received.

[Branster]

same thing happened to me when giving up breast feeding (my daughter was 1 at the time and i did it gradually). went to see my gp who sent me to see a consultant straight away. after an examination he concluded that the hard lumps were pools of milk left over inside the breasts and could not drain by themselves. he 'massaged' my breasts for 1-2 minutes in the exact spots where the lumps were and it was all gone imediatelly. so it's worth getting to see a specialist about this problem. it wasn't seroius in my case and it sounds like you have the same problem as i had. good luck!

[karen99]

Hi ragtaggle, I've just been through something similar (see my thread below!) and got some good advice. I didn't go to a specialist, but mentioned it to my GP and she also said to massage the breast in a flat circular motion (hard to discribe, hold hand out flat, put middle of hand on nipple and then in a gentle but firm (?!) circular motion massage the breast). She said to only do it a couple of times a day, but admittedly I did it about 5-6 times and particularly when in the shower. The lumps came about 4-5 days after dropping the last feed and the fullness didn't start to ease until day 10. Now two weeks on they've eased completely and no mastitis. Oh, and I hand expressed a bit after massaging for 5mins or so(maybe a tablespoons worth). HTH and you'll soon feel better.

Mastits & blocked ducts after stopping bf

[jane313]

Did you get loads of lumps? I just have one and no pain, am still b/f twice a day. My dr is making a hospital appointment for me and she thought it may be a blocked duct. But you can't help but worry.

[karen99]

Hi Jane313, I too noticed a bump about 3 months into bf. Remember to tell them you are bf as they do an ultrasound scan rather than an xray. Try and make sure your boobs have been 'emptied' before you go so the milk doesn't get in the way of what they're looking for. Also they told me the feel of one boob can be completely different to the other and the breast tissue thickens when you bf. I can feel one duct quite noticeably on one side than the other. Plus as you bf for longer the fat stores start to deplete and you can feel alot more in your boobs than before as all you can feel are mainly milk ducts.

HTH and let us know how the appt goes. [sorry for replying so late, just catching up after being away for the w/e!]

[jane313]

thanks karen. The dr said it was going to be an ultrasound, still waiting for the appointment. I'll let you kwow

[jane313]

Went to hopsital today, 4 hours!! Had mammogram as have just stopped b/f and ultrasound but no biopsy. The ultrasound womans said it was fat necrosis, which is benign and it would proably just stay there. Then consultant then said it would proably go away and I should come back in 4 months just to make sure!!

just realised you are the organiser of the brent cross meet. see you thurs!