Stopped breastfeeding and one week later I have a lump - help!

[k80pie]

One week ago I stopped breastfeeding my 14mo and I now have a lump about the size of a large grape on the top of my right breast. No red streaks, no pain, no fever. Just a really hard noticeable lump. Have tried warm shower and massaging, haakaa pump got nothing out. Helpline suggested going to the GP asap - which I will do, in the morning (it's nighttime here).

Anyone had this? I'm thinking it's a blocked duct - how on earth does it get unblocked if I'm no longer feeding?! (I had no issues like this when I weaned my DS five years ago and yes I have been decreasing feeds gradually - we'd been on one bedtime feed for weeks)

This probably isn't the advice you're hoping for but I'd just feed your DS, it's the surest way to clear it.

Weaning gradually imo doesn't mean once a day then never. It means once a day then a few times a week then never.

Edit: sorry if I've got your kids mixed up! Maybe I mean feed your dd. Anyway you know what I mean

Agree with last poster. I had mastitis, and an abscess, but the lump was painful red,hot. I would still get it checked out, just to be safe.

Thank you both - yeah I wondered about just feeding. I hope I don’t confuse DD too much with suddenly going back to it! But would one feed be enough to clear it? I don’t really want to be bringing in lots of milk again, then I’ll be back to square one!

One feed might not be enough to clear it - look at it the other way, this is your body's way of telling you that you stopped a bit suddenly (imo). I'd look at feeding every other day for a week, then twice a week for a week, then stop.

Depending on your dd's age, don't worry she won't br confused. Breastfeeding is a weird kind of magic. I weaned this way when my dd was 2.5y (very gradually as described above, going almost a week between feeds by the end) then once I stopped completely, dd just seemed to completely forget what breastfeeding was. When we saw other breastfeeding mums, I used to ask "do you remember I used to feed you like that" and she was like, you did??! And I'd even show her photos of us and she'd be like "that's me?!" Literally a month after weaning lol

Haha @Mumoftwo1312 thats hilarious! She’s quite happily having her unexpected feed right now. Spoke to someone really lovely at La Leche League who suggested same as you, plus ibuprofen and cold packs. And sent me a couple of links - could be galactocele, or another couple of benign things. At least I now have more info if it does get painful and need the doctor - I feel like they wouldn’t necessarily know all the nuances of breastfeeding related issues. Thanks all!

Fingers crossed the lump clears quickly for you! X

Glad LLL helped and also try cabbage leaves (look it up) x

Quick note - that one feed cleared it! I never in a million years thought it would. So we are now weaned and no more lumps/issues since! Thanks all :)

Great news op!