Breastfeeding and tender armpit - health anxiety

[HallidayJones6779]

Hi, I know MN isn’t the place to look for a diagnosis but it’s the early hours and I have some anxiety so looking for any advice really until I can speak to a GP tomorrow or early next week.

I am currently EBF a 5 month old (my third!). Since early Sept, I have noticed a tenderness in one armpit. There is no noticeable lump but this affected side is definitely more ‘fleshy’ than my other armpit (but this affected side is also a slightly larger boob and I notice my babies have all preferred to feed from this side too).

I guess my anxiety has skyrocketed this evening as the last two days I’ve also noticed a tingling down my hand into my little finger on this side too. I notice the tenderness when my arms are just down by my sides as the area just feels a bit swollen if you know what I mean.

ive read that it’s not usual for drs to to mammograms on breastfeeding women as it can show a lot of false issues. Just wondering if anyone has had anything similar to this at all? Any advice? Of course, going to call the GP tomorrow. Thank you

Go to see your GP tomorrow, if only for reassurance. But in the meantime, remember that your breast tissue does extend up into your armpit so it might be that this area is a bit engorged too. Especially if, as you say, baby is feeding more from this side and so it's all a bit bigger because of the extra milk. The tingling and swollen arm would most likely be because of the position you're holding baby, I know that I certainly get tingles and aches where I've been sitting in a funny position holding mine. I hope you're able to get some sleep and then reassurance tomorrow.

Sorry you’re feeling anxious OP. I had the exact same situation- went to the GP who referred me to the hospital. The consultant took one look at my swollen armpit and told me it was breast tissue that had extended up into there. Sure enough, a few months after I stopped feeding it went away x

I did have armpit discomfort while bf. Also I wonder if baby is trapping a nerve which explains the arm tingling? They will be getting heavier already. Call the GP when you can, but plenty of reasons not to worry in the meantime. Get some sleep!

Thank you all so much for your replies xxx

How are you this morning? Did you manage to get an appointment to see your gp?

I had mastitis at the start of breastfeeding (baby was 10 days old or so) and it manifested itself as painful lumps in armpit. Local A&E sent me home without antibiotics claiming they were benign fatty lumps and unrelated to breastfeeding, the next day my GP took a look and immediately gave me antibiotics which cleaned it up. So it could be blocked duct or mastitis related.

I have an appointment for Monday. When I have my logical, middle of the day hat on, it makes sense that it’s additional breast tissue and likely a trapped nerve (as well as holding baby I also tried to do a couple of short spin sessions on the exercise bike earlier this month and i could see how that would put pressure on my wrists/arms/shoulders). It’s when it gets to those small hours and my anxiety creeps up. I think I might take an ibuprofen to see if that alleviates any of the symptoms. Thank you all for your responses - they have given me comfort, especially last night when I posted xxx