swollen breast- infection??? anyone with experience??? sorry if it's tmi!

[yetihed]

Hello everyone, hoping you can help me. Again!

I am breastfeeding and today one of my breast seems to have a lump/ swelling to one side of the nipple. Feels quite big (3/ 4 cm long). It's sore. No marks/ discolouration or anything.

I'm off to the doctor tomorrow but wondered if anyone has experience of this so I can sleep tonight and not imagine the worst???

Should I still breastfeed from it? Will it harm my DS if it is infected? It's not especially sore to feed.

thanks

yes still breastfeed from it. It could be a blocked duct, start of mastitis or I had some sort of infections when one of mine was little.

Sure the experts will be along very soon!

do you have any flu like symptoms ? if you do it is probably mastitis.

ssounds like a blocked duct. You need to feed very regularly from it to get rid of the blockage and stop mastitis forming. BF in different positions to fully drain the milk from all the duucts, and massage towards the nipple over the bump to encourage the ducts to drain.

if there are any bf counsellor local to you I would ask to see one so they can help show you how to drain it.

Thanks wise women of mumsnet,

No flu symptoms but I do feel a bit weird! Mind you, I haven't slept 4 six months!

What's the difference between a blocked duct and mastitis? Pardon my ignorance.

as I understand it a blocked duct can lead to mastitis which is an infection and results in you feeling lousy. I've had it once - hot-footed it to the doctors and got a/bs to shift it asap. Keep feeding on that side as much as you can - it may feel a bit sore but it's the only thing to do!