Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Blocked milk duct?

5 replies

Ontheflipside · 30/12/2025 16:01

I went to the GP today as I've had a lump in my breast since my baby was born in January this year. When my breast is fuller, the lump comes higher to the surface, it's hard and oblong shaped, and the GP has now referred me to the breast clinic.

My question is, could this be a blocked duct? I've never had mastitis, and I didn't have a lump like this when feeding DD1, but I just assumed if it was a blocked duct it would have developed into mastitis or something, especially as it's been nearly a year!!

Anyone else had this?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ontheflipside · 30/12/2025 16:13

I've just got a text from my GP saying they've sent an urgent referral to the breast clinic and if I've not heard anything in 2 weeks to call a number and ask to speak to the "urgent suspected cancer referral booking team". I thought the breast clinic saw people for multiple reasons, and the GP never mentioned the word cancer to me...

OP posts:
Original poster
Ontheflipside · 30/12/2025 17:25

Anyone?

OP posts:
WonderingAboutBabies · 30/12/2025 21:07

I think if it was a milk duct it would have been sorted by now. I had a lump come up after I gave birth and got referred under the 2 week wait pathway. I got scanned and checked thoroughly, it was just breast tissue. The consultant said your breasts go through so many changes during pregnancy and postpartum, they often get new mums in with all kinds of lumps. They said that they will ALWAYS check you out - no matter if the lump "seems" serious or not.

I also had a blocked duct later on and it didn't hurt at all and went to the GP. She said to try and hot compress and massage it out and it went away. I put a hot water bottle on top of it (over clothes) for 10 minutes, had a warm shower and massaged the lump for a good few minutes and pressed down on it - loads of high pressure milk came out 😂.

Original poster
Ontheflipside · 30/12/2025 22:06

WonderingAboutBabies · 30/12/2025 21:07

I think if it was a milk duct it would have been sorted by now. I had a lump come up after I gave birth and got referred under the 2 week wait pathway. I got scanned and checked thoroughly, it was just breast tissue. The consultant said your breasts go through so many changes during pregnancy and postpartum, they often get new mums in with all kinds of lumps. They said that they will ALWAYS check you out - no matter if the lump "seems" serious or not.

I also had a blocked duct later on and it didn't hurt at all and went to the GP. She said to try and hot compress and massage it out and it went away. I put a hot water bottle on top of it (over clothes) for 10 minutes, had a warm shower and massaged the lump for a good few minutes and pressed down on it - loads of high pressure milk came out 😂.

Yeah that's my thoughts too. I'm wondering if I only noticed it when my milk came in because it sent it to the surface, if that makes sense. It's definitely got bigger because you can now see it whereas you couldn't before. It's sort of in the centre of my chest, but on the top of that makes sense. It's definitely got bigger to be noticeable by eye. But as you say, I'm sure it's just one of the many hormonal changes we go through

OP posts:
fashionqueen0123 · 30/12/2025 22:09

I think they will have put the ‘cancer’ thing on so you get seen within 2 weeks. Otherwise you could be waiting ages.

Some people are prone to blocked ducts so it could be that it keeps flaring up. Or could it be an abcess, they can be pretty annoying and can need surgery or drainage to remove sometimes.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page