Stopping breastfeeding golf- ball sized lump of milk

[glowingtwig]

Hello,

I had to stop breastfeeding (totally unwillingly) a couple of days ago due to a health issue and medication I need to take. Apart from spending most of the day crying about it, I now have a golf ball sized lump of blocked, hard milk. I just cannot shift the bloody thing.

I've tried pumping, massage, hot water bottle, Epsom salts in the haaka, electric toothbrush; it's not going away. Now I'm getting stabbing pains in it.

I've been in and out of hospital the last two months, it's been a nightmare. I really do not want mastitis to add to my troubles.

Now what? Would really appreciate any other suggestions.

I’ve had a huge blockage like this just behind the nipple. A hot flannel( for a while before) and then a really(really!) firm massage got it out. The first part was almost cheese like in texture and then a big spray of milk.

sorry you’ve been unwell. That’s rubbish.

I remember having an awful blocked duct. So much pain.
In the end, I used a heated shiatsu shoulder massager on it. Instead of being wrapped round my neck, it was wrapped round my boobs, doing it's massage thing with the rollers on highest setting and the heat turned on.

That probably isnt much help but I'd say get in a warm shower and massage under the water?

Electric toothbrush, vibrator… anything you’ve got that vibrates try it in a warm shower. Hope it clears quickly, horrible to have.

Hot bath every 2 hours throughout day. Hand express a little. Bizarrely potato slices as a compress, (keep in a bowl in water) are anti inflammatory.
Any temp/fluey feeling get seen. I had sepsis from mastitis and was hospitalised so

Thank you so much for suggestions! So the lump is just above my nipple- three finger widths wide 😫

Just don't know how hard I should go at it without causing damage. The thought of the cheese-like release and milk spray is just ahhh. I just don't think it's going to happen!

What if I can't get it out?! Will my body reabsorb it or is mastitis inevitable?

Husband not too willing to suck it out but has offered if I'm desperate.

As well as all the things already suggested, I honestly found the old school remedy of cabbage leaves in the bra for a half hour genuinely helped. Might be worth a go if other things aren't working.

I was developing mastitis and I used the electric toothbrush whilst in a hot shower. Followed by feeding whilst dangling my boob down. Perhaps you can pump in that position.

Second time I just pushed the lump really hard and fed loads.

I can't feed him is the issue due to the medication I've had... if I could get him on it he'd clear it in minutes.

Think I'll try to hang over the bathroom sink with the hot tap running. I've fractured my stupid spine so I can't even stand in the shower or get in a deep bath. Such utter, utter misery atm now this when all I want to do is feed him ☹️😔

What kind of cabbage works best? 💚

Shame you can’t get in the bath. I’d also take ibuprofen for the anti inflammatory. Keep an eye out for any redness on your skin.
I probably had 30 blocked ducts which just resolved. Mastitis about 10 times. Try and rest as much as you can. I’m sure being knackered made me more susceptible. Also drink loads. Phone your GP Monday if not sorted, you might need antibiotics.

I used green flattish leaves. Cut the stalk so it doesn’t dig in. I honestly found potatoes better though. Cut up like dauphinois in a bowl of water and you can keep switching them over. I found a tightish vest held them in place.

If your DH will suck on boob after hot flannel on it he could probably shift the lump. You need to get it sorted or will end up in hospital.

Savoy cabbage OP is the cabbage you need,cold from the fridge in your bra right against your breast.

I thought my HV had gone mad when she first told me about it but it really does work.

I breastfed all 5 of my

He's on his way home from work now but everywhere is shut so no cabbage for me until tomorrow.

Looks like our marriage is about to hit new levels. I just tried sucking it myself but I can't reach to get a good enough purchase.

Ffs how is this my life

Will try potatoes tomorrow too, thank you for the suggestion.

Just the most hideous stabbing pains in it now.

Any chance the pump might just work if I try again? It got to the point where no milk was coming out and the nipple was getting sore so I stopped.

My advice would be to double check with the breastfeeding service special pharmacist that your meds aren't compatible with breastfeeding. Many many breastfeeding mothers are given incorrect information by doctors that they need to stop feeding when they don't and could happily continue.

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/detailed-information/drugs-in-breastmilk/

In the meantime - massage and pump and warm shower.

@urrrgh46 it's pamidronate infusion which interferes with how bones regenerate. Because it's only used on post-menopausal women usually there isn't any decent research and I'm too scared to feed him in case it interferes with his bone development. ☹️☹️ I'm just gutted about the whole thing.

I've been fastidious about winding down the feeding and hand expressing to prevent this. But I'm only comfortable with my spine lying on my left side so this is what's happened 😔

Sorry I have no advice but it sounds like you're having a really rubbish time and I hope you're okay

God you poor thing, I’ve had this before many times and it is hideous. In my case it has always been down to a milk bleb where a tiny bit of skin has covered one of my milk ducts. When you try to hand express can you look really really closely at the nipple and look for any areas where milk isnt spurting out? I used to find the spot that way and use a long clean fingernail to pick away at the skin. The relief as a spurt of thick cheese-like milk comes out is instantaneous.

I probably havent explained it well but this used to occur despite regular feeding because if the duct on the nipple is covered by skin no amount of feeding or expressing will shift it.

Oh OP. I've been there. I feel for you so much. But I agree with pps - cabbage leaves are AMAZING.

I didn't believe it would work, yet I am, years later, hopping on threads to carry on singing its praises.

Good luck.

@Puddlelane123 there don't seem to be any blebs it's just that the massive lumps have made one big mass of milk and I just do not know how I'm going to get it out 😫

Thank you for your kind words @vegang

Husband has just tried and no luck. He just doesn't have the right action at all.

I'm so desperate I thought about putting the baby on just for a few minutes but I just can't.

So sorry you are suffering OP. This is the information toxnet has on pamidronate and breastfeeding.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501380/