Hellobee Boards

Is there something on your nipple when u try to hand express that looks like a pimple? Try exfoliating your nips and hand express. If that doesn't do it you may need to get a clean needle and open the skin covering the duct. Google "bleb" or milk blister.

You definitely want to keep pumping otherwise it'll mess up your supply. You should do hot towel compress massages on your boob before pumping and afterwards, just keep massaging inwards towards the nipple. You should use an electric toothbrush on any lumps to help work it out. You should also take sunflower lecithin, it will help prevent clogged ducts. I take it daily because I used to get so many clogged ducts, it was awful!

@annem1990: I second the electric toothbrush. That plus repeated hot showers with squeezing like it was my job worked for me. It usually took 3 or 4 showers to get serious enough about it because it does hurt like hell. I just focused on working through the pain to avoid getting knocked on my ass from mastitis.

Once the milk is released you might feel bruised but you shouldn’t feel engorged or have hard spots.

Also if u are not squeamish, have your husband suck on it as hard as he can after showering and exfoliating. Sometimes it's just the fastest way to push through it.

I got these a lot until I started on lecithin. So definitely do that!
But until then, I used to dangle my boob in a warm bowl of water and massage the sore spot. It really is torture, I’m sorry you’re going through it. But that was Best for me.
Also massaging spot Best you can while pumping. Depending on where it is this might not be possible.
I also EP’d (95% of the time) and I think that has a lot to do with it since it just doesn’t have the suction a baby has. For whatever reason a manual pump also seemed to work better for me sometimes.

Sunflower lecithin was what my lactation consultant recommended and it resolved my issues within a few days.