So the last time I nursed LO was last Monday the 18th, so 10 days ago. I was down to 1 nursing session a day, and I never had an issue. My right breast always seemed fuller though. I always hand expressed a little in the shower. but the last few days now, I feel like I have a large (maybe like golf ball sized) lump on the top part of my breast. It's tender, but not super painful. Throughout the day I will get small shooting pains through my breast. My left breast feels soft and floppy, like when they are completely drained, but my right one is a lot firmer.....is that milk still in there? Should I be concerned about my harder spot? (I really don't want to call it a lump)
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Sounds like a clogged duct. Try expressing that side while massaging the lump. If you don't get it unclogged it can get infected and result in mastitis, which is fairly miserable.
I've not nursed in almost exactly a year and I can still express milk.
Link to more information:
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@LBee: I thought clogged ducts were like smaller lumps?
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Lecithin helps me when I get a clogged duct and warm compresses and expressing milk.
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@Maysprout: I forgot about lecithin! I have some at home still, I'm going to start taking that again!! Thanks for the suggestion! That won't increase supply or anything since I'm trying to dry up.
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@MrsBrewer: They can be any size. If the duct is clogged it can get really swollen.
Another link to help:
http://www.pumpstation.com/breastfeeding/help-library/plugged-ducts-mastitisThe first few lines pretty much echo exactly what you described:
A plugged milk duct or clogged milk duct usually feels like a hard, tender swelling in the breast which can vary in size from a pea to a peach and may feel painful while breastfeeding. The skin over the affected area may be red and the area around the plug may feel full even after a feeding.
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@MrsBrewer: I don't think so but Im not sure. I thought it just kind of thinned out the fat globules or something like that.
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@LBee: Yup, totally sounds like a clogged duct. On those links it keeps saying to nurse or pump. is that really the only way? I've tried the massaging and hand expressing in the shower. Not much I mean only for maybe 30 seconds. Think I could just do that for longer?
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@MrsBrewer: I think your plan makes sense.
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@LBee: great I'll give that a try. I just don't want to have LO nurse again just because I have her used to being done. I don't want to confuse her
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I have a long, thin 'lump ' that I asked my dr about at my 6 week check up today. He said it is a clogged duct but to get an ultrasound to check. He said it should go away on it's own if it isn't causing problems. I've had it since my milk came in and no amount of massaging has made it go away, it only makes it sore. But I haven't had any problems from it now that my milk has regulated.
All that to say, it is possible for it go away over time without giving you mastitis.
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@brownepiano: Thanks for chiming in! That's good to know. I hope it's not as painful anymore for you! I have my yearly check up in a week, so if it's still there I will ask during that visit.
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@MrsBrewer: it was painful like to described at first, but now it usually isn't. Sometimes I just feel a dull ache still. It's really weird.
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My cousin discovered a large hard lump after weaning her daughter and it turned out to be breast cancer. Please get it checked asap.
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@alphagam84: Honestly that has been in the back of my mind, and it scares me to death....I have an appt, and I will make sure to mention it.
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