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Did you try dangle feeding while massaging the lump? Like a little bit harder than you ideally would, but the pressure helps it pop. Or can you massage it under a warm shower head?

@Smurfette: Ouch! Could you prop her up at an incline and somehow dangle over her like an acrobat? That might smother her with a boob though, I'm trying to picture it in my head.

The only way that I got rid of mine was to do a hot compress and massage and then I used my pump (immediately after) on a realllllly high setting and when I was done pumping, it was gone...

@Smurfette: ok I see... It's good you are able to keep up even with the clog. I had a really persistent plug once that was hurting for weeks, but it was really small and on the side of my breast.. It eventually went away on its own, maybe you will experience something similar... Good luck with the day care transition and work tomorrow!!

Also trying nursing and massaging at the same time since babies tend to be more efficient in emptying you. When I did get mastitis that one time (omg, horrible!), I put a heat compress while nursing and massaging at the same time. It really helped though.

Ugh, that sucks! I had good luck with pressure massage last time I had a stubborn clog. Milk just started pouring out when I did it! It was such a relief. Here are the instructions I used, from Dr. Sears (I also applied heat before doing it):

Try a pressure massage on the area of your breast that is swollen and painful because of a plugged duct. This may help to loosen the plug. With pressure massage, you do not actually move your hand over the skin as you would with a normal massage. You simply press more and more firmly with the heel of your hand to move the plug in the duct down closer to the nipple.

To do pressure massage, start at the edge of the lumpy area closest to your chest wall. Apply pressure to that area with the heel of your hand to the point just before it becomes too painful. Hold the pressure at that level until the pain eases off. Then increase the pressure again, (without moving your hand) and hold it until the pain eases. Continue to gradually increase pressure at that same site until you are pressing as hard as you can. Then pick your hand up, move it down toward your nipple about a half inch, and repeat the pressure massage in this area. Continue moving your hand a half inch and repeating the massage until you get all the way down to the nipple.

You may see the dried milk come out from an opening in your nipple. Even if the plug doesn't actually come out, you will at least have dislodged it and moved it toward the nipple so that when baby goes to the breast and sucks, he will remove it with his suction. Always put baby to the breast on the plugged side first, when his sucking will be the strongest.

@Smurfette: That is awesome, so happy for you! Sounds like a successful day care day and first day of work as well!