BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

I have been Exclusively BF for 5 weeks now and since yesterday my left breast has remained hard with a large lump even after several feedings. The pain is getting progressively worse ( by the hour)
I have tried squeezing it just now but barely anything is coming out and also tried putting my high pressure shower head on it with hott water.

is there anything else i can do? It is really starting to hurt

Also I BF my first DD for 6 months and never had this

thank you

Re: BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

It might be mastitis. Try putting a hot compress on the lump. Then if you have an electric pump try pumping that breast. Give your DC from that side first. In the morning call your obgyn to see if they can see you. Good luck! I hope you feel better soon.

Re: BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

maybe when you are feeding DC from that side, you could try to smooth out the lump towards your nipple. If it doesn't feel better soon I would call doc.

Re: BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

Is it hot? I had mastitis which was a lump, but it was hot and painful. I had to go into the ER and get a boatload of antibiotics.

Re: BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

It could be a clogged duct. Nurse frequently from that side and rub the lump out, also try applying a warm compress. I will warn you when it becomes unclogged BM may go shooting all over the place. The first time it happened tome I was like WT*

I hope this works and you feel better

Oh if you have a fever it could be an infection so I would call your Dr.

Re: BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

Posted by Stacey1403

It could be a clogged duct. Nurse frequently from that side and rub the lump out, also try applying a warm compress. I will warn you when it becomes unclogged BM may go shooting all over the place. The first time it happened tome I was like WT*

I hope this works and you feel better

Oh if you have a fever it could be an infection so I would call your Dr.

Re: BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

How big is the lump? I had what I thought was a clogged duct and/or mastitis (and may have begin as such) which ended up being an abscess that needed surgery to relieve. Definately have it checked out ASAP if you can't relieve it with the shower, heat, massage and feeding.

Re: BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

Posted by Blissful

Posted by Stacey1403

It could be a clogged duct. Nurse frequently from that side and rub the lump out, also try applying a warm compress. I will warn you when it becomes unclogged BM may go shooting all over the place. The first time it happened tome I was like WT*

I hope this works and you feel better

Oh if you have a fever it could be an infection so I would call your Dr.

YUP SOunds like a clog..... I let hot water beat on my chest in the shower, as hot as I can sand. Then I soap the boob up and try to put the lump down towards the nipple...

It hurts... but it will get it out!

Re: BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

have you tried pumping yet? That seemed to work for me when it happened. I got alot of relief

Re: BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

Nurse from that side first for each of the feedings and try to work out the lump as your dc nurses or as you pump.
You can wet a regular diaper with warm water and put it on the area with the lump before you nurse and then put cold compresses/ice on after you nurse. I took some tylenol.
One thing that helped was putting the swollen breast in a pot/bowl of cold water after I nursed.
I also read somewhere to put soap on a wide tooth comb in the shower to try to work the lump out and it definitely worked for me.
If you feel like you have the flu you will more than likely need antibiotics for mastitis.
feel better

Message edited 8/8/2009 1:06:14 PM.

Re: BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

sounds like a clog to me... i just got over one... they are painful... lots of massaging the area helps

Re: BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

It could be a clogged duct or mastitis. Every time I got that I would put a warm compress on it, only feed from that breast, and massage the lump during the feeding.

If the pain gets any worse call your doctor ASAP, if it mastitis you'll need antibiotics.

Re: BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

Just wondering how you are doing?

Re: BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

UPDATE: So strange now that I am on a poster was asking about me- thanks

I spent most of the night up. Went in the shower 7 times since last night and placed the shower head over my left breast on full pressure as hott as i could handle. Also constantly massaging and have only nursed from that side too ( I really hope i am not screwing myself up by just doing one side- my right is now VERY engorged but not painful like my left) I also am taking my presciption Ibprofin from my c-section to help the pain. I read on the internet that pain can actually decrease the progress.

About an hour ago after the last feeding I feel much less pain and it seems to have gone down a lot. It is still there though ( I thought it would go down all at once)

I never had a fever which is good.
Hopefully it will go completely down but as i said earlier I hope I have not messed myself up by doing so many feedings on one side

Well either way a big HEARTFELT thankyou to all you mommies for your advice and kindness. I wont let this stop me from nursing and hope it does not scare anyone off who was on the fence about BF.

Re: BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

Be sure to nurse from the other side too or it can happen on that side. Glad it seems to be going away! Keep up the good work

Re: BF Mom's - please help- painful lump in my chest

Well it has gone down considerably but now i have a white bump the size of a pimle on my nipple?! not sure what that is now. The nursing is very painful on that side too.
I'll try and google this
thanks ladies