BFing Moms: Questions re: breast tenderness

I've been EBFing for almost 7 months with no issues. Last night, I woke up b/c my left breast was very sore. The entire top part was hard and tender to the touch. DS usually wakes up more often than he did last night. It had been a while since I BFed/pumped, but I've gone at least as long as that before without any problems. My right breast felt pretty full, but didn't hurt.

I pumped and massaged the left breast. Even though it had been a while since I expressed milk, I didn't get much more milk from that side than I normally do. After pumping, there was still a hard spot towards the top that hurt when I touched it. DS woke up an hour later and I fed him from the left side. That seemed to help as did this morning's nursing session, but I still have a spot that's a little tender to the touch.

Does anyone have any idea what this could be? Is it a clogged duct? What can I do to relieve the tenderness and prevent it from happening again? It seems strange to me that this came up now when I've had no issues for almost 7 months.

Re: BFing Moms: Questions re: breast tenderness

Anyone?

Re: BFing Moms: Questions re: breast tenderness

It sounds like a clogged duct. I would take a shower & massage it under warm water. Be careful too, if you get a fever or shooting pains or other symptoms it could be mastisis.

Re: BFing Moms: Questions re: breast tenderness

I would say the same as SweetCin.. probably a clogged duct. I had this once before and massaging it in the shower helped a lot. I also tried to massage pushing down while feeding DD. It went away in a day or two.

Re: BFing Moms: Questions re: breast tenderness

I had a problem a few months ago with this too. i called my doctor and he told me to massage the breast in the shower and to keep having her feed on the breast. also for any pain tylenol or advil. if the pain lasted more than 2 days i had to call him and get checked, but the advice worked.

Re: BFing Moms: Questions re: breast tenderness

Definitely sounds like a clogged duct. Massage the breast when you pump and when you nurse. Nurse and pump as much as you can to get the clog out. If it doesn't get better within a day or so or you start to notice it feels warm or looks red, call your dr.