HELP! my boob hurts

[hotharmony]

So it started on Monday night my right boob didn't fully empty all night and I woke up and it was hard as a rock on one side of the breast, so I got in the shower and pulled out a milk blister (ouch!) and then pumped and pumped and pumped but I think my pump is broken a little but I drained the breast but I still don't think fully. well I was compressing it and massaging it and trying to get all the milk i could out of it yesterday and last night the side that was hard that morning is also now red, not streaky but just red.

It feels a little better today, but not that much better. Any suggestions? Do you think I have an infection?

[ewe+lamb]

Dont think you have an infection unless you have a fever, but I would advise you to use VERY hot compresses on the affected breast, use small facecloths, wet with hot water as hot as you can stand it. You can heat them up in the microwave for 20-30 seconds depending on the strength of the microwave and place immediately on the breast so that it melts down the blocked milk. Hope this helps, let me know how you get on.

[fruitfulmomma]

I take garlic capsules when I feel an infection coming on and that usually staves it off.


Do watch for a fever.

[averlee]

You've got a plugged duct, maybe on it's way to mastitis, I think. What I did when my symptoms were like yours: frequent hot showers, compresses. drink lots of fluids. rest! massage the hard part toward the nipple. nurse as much as possible on the sore breast. point baby's chin toward the sore part while nursing. go braless or wear your very comfiest bra. if at all possible, clear your schedule and go to bed with baby all day. we watched cartoons, had juice boxes & granola bars, read, nursed, and dozed for about 6 hrs. i think it helped. and it's ok to take tylenol or advil.

[hotharmony]

Thanks everyone, I am going to take some tylenol I think I might have rubbed it red yesterday and it's still kind of sore today but i'll be adding more hot compresses.