Is this a plugged duct?

[beatgenxer]

I woke up with pain on the inner portion (right side) of my left breast. I don't feel a lump and I'm not running a fever at all. No red painful streaks either. Just a general pain/tenderness. So I don't know if it's a plugged duct or I slept wrong and squashed my breast during the night.

[slgt]

I can't tell for sure from your post - the one time I had a plugged duct, it was very painful to the touch - wearing a bra was impossible. I could definitely feel the lump from the plugged duct, too. I could see on the surface which duct was plugged - if i squeezed, as if to hand express, I could see the top of the duct kind of fill up with milk, but it clearly wouldn't come out.

Good luck - hope you can figure out & resolve soon!

[ewe+lamb]

It sounds as if it could be the beginning of a plugged duct, so try to treat it now - hot compresses (really as hot as you can stand on your skin without burning yourself), play around abit with the nursing position and try to get baby to nurse with his chin working on the part where the block is, so if the block is on the inside left breast, lie your baby down on the bed and go on all fours over him and hang your breast over baby and let him nurse on the area which needs to be relieved. Does this sound doable? Massage gently with the palm of your hand starting at the arm pit working around and down with soft, gentle but firm circular movements. You can then try with your fingertips - always the gentle but firm circular movement.
Plugged ducts and mastitis are no fun so try to get it out now and you should be ok. good luck and if you need any clarity () please post back!!

[Diyan]

I've had that a couple of times. Only the time it lasted several days did I develop red streaks on my breast - and even then I couldn't feel a lump. Luckily I was able to treat it with just heat and massaging, and I didn't develop a fever. For a make-shift heating pad you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave for a minute or two.

[Mama Lo]

[QUOTE=ewe+lamb;14716463]It sounds as if it could be the beginning of a plugged duct, so try to treat it now - QUOTE]



It can start as just a tender spot, achy or bruise like feeling. If it doesn't get taken care of now, thats when the redness, fever and mastitis can settle in.
Give it a good massage when your nursing and even when your not

[beatgenxer]

Ok thanks everyone! That's what I thought but since I'm a first-time mama, it's great to get advice from some experienced BFers

[ewe+lamb]

Originally Posted by Diyan

I've had that a couple of times. Only the time it lasted several days did I develop red streaks on my breast - and even then I couldn't feel a lump. Luckily I was able to treat it with just heat and massaging, and I didn't develop a fever. For a make-shift heating pad you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave for a minute or two.

That's when the plugged can be deeper in the breast than just sort of skin level - the most important thing with plugged ducts is to treat as soon as possible to - love the idea about the compress with rice!!