38 wks & hard/ouchy breast - help! (xposted to birth & beyond)

[lilmamabrown]

I'm 38 weeks w/ dd2. I've been leaking lots of clear fluid for a couple months now but haven't worried about it bc it worked the same way w/ dd1. I have an underwire bra that fits well and I don't sleep in it. Mid-day today noticed the underside of my right breast was really getting painful and has gone on throughout the day to turn really hard about the size of a tennis ball up through half my nipple. There's no redness and I can't see anything that looks weird in the mirror but it really hurts (feels like razors if i try to touch it), feels hot, and my nipple won't soften but I don't have a fever. During the last week fluid has gone from clear to white/sometimes yellowish. The hard spot started itching a lot yesterday but wasn't painful til today. I put hot compresses on it for about a half hour tonight and it's really softened up but I can feel the effects wearing off already... is it a plugged duct or something? I didn't think about that being possible while pregnant. What should I do to get this cleared up??

[ewe+lamb]

It sounds just like a plugged duct to me and you'll have to unplug it, do the hot compresses again and get it nice and soft, then with the palm of your hand work from the top of your breast in soft, gentle circular movements, then second time around a little firmer with the movements and so on until you can get the block out, you can also do this in the shower/bath to take away additional pain, the liquid colour seems fine to me as colostrum but the block must come out, or maybe your little girl could nurse a little for you - does she still nurse? I'd also stop using the underwire bra and try and find a nursing bra that is nice and soft with decent support.