I damaged my breast while pumping :(

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Every night a couple hours after DD goes to bed I pump some milk.  A few nights ago I wasn't in the mood to do it, so I was trying to go really fast.  At the end of my pumping time when the milk slows down I do some manual breast compressions to get the last of the hind milk out.  This night I started doing that earlier and apparently did it too hard because the next morning my breast felt really sore like it was badly bruised and it was swollen.  :(

I used some arnica gel on it and it's slowly getting better.  Tonight though, the swelling seems to be down but now there are two long hard lumps in my breast that are very sore.  It's right along the path I'm sure my fingers were on when I was doing the compressions.  I'm not quite sure why they are hard though??? 

Should I be worried?  Any ideas on what I should do to help my poor boob feel better and heal?  I may just call my midwife in the morning and ask her, but I feel kind of silly too.

[Llyra]

The hard, sore lumps-- that sounds a lot like plugged ducts to me.

[Ellien C]

I agree that punched in the boob feeling could be plugged ducts.  KEEP pumping and nursing as often as possible - esp on the sore breast. Nurse on the sore breast a lot and pump on the other one so it doesn't get plugged. I think you probably stimulated a letdown with the compressions, but then stopped pumping before it really got going and then got plugged ducts. Or maybe it just happened anyway and it wasn't anything you did. The best cure is more nursing - empty the breasts each time you nurse/pump.

[HappyMommy2]

nak

hot shower before pumping can help loosen things up

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Plugged ducts was my fear.  I pumped last night and gently rubbed the lumps while pumping.  They were really sore last night, but feel a bit better this morning.  I'm guessing it was a combination of plugged ducts and actual bruising.  :(  I'll pump again tonight after a hot shower and see if that helps resolve it a little more.

Thanks ladies! 

[ewe+lamb]

Ouch plugged ducts aren't fun, my suggestion is hot compresses if you are still in pain - now then when I say hot I mean really really hot, sort of ouchy hot but not so hot that you burn yourself!!  Leave on the breast for around 5 minutes then either massage gently with the palms of your hand in a gentle but firm circular movement starting high up in the breast and moving down towards the nipple, or you could get the best breast pump to get the plug out - your baby - lol, make sure that the chin of the baby is pointing in the direction of the sore area of the breast - this may take some gymnastics but it's really worth it!!  And of course rest, really try to get as much rest as possible giving your body the best chance of recovery possible. 

Hope that you are feeling better and that all clears up easily enough.