lump in breast questions...

[lovebeingamomma]

I'm on day 3 of antibiotics for a bad case of Mastitis, which I thought developed from a very swollen plugged duct.  Now the swelling as gone down, pain is gone, but the lump is still there.  I just saw my midwife and she felt it and said it would clear up in a few days.  But I'm confused, because if it's a plugged duct, wouldn't it still hurt a lot?  It doesn't hurt at all, not even tender to the touch.  And I've been trying everything to unclog it and it's not helping...  Thoughts?

[kitchensqueen]

I'm getting over a similar situation actually, except I didn't take antibiotics this time. I thought mine was clearing up yesterday when I started to feel better, but a lump was still there all through most of today, even though the pain and everything else had pretty much subsided. Now this evening, things are basically back to normal. Maybe give it a day or two, keeping on with the heat/massage/frequent BF and see if it continues to decrease? If mine isn't totally gone by tomorrow evening I plan to call my doctor to consult with her, since an abscess could be the problem (though they are pretty rare, but you have higher risk if have recurrent mastitis).

Good luck - mastitis sucks! 

[lovebeingamomma]

Ok, so I still have the lump.  It's nothing I would have noticed if I hadn't gotten Mastitis, it swelled up so much with the infection.  Now the infection is gone, I finished my antibiotics, and it's still there...rectangle shape with irregular borders, doesn't hurt at all, but I can feel it.  Puzzling.  I really thought it was a plugged duct but now I'm not so sure. 

[cameragirl]

I had a similar situation with a plugged duct that wouldn't clear up. I ended up asking for an ultrasound of my breast since I have a family history of breast cancer. (I was a little scared because Mom found her cancer after a bout of mastitis.) It ended up clearing with extra pumping and creative position of DD while nursing. If it doesn't clear and you get concerned, it is an easy way to make sure everything is A-OK.