soreness on breast, near armpit, with baby weaning

[atlantafemme]

Hello folks,

So, over the last few days I started to noticed a soreness developing on the right side of my right breast, close to the armpit. When I palpate the area, it feels lumpy and a little more sore but it's not unbearable and there's no redness, and not at all like the mastitis experience I had last summer. 

I'm guessing that it could be a mildly plugged duct. Everything I've read says that I need to let my little one nurse often and for a long time t o resolve it BUT I've had a lot of anxiety this summer and have been trying to slowly wean my nearly 16-month-old so that I can go on something for it. (I don't particularly want to wean him yet but the anxiety has been incredibly debilitating and I refuse to expose him to SSRIs even a little bit through my milk.) He now only nurses to sleep and sometimes a few times during the night. I'm concerned that if I let him nurse all day for the next few days, this will set us back on weaning and further delay my anxiety treatment.

I seem to be making so little milk these days that I doubt I could pump even if I had one. Hand expressing seems even less likely. Any other ideas?

[Cynthia Mosher]

Bumping up for attention. Anyone have any advice to offer?

[MrsGregory]

Is pumping an option?  What if you pumped the sore breast and then used the expressed milk to make your baby's oatmeal, or water your garden... whichever you're most comfortable with?  This would allow you some relief without re-starting a nursing routine.

Good luck! 
 

[atlantafemme]

Thanks for suggestions, MrsGregory. I went to a GYN who did an exam and didn't feel any abnormalities. She suggestion that this is just a "problem breast"--it's the same one I had mastitis in last year--and might revert to normal on its own as I wean. The pain is very mild. It's more annoying and weird-feeling than sore so I'm hoping she's right. Now if I can only turn off the worry factory in my brain... :)