Help, this hurts so bad!

[GardenStream]

I have been bfing for 2 years and have never felt anything like this. I have a 22mo (still nursing) and a 2 week old (also nursing). I woke up this morning with pain and assumed it was just engorgement. I nursed both kids and still had pain. It got worse during the morning and I decided to pump on that side to try and relieve it. I got another 3 ounces out, but it still hurt. It got so bad that I couldn't even lift my arm and the bouncing from going up the stairs was enough to bring tears to my eyes.

Anyway, I *think* it is a plugged milk duct, but it's way down at the base of the breast. It's almost into my armpit where it hurts and I feel a couple lumps, but nothing really specific. I have been putting a heating pad on before nursing and cold after nursing. I have also tried massaging it. The pain is much better, but it's still pretty tender. It doesn't hurt to nurse either.

I have looked at kellymom and other sites, but everything seems to say that the pain should be around the nipple. Am I wrong in thinking this is a plugged duct? Is there something more I should be doing? I'm terrified of ending up with mastitis.

[painefaria]

I've had this happen to me a couple of times and I have treated it the same way each time. I know that the pain became bearable but still HURT. It took a couple of days to get back to normal. I made sure that DS did a good job on that side each time that he nursed. I would say that it took 2 to 3 days to feel better. If you have a fever, etc I would contact your Dr...

[Hannahkatiebell]

i just had this! i think it was a plugged duct. i put a diaper filled with hot water on my breast and massaged it while it was warm. my breast hurt way up high on my chest and i could feel a lump. This is what the LLL breastfeeding q and a book suggests. It helped, but it took another 24 hrs to get better.

[lexbeach]

That's actually a common location for a plugged duct, and that sounds exactly like what you have. I would continue with frequent nursing, nursing in different positions, drinking plenty of fluids, rest, heat while nursing, and massaging the plugs towards your nipple (I find olive oil works quite well for this). It may take a few days to resolve completely. The only reason to worry about a need for antibiotics would be if you get a fever and the plugged spot gets very red (at which point, I would call a midwife to check in).

HTH!

lex

[lawschoolmama]

me too!

Ugh, I'm dealing with this exact same thing today! Just started this morning, and it's horrible. Of course, I'm right in the middle of final exams, AND DH's grandpa died this morning. So much stress at once. Anyways, I'm definitely appreciating the advice you're getting in this thread. :
One other thing for me: I have a big, whitehead-looking thing on the nipple that I just noticed this morning. I assume that's the plugged duct? One of my BFing books said to try to pick it out with a fingernail, but no luck. Also, this morning I was able to express milk out of it, which helped, but this afternoon, that's not working either. Pumping didn't do anything--I got half the milk out I usually do. And, DD isn't enjoying nursing on that side at all, presumably because she can't get much milk out of it Any other ideas??
Good luck to the OP! Hope we both feel better soon