breast has hard lump..help!

[coltynsmom]

i have been exclusively breastfeeding my four month old with hardly any problems. Starting few hours ago my nipple hurt really bad while he was nursing. It hurt like he was latched on wrong (he is a pro at the latch however) I took him off because I was surprised at the pain. I felt my breast and the entire tip half was rock hard like i was too full. no pain in the breast just hard. I figured i might have just accidently skipped that breast one feeding and it got engorged so i tried to feed him again but my nipple hurt too bad! I decided to pump to try to empty it. i pumped a few ounces (which is what i normally get out of the breast) The lump is still there. feels like a golf ball on the top half. the rest of the breast feels empty. Its really weird because my breast does not hurt but this cant be good.

any ideas? i am going to keep pumping because i do not want to dry up pr get engorged. please help!

[nathansmum]

I'm no expert and has been a few years since I nursed but didn't want to leave you hanging at this time of the night, but sounds like a blocked duct. What I did with similar experiences was to feed your baby off that side as much as possible and apply pressure to the lump to help push things through. It was ackward though especially since the lump was on the nipple - try feeding your baby in different positions so different parts of the breast are stimulated by his mouth (ie lying down, or sideways or under your arm etc). Are you able to just squeeze the duct yourself with your fingers? Another thing if it's not shifting is to heat the area up with a hot cloth and then try again. Perhaps have a hot shower and massage it in there.

hope you get things cleared up quickly and keep a look out for signs of it turning into mastitis (hot flushes, fever, feeling fluey).

[Mommal]

Sounds like a plugged duct to me, too. Check out http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html for treatment tips.

[coltynsmom]

thank you so much for the info gals. i am still working on it but it makes me feel better to know what it is. i was scared i was going to dry up. but it seems that i can resolve this:-)

[PatioGardener]

They are painful! If you can't get rid of it by hot showers, massage and nursing baby with chin towards the lump, you may want to consider asking your partner to try to help to remove it. Often a partner can be more directed with sucking out a clog than a baby. Keep it in mind if nothing else works!

[danna]

I used to get blocked ducts frequently. Not fun. Take a close look at your nipple and see if you have any blebs, which are white spots, and indicate a blocked milk duct. A bleb is basically dried up milk that's blocking an opening. You can usually open it up yourself with a hot wash cloth or a sterilized needle. Good luck!

[coltynsmom]

thank you all so much. i am glad i have a place to come for tips. everyone in my family said i needed a doctor. lol i was like "what is she gonna do?"
anyway i took a hot shower and kept heat on it and fed on that side as much as i could stand and it finally passed this evening. thank you all so much!!!

[alysiaanne]

I find that I'll get a lump in the same spot on my left breast if I pump it more than once a week. To get the lump away, I'll massage it in the shower, use different positions, feed on that side a lot, etc.