[squirrel10]

I'm breastfeeding my 5 month old DD and after going all night the other night without her feeding (she slept through - hooray!) I ended up with painful lumps in both boobs. The right one cleared after about 12 hours after some massaging but the left one has gotten worse. It feels as though half of my entire boob is one big lump (several lumps merged together?) and has been for about 36 hours now. I have tried massaging in the shower, starting feeds on that side, massaging while she feeds and wheat packs but nothing seems to be clearing it/them. I don't have a temp or flu-like symptoms so I haven't got mastitis but I'm worried this will happen if I can't clear it. I've had lumps before but they generally go after about 24 hours.

Any further tips on how to clear them? If I can't will I then get mastitis?

TIA

[intd242]

I'd see a doctor at this stage personally, perhaps also call the breast feeding line. Check for a blister on your nipple, mIght be stopping the milk flowing. A treatment you can have is ultrasound by a physio to help break the lump up. Good luck!!

[squirrel10]

I'd see a doctor at this stage personally, perhaps also call the breast feeding line. Check for a blister on your nipple, mIght be stopping the milk flowing. A treatment you can have is ultrasound by a physio to help break the lump up. Good luck!!

Thank you. Do you think the ABA will answer today being Anzac Day? Can't see a blister.

[intd242]

Not sure, I'd hope so, give it a go anyway.

It does sound like you're doing the right things with feeding, massage (massage while feeding?) etc. hope it resolves very soon!

[lucky 2]

ntil it clears perhaps express after the feed if bub has finished and more milk may come out, which will help.
The links below have lots of similar information on trying to clear blocked milk ducts.
I don't think the helpline shuts for public holidays, I think it is open every day of the year.
All the best.
https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/co...m/blocked-ducts
http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/mastitis/
http://www.thewomens.org.au/Mastitis

[Tesseract]

ABA helpline is open every day and every night. The women who do Christmas day have got to be pretty special I reckon.

[ubermum]

It can lead to mastitis. I found that blasting it with the hottest shower I could stand, or getting in a scalding bath on my hands and knees while massaging the boob under water would usually get the lump to move. One time I actually heard quite a loud audible "pop". Start massaging the lump closest to the nipple as hard as you can possibly stand. I have also used a wheat bag that was so hot, my boob was a little scalded for a day or two. That time it was the only thing that worked.

[intd242]

How are you going OP? Hope there has been some improvement!

[chocolatecrackle]

I found some success sitting in a hot bath and feeding. I did have a much younger DS, though, so he was more willing to stay there with me for the hour that it took to clear!

In my case it didn't progress to mastitis.

[Chelara]

I have suffered a lot of blocked ducts in my time, generally they cleared spontaneously within 24 hours, I guess pressure would build up within that time and the blockage would clear. A couple of times I got the 'milk blister' I popped with a sterilized needle (probably not recommended professionally but it does work and isn't painful).

I usually just fed and fed thought it, oil, massage, warm face washer before feeding, hot baths. If you have a vibrating massager or something it really helps too.