Clogged duct?

[bookninja]

How do you know if you have a clogged duct? I have a little lump... Which didn't hurt until I started massaging it. But now hurts, and I don't know if I'm being over paranoid... Also, nursing on that side kind of stings?

Update: after inspection in better light... I had a tiny white spot on the tip of my nipple... I punctured it with a clean set of tweezers, and then pumped almost 3/4 of an ounce from just that duct! Relief! I'm hoping that takes care of it... But I am wondering what caused it? I just went back to work... Is the pump irritating my nipples? Anyone experience anything similar? I just want to avoid in the future... But I'm not sure what I did in this case.

[amber311]

Warm showers helped me when I was sore. Never had any kind of mastitis so I'm no help there

[tulips114]

The pump is not as efficient as the baby, so it's possible it wasn't emptying the breast and the milk staying in there can caused plugged ducts.
That combined with over supply, I tend to get a lot of clogged ducts. I just finished antibiotics for mastitis.
I massage before and during pumping all the time, not just when I feel something getting clogged.
Hopefully it was just a fluke thing for you though!

[carolyngrace]

I'm also struggling with repeated mastitis from pumping. My MW also said to sterilize pump parts more often so bacteria doesn't get on your nipple.

But yeah it sounds like you had a clogged duct! The first time i thought I had mastitis (I did) they had me do warm compress and massage while nursing and said typically you'd hear a "pop" and feel it release if it's a clogged duct.

[erbear]

I had one last week; it was a lump and sore/tender when I realized it was there. I nursed first on that boob and hand pumped it and it was out in two days.

[whoopsadaisy]

I thought I had mastitis last week for the second time (feeling achy, chills with a large lump in one breast) but it was a Saturday and I didn't think I could get antibiotics til Monday am. I did hot showers, massage at every feeding and used a heat pack with a warm wash cloth under it to protect the skin. I think the heat pack and massage really did the trick. I feel asleep with it after each nursing session during MoTN. I rested as much as possible (thank God for DH being home on weekends) and felt better by Sunday night - no antibiotics!

[dmoney]

Sounds like it was a milk blewb, which not really sure why they are caused but ive heard they can be extremly painful. Ive had mastitis and it sucks, worse then when I had the flu over the winter. Lanosh makes these hot gel pads that sit on your breast that you can use while nursing or pumping. Between that and hot shwoers I was able to feel better within 2 days.