Breast is sore, hot and hard.

[Evansangel]

My right breast is really hurting, it feels hot to the touch and very hard.

I've been feeding mostly from that side today to try and empty it but it doesn't seem to be helping. I've also pumped twice from that side, only got .5oz whereas I usually get 1.5/2ozs.

Any ideas?

Edit: baby has tongue tie so her latch isn't perfect and my nipple is also very sore.

 

[lanaross]

I had this too during first week when my milk just came in and my supply wasn't regulated just yet. It feels like one good solid feed would resolve the issue, doesn't it? I went to the lactation specialist at my hospital for this and her recos are below:
1) Squeeze areola with two fingers from all four sides to unplug the ducts before feeding
2) put something cold on the breast (I bought a special ice package that goes around breasts, kind of waste of money but totally helped)
3) when in the shower massage breasts with circular motion

Your supply will regulate itself within a week so it should go away. No matter how much I was feeding and pumping, it just took some time. I did feel a relief after pumping but it just affected my already excessive supply, so I pumped only when it was completely unbearable and no more than 1 oz just to take an edge off.

 

[lanaross]

also re: sore nipples. did you breastfeed your older kids? I found that this time the nipples weren't as sore but I still got some pain (the latch was perfect). With my DS my nipples were extremely sensitive and sore for a good month, her latch was perfect too, again it just took some time for my nipples to harden up a bit.

 

[pebbie1]

A hot shower helps me emptying my breasts. The warm water just gets them going. Try massaging the hard bits as you don't want to get mastitis. I had this and it wasn't fun. I didn't have a sore red spot, just hard and warm boob. Then a bad fever and only the day after that the red spot appeared. If you start to feel like you're coming down with the flu, call the gp.
X

 

[NurseSooz]

All of the above! Definitely massage in the shower and if you e got a powerful shower then spray it directly on the area. Also massage when feeding from that boob - towards the nipple. Look out for stringy bits of milk which is the clogged duct clearing.

 

[meli1981]

If its hot to the touch, i woyld see your doc to eliminate mastitis, just keep an eye on yourself in regards to fever etc. Try to empty the breast, massage and express milk, pump if needed, and you can use frozen cabbage leaves in your bra to help with soreness, dont give up, your supply will eventually regulate

 

[Bevziibubble]

That sounds like mastitis! I had it in both of my breasts and had to have antibiotics to clear it. Try to feed your baby as often as possible to keep the milk flowing through the breast. Hot showers or a warm flannel and massaging can help too.


Hope you're feeling better soon

 

[MoldyVoldy]

Yes I agree to watch out for mastitis! It can make you feel very very sick, like the flu. watch for fever/flu like symptoms. you can still nurse your LO from the affected breast if it is mastitis.

nurse while hovering over your LO. it might look funny but the force of gravity will help to pull the clog out of the duct.

you may need antibiotics, again you can still nurse your LO - and it's BEST that you do actually.

if you start to feel worse, please see your doctor, because mastitis can get so bad that a drain has to be put in the side of your breast in which case you will NOT be able to nurse your LO from that side.

 

[Evansangel]

It's a lot better now, I kept pumping, massaging and feeding and it cleared itself up.

Thanks for your help