Lump Found While Breastfeeding

Jen, I'd definitely go in to see my doctor, but it is most likely a clogged or swollen milk gland. I had that as well, and it was a clog. Don't stress!

This is nothing to play around with. Get to your OB/GYN immediately. Especially with your family history, you cannot afford to address this right away. Insist on a mammogram too just to be sure. My sister first found cervical cancer when she was 26. She has had 4 other cancerns and is now 39. The reason she is alive is post the first diagnosis she has always been on top of her symptoms. She was lucky. Cervical cancer is the slowest growing female cancer. Breast cancer often is not.

You owe this to your family not to mess around waiting!

L.

Hi Jen,

I am sorry to hear you've found a lump--with a newborn you need LESS stress in your life, not more....

Sorry, I haven't read all responses so forgive any repetition.

When you have your mammogram, make sure that the radiologist who reads it is familiar with a mammogram of the lactating breast. Breasts look different when they are not producing milk from when they are. When I was going to have my first (baseline) mammogram, and they found out I was still nursing my toddler, they said not to have it done until he was weaned.

Calling your lactation consultant and/or La Leche League won't hurt and might help, but with your history you definitely need to call your OB.

Congrats on the baby, and on nursing him! Don't quit that unless you absolutely have to!!

Good luck! you'll be in my prayers. Let us know what happens.

K. Z.

I breast fed 3 babies and experienced this also. I would believe it is a blocked milk duct. I think if you still have a concern you should talk to your doctor.

It's not unusal, you are just beginning breast feeding, and your milk is coming in. But for your own peace of mind call the lactation nurse and also your ob and talk with them on the phone that's what there here for. You don't have to wait 6 weeks just to talk. Let them decide if you need to be seen sooner.

jen, when i was breastfeeding i had lumps all the time. the doctor told me it is just where milk got caught in the breast. so when you are feeding from that side try to push on that lump and it will go away or try to feed your child from an angle so that it lets that extra milk out. if it does not go away, i would call your doctor. but talk to him or her at your next check-up just to be sure. hope this helps ease your worries!!!

It could be associated with the bfing or it could be a lump. Given your family history, don't wait. Go get it checked out by your doctor. Better safe than sorry, right?

I apologize that I have not read all the responses. I will share a personal experience. The lump is very likely a clogged duct as many have said. That said, please do not ignore it and please make sure your doctor doesn't. An acquaintance of mine is dealing with breast cancer. The doctor first found a lump on her mammogram when she was still nursing her toddler. They said it was likely a clogged duct and to not worry. When they rechecked the mammary gland this past year the lump was still there and had spread. She now is dealing with Stage 3 cancer. I don't say this to scare you, I just want you to monitor the lump and stay on top of your medical people. If it sticks around do not let them ignore it.
Good luck! breast feeding is the best part of a new baby.

It is probably a blocked duct, but go to your ob and get an exam especially with your history of breast cancer in your family. Better to be safe. Try not to worry too much though...many women experience issues with blocked ducts...and that is probably what it is for you too.

It may be a milk sac just blocked but I would not take any chances call both if the lackation specialist say it's not a blockage. Run do not walk to the OB. Do not mess with this. My mom had a milk gland blocked once and it hurt her like crazy and scared her. The OB did a exam and took a piece to have checked. My mom said how can it be milk I haven't had a baby in years. The dr told her she was still able to get pregnant and therefore still able to produce milk. She also told her if it was cancer it would not hurt when you touch it. Well she found out about 6 years ago that's not true. Her sister died of cancer and she was in chronic pain. But her cancer was throughout her body. They think it started in her lungs and then got into the bones. She lived 2 weeks after the drs told her she had cancer and she die on her daughter's birthday.

As scared as i would be, too, I would call my OB/GYN ASAP. Better safe than sorry. I have nursed 4 children, I don't remember ever finding lumps. I guess anything is possible, but I would definitely find out for sure.
M.

Jen,

While breastfeeding, I often encountered lumps that were probably blocked ducts. But, if you are worried, I would just make the appointment to set your mind at ease. Otherwise you will just worry and stress yourself out. Best wishes.

dont worry i had this same problem when i was breast feeding and it might just be a cyst and the doctor said not to worry it will go away or it could be the milk gland that needs to be pumped to release the milk. Try pumping your breast and see what happens it helped me and I am doing just find now and my twins are 18 months old already and they grow great being on the breast milk for only 4 months
but if you still feel the lump in a week I would call your doctor to be safe then sorry but like i said try pumping first i did and i felt much better
Good luck and if you have any other question just ask
and CONGRAD on the baby.

i believe that two weeks after your period we do have what they call Milk Polips i think that is what it is called. don't panic but, i would call the doctor and ask the questions. good luck.

Is it painful? If it is it might be a clogged duct which if left alone can become infected please call both your ob and a lactation consultant. If you are in columbus your can call the blackwell center and talk to a consultant for free. I used there service several times and they were a huge help. Good luck.

I understand your concern, and you should have it checked out. With this in mind, I would like you to know that often the glands become clogged and it feels like a lump. This may just be a clogged milk gland, and it may go away on its own. I would try putting a wet warm wash cloth on the area. You might also try putting a warm cabbage leaf on the area. This may help dissolve and loosen the knot in the breast. I would encourage you to have it looked at regardless as early detection of breast lumps means complete recovery.

Hi Jen,

I got those pretty frequently when I was nursing my daughter. I went in to see my OB and was told that it was a clogged milk duct. I had to do some tissue massages and hot towels to try to alleviate it before it turned into a full blow infection. Unfortunately, I also developed mastitis twice while I was nursing and my milk dried up pretty quickly. I am not sure if the clogged milk ducts contributed to the mastitis, but it’s something to ask your doctor.
Your OB should be the first person you call, especially given your family medical history. That said, I would not panic, your body and your breasts are still changing as you are adjusting to nursing, so hard tissue, changes in size, color etc, are not that uncommon.
Good luck to you.

N.

Dear Jen,

First, congratulations on your new baby boy!

Now, the best thing is to try not to panic. That won't help matters at all. I know, it's easier said than done, right? :-) It really is true, though, that keeping a level head is the best way to deal with things.

Your lump is probably nothing more than a clogged milk duct, which is perfectly normal, especially in the early weeks of breastfeeding. Still, given your family history, it's a good idea to call your doctor now and follow his/her advice. Your lactation consultant can give you some good advice, too, but since your mom and your cousin have both had breast cancer issues, the best thing to do is rule it out completely by seeing your doctor for a consult. After all, if it's anything questionable, the sooner you can catch it, the better.

I'm wishing you the best of luck, and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Because of your family history I would get it checked out ASAP. It could be a milk duct, but I'd play it safe if I were you.

I think you call the lactation consultant FIRST. Sometimes you can have a blocked milk duct. That could also be what you're feeling. Don't waste your time or $ on BOTH doctors when the first one might have told you that's what it is. I'd to that first and go from there.

If you still feel the need, don't wait. It's not worth the stress.

Sounds like a blocked duct. Have it checked out but it's location sounds like a blocked duct. It happens often when nursing. Have it check out but don't stress about what it could be or you could cause yourself to loose your milk. Stress depletes milk supply and makes clogged ducts worse. You don't want mastitis.

Yes, just make the appointment ASAP. Do not wait 6 weeks. The sooner breast cancer is discovered the better, and your risks are higher with having the family history. It is scarier not to know, so find out. Blessings, R.

I had the SAME exact thing happen to me. I noticed a very hard lump around the nipple area while breast feeding. It was actually bigger than a pea. I was very concerned since my Aunt is a breast cancer survivor.

I saw my doctor and it ended up being my swollen milk glands. Very normal! Or course, the lump went away after I stopped breast feeding.

To give you peace of mind, call your doctor!

Hi Jen, Congrats on your new family member! I had a couple of lumps, as you described, which turned out to just be blocked milk glands. Warm compresses help loosen it up. But with your family history, and if you are concerned- call your OB. Your lactation consultant would probably refer you to him/her anyway. Good luck!

Hi Jen,

Relax. It is always a good idea to consult with your Dr about it, and call the lact. consult. about it. But you could know that it isn't that uncommon to get hard and even painful lumps where your milk gland are, while being a nursing mother. Especially now, when things are new and there are a lot of changes- like your milk supply coming in full speed!! :) . Take a hot shower and spend plenty of time letting the water hit your breasts. That will allow the glands to ease up. Massage your breasts to ensure that the milk is flowing out of all ducts to prevent any blockage. It does hurt!! :(

I will pray that you are ONLY experiencing what most breast feeders have felt before.

Take care and God Bless.

A.

hi i have a lump they found but i didnt , it is small i just keep going for x rays, any way does the lump move or stay in one place ? no matter what go get a check up soon just to be sure.

it could just have to do with breastfeeding. if you're that worried I would call both the lactaction consultant and your doctor, why not? if it's a plugged duct your lacatation consultant will know.

Sounds like a blocked duct. Massage it while breastfeeding or in the hot shower and it should go away on it's own in a few days. If it doesn't, it could become infected (mastitus(sp)) and that could get painful. Call your lactaction consultant for advice and you don't have to wait 4 weeks to see your OB if you have concerns. Having randoms lumps and bumps in your breasts is very common when breastfeeding. But go with your gut feeling and don't hesitate to call your doc if you want to.

I've been breastfeeding 4.5 of the last 6 years so I know a little something about it. :-) I get a little worried when I feel a new random lump (several close family members have done battle with breast cancer) but they go away in a few days.

Hi Jen. I wouldn't panic just yet. It could easily be a blocked milk duct, which is pretty common in breastfeeding women. Try to massage it while you're nursing, and if it goes away, then it was just a blocked duct. If it doesn't ever go away, I'd go ahead and call your OB for that appointment. Good luck.

Hi Jen,
I had the same thing happen when I was nursing my daughter when she was about 3 weeks old. Don't panic. It's probably just a clogged milk duct. Set your mind at ease though and call both your lactation consultant and your OBGYN and see what they say. Congratulations on your new baby!

I personally would be more inclined to go to a lactation consultant (one that is an IBCLC) because they will have an idea of what a "normal" breastfeeding breast feels like more than an ob. They may also have you follow-up with an OB, but at least that way you can get their input since breastfeeding is their area of expertise.

I shared an office with a lactation consultant and while I am no means an expert, I believe it is very rare (although not impossible) to develop breast cancer while breastfeeding. A friend of mind did develop breast cancer while breastfeeding, but it did not present as a breast lump. The skin of the breast developed an "orange peel" type of look and texture to it.

Hopefully it is nothing more than a plugged duct that quickly resolves itself. Good luck!

I would call both. It could be a clogged milk duct. Have you tried a warm compress and light massaging? Does it hurt? I would want to better off say than sorry when it comes to cancer, but I would think that since you just noticed it while breastfeeding it could be more related to that.

Bless your heart!! I would call your doc and make an appointment ASAP. Its better to waste the time and money to find out its nothing and its only because your breast feeding then to wait and find out its something serious. Good Luck and try to think positive.
C.

Hi Jen, take a deep breath and don't jump to conclusions just yet. Good for you for doing your breast exam, but my hunch is that it is a milk duct that is full or clogged. Is the lump still there, has it changed any, is less noticable after a feeding? Is it movable? Any tenderness or redness to the area. What I would do first is massage the area with a warm compress, for a couple of days and see if that uncloggs it. And try nursing in a different position, meaning if you always do the cross cradle, try side-lying or football hold to try to empty different ducts more efficiently. Do you have a pump? If so, pump after a feed a couple of times a day to empty out your breasts, this will decrease the occurance of clogged milk ducts. If none of this helps, make an apt. with your OB sooner to just get it checked out. If you want a second opinion before going to the doc, call a lactation consultant and see if she has any insight. I am a Labor and delivery/ PP nurse and a Mommy and I had the same thing. Good luck!

Hi, Jen. It is very common to develop milk sacs while nursing. I had one myself. But I still wouldn't brush it off, especially with your family's history of breast cancer. If you find a lump on your breast always look into it! I wouldn't wait until your 6 week check up. If nothing else you'll go crazy over the next month!!
Good luck!!!

Hi Jen-
First off- good for you for breastfeeding- you are doing a great thing for your little one!!! You will probably find over the next several months that your breasts will change alot- they will feel different from week to week depending on your baby. That being said though I would still call your Dr- better safe than sorry- its probably nothing but the changes due to nursing but with the family history- you want to make sure your taking care of yourself so you can take care of your family. Good luck!

Yes, it could just be a clogged duct, but I would get it checked out anyhow. They can do an ultrasound on it which is totally painless and will tell them quickly if it's something to worry about. In the mean time, massage from the chest wall/rib cage toward the nipple behind the lump. If it's a clogged duct, it should free up at some point. You can also position your baby so his chin over the lump so that it massages the lump - this actually works better than you doing it. If it gets warm to the touch, you get a fever or chills, or it becomes painful, it could be the beginning of mastitis and you need to go to an immediate care and get put on antibiotics. If you're put on antibiotics, you need to take probiotics in between each does of antis so you don't get thrush.
Good Luck!