Hi Lactnetters,
I am in need of your wisdom!  I am currently nursing my 3-month old
daughter. Two weeks ago I noticed a firm, not painful, lumpy area with no
overlying redness, at about "4 o'clock" on my right breast.  The lump is
towards the base of my breast near my chest.   In the last 10 days I have
also had three plugged ducts (at 12, 6 and 7 o'clock) on the same breast.
The most recent one appeared this morning.  It was about golf-ball sized
when I woke but lots of nursing, pumping and hot water has reduced the size
and pain.  In my previous nursing experience (19 months with baby #1 and 27
months with #2) I  had maybe 3 plugged ducts total and I could figure out
the cause of those--usually too much stomach-sleeping.  I had an ultrasound
done on Tuesday which revealed nothing--no visible mass or cyst.  My doctor
feels there is something going on that is ductal in nature and suggested
extra fluids, massage and hot baths.  So I am working on the comfort
measures but my question is what is going on here.  My baby's nursing
pattern has not changed, I have not been separated from her and I can
determine nothing physically unusual.  I have had a great deal of emotional
stress lately (ill grandmother, selling house and upcoming cross-country
move!) but I don't think that is a major contributer here.  I am mostly
interested in the orignal persistant lump.  I think it plays a role in the
recurrent plugged ducts but I can't figure out how/why.  Any suggestions? TIA

Painfully yours!

Kathy Koch
LLL Leader and sore mother of three
Oak Harbor, WA