Hi Janet,

Check out Dr. Lawrence's 4th edition p. 258 - lecithin is also available in
capsule form - follow the recommended amounts on the label.  In my
experience this can take up to a month to resolve.  Also check out p. 257,
where Dr. Lawrence speaks of high calcium diets producing grains of whie
sand or calcium stones in the breastmilk.  I haven't any experience with
this one but came across it when I was scouring the literature making up
instruction sheets for the mothers I work with.

Point the baby's nose in the direction of the lump while he/she breastfeeds.
The draw of milk will be stronger in that direction and will help eliminate
the blockage (Meintz Maher, 1988 p. 16 An Overview of Solutions to
Breastfeeding and Sucking Problems.)  I have found this helpful along with
deep pressure massage. I tell the mother to think of pressing a pea through
a straw.  Absolutely no rubbing type massage on edemmic tissue only deep
pressure.

There are oodles of other ideas but check for latch-on, positioning, suck
and infrequent drainage on that side.  Sometimes the obvious eludes us.  My
frequently used solutions have been "spot cabbage use" or a castor oil
compress but that one is messy. Oversupply is also a consideration in a
chronic situation.

Hope this helps.

Joanne Burke Snyder, MA, CLE, IBCLC
Latch-On Services, A Private Practice in Indianola, Iowa
LLL APL Iowa