I have enjoyed the discussion about abcesses since  I recently have a
case were the abcess must have ruptured on its own as noted by the pus
that appeared during a pumping session with the mom.  A while back,
another mom I saw had an abcess rupture through her skin in the upper
inner quadrant of her right breast.  While the mom I am seeing now has
been able to increase the amt. she is pumping from the infected breast
from 1/2 ounce to 3 oz., the other mom was never able to increase the
supply on her right breast past 1 oz.  She was using a hospital grade
pump.  Baby refused to nurse on that side. Baby was 3 months and
probably not happen with the small amt.  I can understand a few lobes
possibly shutting down but given that there are 15-25 shouldn't the
supply be alright. Even if the swelling around the other lobes constrict
the flow compromising the supply, the entire breast wasn't swollen in my
first case and it was the inner quadrant.  Can anyone offer an
explanation for this?  Also, have others seen abcesses rupture on their
own?  Is the recovery better than if the abcesses are aspirated? Mom who
is pumping 3 oz. now used to be able to pump 4-5 oz. on that breast.
Time will tell.

Assunta Osterholt, IBCLC