<Jean, where are you? We need an anatomical-physiological explanation for this one!!> Lurking, mostly, Esther, and trying to fulfill some writing commitments, slow but sure. (Taking computer WP classes this quarter) Can't remember the total thread, but just from what you say has helped her, my first guess would be that she may have been overproducing on that side (e.g. baby preferring it so mother deliberately or inadvertently letting baby nurse this side more, or first every time, etc.) This might thereby have built up enough oversupply that some one or more of the ducts was so dilated, and perhaps bordering on inflamed, that some of the MER's caused the pain. (I seem to remember now that the pain came between feedings, but MER's do often happen between feedings, as well as during them.) Maybe with no baby removing it as it coursed forward, the milk dilated the duct beyond its "comfort zone" between feedings. Or overdilatation may have resulted from a particular "kink" in that duct cause by pressure from a cinched up bra, or upright position or some other position or condition different than at feedings. (BTW, I DID get to go to Chicago to the Rush conference as I hoped, specifically to hear and actually talk with Dr. Hartmann, whose graduate students have been doing ultrasounds during actual breastfeeding sessions, and getting exciting pictures of just how dynamically the ducts change momentarily during MER.) Cutting down somewhat on the milk removal from that breast then may have slowed production, and thereby reduced the overdistention of the affected ducts. I am glad to hear she has not developed any plugged ducts or mastitis, no doubt due to your skillful explanation that the frequency and amount of milk removal must be eased off gradually. Anybody else care to hazard a guess! Jean (Esther's 1999 Scottsdale ILCA roomie! I talked her ear off!) ******************************************** K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC Dayton, Ohio, (who is taking along her 16 year old grandaughter to ILCA in Washington on the pretext of some sightseeing, and possibly some babysitting jobs, but who is [unbeknownst to her] shamelessly immersing her in the most concentrated breastfeeding cultural experience I have at my disposal!) ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html