I am a newcomer to the Lactnet...I've been on-line about a week. Thanks to all who have been actively sharing information. Writing this first note is a bit scarey... like the time I led my first LLL meeting 25 years ago. Anyway, here goes......... Donna.... regarding your question about the Mom with a ? plugged duct. I had a Mom a while back who was visiting our area from out of state. This was her third bf experience and she reported she'd been dealing with a "plugged duct" for approx. six weeks. Now that she was awayfrom home it seemed like the condition worsened and she came to see me. A full 3/4 of the left breast was involved . It looked as if an orange had been planted under the skin!! The nipple was forced to point awkwardly downward and the Mom reported difficulty getting the baby to nurse well on that side. (Babe was about 5 weeks old when Mom first noticed a small lump) Anyway, I believed it to be a galactocele and referred the Mom to a surgeon who specializes with the breast. After some inappropriate tx (the surgeon's partner saw her and admitted her to hospital on IV antibiotics for mastitis >YIKES<) the Mom insisted on being seen by the person she'd been referred to. That Doc said galactocele, and drained a large amount of fulid off that breast via needle aspiration in the office. Mom returned to her home area after a few days planning to f/u with her MD there. Hope this helps. Susan Wirtjes RN IBCLC from sunny and windy Iowa Happy Easter!