What to do if there is a hard lump in the milk during lactation

During lactation, there are lumps in the breasts due to milk stasis or blockage. The milk should be drained out in time, and the baby can be sucked more or it can be cleared by manual breast pump. If the lump is still there after the breast is drained, or if the lump does not get smaller or looser, it is recommended that you see your doctor for a breast examination to rule out the possibility of a cyst or tumor.

What should I do if there is a lump in the milk during breastfeeding?

1. Let the baby suck more.

Sucking by your baby is a good way to clear the milk ducts faster. The baby's lower jaw should point to the direction of the lump, depending on where the lump is. The breastfeeding posture can also be adjusted. You can feed while holding your baby, lying on your side, or lying on your chest with your knees (see the simulation picture below).

2. Use a manual breast pump to clear

If there are lumps during breastfeeding, there is no need to force lactation or massage unless the characteristics of the lumps are clear. Because if it is a cyst or tumor, then the more you rub it, the worse it will be. So in addition to letting the baby suck, you can use a manual breast pump to drain the breasts. It is generally recommended to use an electric breast pump for better results.

3. If swelling and pain can be treated with ice

If there are lumps in the breasts during breastfeeding, and if there are also symptoms of swelling, pain, and fever, then it is generally a sign of subacute mastitis. You can put potato cubes (cabbage is also OK) in the refrigerator for 15 minutes and then apply ice to it. No need to heat it!

4. There is no need to rush to induce lactation after giving birth

Newborn babies have a small appetite and their stomach capacity is only as big as a small cherry, so drinking 7 to 1b250l at a time is enough. The key is to ensure 8 to 12 feedings a day. The higher the frequency of breastfeeding, the more milk will be produced.

Therefore, you don't need to take a lot of supplements right after giving birth. You don't need to eat pig's trotter soup, bone soup, chicken soup, etc. It's better to eat less meat and more vegetables. It is okay to take appropriate supplements until 7 days after giving birth. Some mothers, when they encounter a lump and cannot produce milk, anxiously ask a lactation consultant to induce lactation. However, when the situation is not clear, inducing lactation may sometimes be counterproductive.

5. Don’t get angry during breastfeeding

Basically, more than 80% of breast hyperplasia is related to breastfeeding mothers being frequently angry. For example, when a mother is angry, she may feel swelling or pain in her breasts. This is related to the imbalance in the ratio of female hormones and estrogen after giving birth, which is very similar to losing temper during menarche.

Therefore, breastfeeding mothers need the care and understanding of their loved ones. Especially the husbands should be more proactive, and the mothers-in-law should also understand more. In many cases, insufficient breast milk is related to the problems between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, so please give more understanding and support.