There is a hard lump on the breast during lactation, no pain

Breast health is very important during lactation, as the nutrients needed by the baby's body must be obtained from breast milk. However, the breasts of lactating women are also prone to abnormalities, and pain is a typical symptom of breast abnormalities. However, some new mothers may experience a painless hard lump on their breasts during breastfeeding. The most likely cause of this is mastitis. Let’s take a closer look below.

1. What if there are lumps on the breasts during lactation but they don’t hurt?

1. If early mastitis is not treated in time, it will worsen and develop into acute mastitis in the suppurative stage. At this time, the female breasts will become locally hard and the lumps will gradually increase in size. Some patients will also have abnormal symptoms such as high fever, dry stool, rapid pulse, chills, general weakness, swollen lymph nodes on the same side, increased white blood cell count, etc.

2. When women suffer from mastitis, they will have breast abscesses, large necrosis of breast tissue, breast pain, breast lumps, and redness and heat of the local skin of the breast. Some patients will also have symptoms such as chills, high fever, and rapid pulse. Be sure to drain the milk every time. You can use hot compresses and massage to shrink and eliminate the nodules.

2. Treatment methods for breast lumps caused by milk accumulation in breasts during lactation

1. Hot compress

Soak a towel in hot water, making sure not to hurt the skin. While it is still as hot as possible, use the hot towel to cover the breast with the lump, centering on the lump. Be sure to cover both the lump and the nipple. When covering the breast with a hot towel, gently massage it to soften the lump in the breast.

2. Massage

After removing the towel, massage the area with the tips of your middle, index and ring fingers, pressing and kneading the swollen area vigorously. The lump may still be hard at this point, but don't worry, just continue.

3. Repeated hot compress and massage

Soak the towel in hot water, continue to apply hot compress and massage at the same time, repeat the above three steps until you feel the area around the lump soften slightly.

4. Combing

Apply olive oil or vegetable oil on the breast, and use your fingers to comb along the lump towards the nipple. You can also use a comb, but a comb cannot feel the changes in the lump as clearly as your hands. It is recommended to comb with your hands so that you can better control the strength. Don't be afraid of pain during the combing stage, because this is the key to opening up the mammary glands.

5. Repeat hot compress, massage and combing

After a few minutes of unblocking, wipe the olive oil off the breast with toilet paper, and then cover it with a hot towel again, accompanied by massage. Hot compress, massage and combing last for half an hour.