What to do if you have breast lumps under your armpits

Some women found two milk lumps under their right armpit after being discharged from the hospital after giving birth. They were hard and painful to touch. I heard that it was a blocked mammary gland, that is, milk lumps in the accessory breast. When they rubbed them, some milk came out. Some people say that the way to remove milk lumps is to massage the lumps with your hands, or let the baby suck more, or you can use a breast pump to suck them out. Only in this way can the milk lumps be removed, but I found that massaging is really painful.

1. Causes of hard breast lumps under the armpits

Normal breast tissue is composed of parenchyma and stroma. The parenchyma includes the mammary duct system and lobules, and the stroma includes fibrous connective tissue, smooth muscle, fat, blood vessels, and lymph nodes. Each breast has 15 to 20 lobes, radiating in a wheel shape around the nipple. Within these leaves are smaller leaves, called leaflets. At the end of each lobe are tiny "jugs" that produce milk. These structures are connected by small tubes called mammary ducts, which carry milk to the nipple. These mammary glands will extend to the armpits, so there will be a small lump under the mother's armpit, which is actually caused by milk swelling.

2. Solutions for underarm milk lumps

1. Continue breastfeeding, breastfeeding 8-12 times a day.

2. Variety of breastfeeding positions.

3. Let your baby use the correct feeding position

4. To avoid excessive breast engorgement, even if it is not convenient to store milk at the moment, try to go to the dressing room to express some milk.

5. Cold and hot compresses. Best time to apply hot or cold compress

6. Avoid breast compression (wear a comfortable bra).

7. For those with a prone body condition, improve your eating habits, avoid eating foods rich in saturated fat, and supplement with lecithin. Request a trial pack of lecithin.

3. How to prevent breast engorgement

1. Start breastfeeding as soon as possible

It is important to start breastfeeding as soon as possible after delivery, and try to let the baby suck within 2-3 hours after delivery. When the nipples are stimulated, prolactin is produced, milk is secreted, and the mammary glands are unobstructed. Reduce the risk of breast engorgement. It is also beneficial for developing the baby's sucking ability and early breastfeeding.

2. Let your baby suck frequently

Baby sucking is the most effective way to reduce milk blockage and milk engorgement. The baby's sucking is equivalent to a breast massage, which is beneficial to the unblocking of the milk ducts. At the same time, sucking can also stimulate the production of new milk. It is important to maintain correct breastfeeding techniques.

3. Actively squeeze out excess milk

Excess milk is stored in the mammary ducts, which will cause breast swelling and even form milk knots or lumps over time. After each feeding, use a breast pump or your hands to drain the excess milk. Even if the baby only empties one breast, you should still drain the milk from the other breast.

4. Eat a healthy diet

If the mammary ducts are thin and excessive milk secretion cannot be discharged in time, or if the milk is thick, it is easy for it to get blocked in the mammary ducts, causing milk blockage. Over time, lumps will form, and in severe cases, mastitis will occur. Therefore, mothers should pay attention to a reasonable diet, mainly light food, and eat less greasy, spicy and other irritating foods. Reduce the fat content in breast milk.