S.R. asks from Lynnwood, WA on April 14, 2008
Breast Hurts After I Have Stopped Pumping
Hello all,
I have been exclusively pumping for the last 11 months and slowly dropped my pumps and eventually stopped a week ago. My supply was too low and i thk my body was telling me "STOP USING YOUR PUMP! :)
So its been a week since I last pump, my right breast feels okay. I think the milk in that breast is about to dry up, But my right breast still hurts and hurts a lot. It feels tender and lumpy and when I touch it, it is pretty painful. I am taking hot showers and massaging it during my shower, but still the pain is there. When i squeeze my nipples, milk is squirting out. What should I do? Should i pump once to see if that helps? A few days ago, in the evenings, i was getting a little feverish and felt down, but was feeling better today, though the pain is still there..
Please advise what should I do. i am afraid that i have some kind of infection
S.
More Answers
L.S. answers from Seattle on April 16, 2008
S.,
It really sounds like mastitis! I had it really bad and it hurts! If you have a fever, I almost guarantee that you are infected. If you haven't already, you should really go to the Dr so they can give you antibiotics.
Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!
L.
1 mom found this helpful
W.L. answers from Seattle on April 15, 2008
I'd more likely say you may have mastitis, because of pumping. Not that pumping caused it but it's more likely in someone who is producing breast milk. If your fever returns you really should go to the doctor and be treated. Mastitis can get excrutiatingly painful and can actually damage your milk ducts.
W.
1 mom found this helpful
K.L. answers from Yakima on April 15, 2008
If your pump hurts, express the milk manually in the shower. If milk is coming out, you are definitely not dry yet. The lumps and pain is from that. Hopefully, you haven't gotten mastitis yet. If you get any fever again, please consult a doctor.
1 mom found this helpful
K.W. answers from Terre Haute on April 15, 2008
When I stopped breast feeding my left breast dried up faster than my right one. It was painful! Sounds like you are doing everything right, taking showers, massaging, etc. But try cabbage leaves. I know it sounds funny, but I used them when I stopped and they helped with the pain and engorgement. I'm not sure how it owrks, my grandma told me to use them. Must be an old wives tale. Good Luck!
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K.N. answers from Seattle on April 15, 2008
Drying up is painful for me. My breasts are quite tender and they almost ache by the end of the day for the first month or so (I never felt lumps though). I quit nursing almost 2 months ago, after very slowly weaning, and I still have milk. I took about 4 months to completely dry up after I had my twins so I expect the same this time.
If you get the feverish feeling back I would absolutly go see your doc asap. Matter of fact you could always call your docs nurse and describe your symptoms and get thier advice now just to be safe.
Hope you get feeling better/normal soon
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K.O. answers from Portland on April 15, 2008
It could be a clogged milk duct. If your fever returns go to the doctor; clogged milk ducts can make you very sick. I know they hurt like heck; it's happened to me. Keep massaging it, and you can also try using a warm compress. What worked for me is nursing, but it doesn't sound like you're doing that so I'm not sure what else to suggest. But really.... go to the doctor if this doesn't clear up soon!
1 mom found this helpful
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