Patient's question:
During the diaper-changing period, the left breast near the upper part of the sternum was particularly painful, felt hard, but when touched, it wasn't as hard. It was especially painful before menstruation, and the pain extended to the armpit and back. After the period passed, the pain subsided, and there were no other discomforts.What kind of help is needed: How to deal with breast engorgement and pain with no milk flow during postpartum?
Doctor's answer:
Most breast lumps during lactation are caused by blocked milk ducts and/or excessive milk that hasn't been emptied, leading to milk accumulation in the breast for a prolonged period, which can result in mastitis. The general symptoms of mastitis include a heavier breast lump accompanied by warmth. If a abscess forms, the lump may feel like it's vibrating and/or be painful. A smaller portion are breast cysts (usually causing no discomfort, with soft lumps, no warmth, and no tenderness). Based on your situation, the likelihood of mastitis is high. If the breast is inflamed, it's necessary to seek medical treatment for anti-inflammatory therapy. It's recommended to express the milk thoroughly. You can use warm compresses and then use a breast pump to extract the milk. If the baby can't drink it, discard it. The milk from the inflamed side should be discarded temporarily and not given to the baby.