Swollen under armpit?

Question

Hey! My son is a week old today and my milk came in a few days ago. Ever since it came in my armpit got really swollen on one side and I also noticed a lot of blood coming out in my milk one day on the same side. Is it mastitis or just a clogged milk duct??? It's starting to get painful just to put my arm down:/

Answer

You have lots of breast tissue in your armpit so it makes sense for them to be sore! I couldn't move my arms up with my first for ages, just keep massaging your boobs especially any lumps you find, if you begin to feel poorly or have a high temperature then go to the docs as it might be mastitis! Cabbage leafs also help with swelling, no clue why but they do, stuff them in your bra 😀 good luck c

Answer

This happened to me. A warm compress and massage helped. You can hand express a little bit either onto a towel or in the shower, or if you want, put it into a bottle. I ended up getting a manual pump to let some pressure off and it really helped. Don't pump too much or it'll keep your supply too high. Just do enough to relieve the pain. It may also help baby latch better since your breasts will be less full around the areola, which may help with the nipple cracking and bleeding. Have you tried the flipple (YouTube it) or making a sandwich with your breast. That can help get the nipple into the correct position inside so that it doesn't crack so much. After nursing, let some breast milk dry on the nipple and areola, then put on some nipple balm. Good luck!

Swollen under armpit?

Let's Glow!

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey