After giving birth, there is a hard lump in the chest, is it painful to press on the milk duct or an abscess?

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Hello doctor! I just gave birth 2 months and almost a week now the upper part of my chest is a bit painful, to the touch, there is a hard lump as long as an adult finger, it hurts when I press it, I don't have a fever. So let me ask, after giving birth there is a hard lump in the chest, if it is painful to press, is it clogged milk ducts or abscesses? Currently I am still breastfeeding, I don't know if I should stop breastfeeding on that breast?
Kieu Thi Diem Huong (Nha Trang)
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Hello! According to the symptoms you describe, you may be suffering from postpartum mastitis. Blocked milk duct is a very common phenomenon in postpartum women and women during breastfeeding. If the milk duct is blocked, it will lead to breast abscess, even the formation of mammary gland fibrosis, and infection.
Blocked milk ducts can happen at any time during breastfeeding, especially in the first few days after birth. Manifestations of blocked milk ducts include:
Breasts are tight, hard, painful, increasing levels make the mother extremely painful and uncomfortable. When palpating the chest, one or more hard lumps are found. Milk is secreted little or no secretion. The mother may develop a fever. Blocked milk ducts cause milk to stagnate inside the breasts, leading to an abscess for a long time. Depending on the condition, resistance of each person and the degree of blocked milk ducts, the time taken for blocked milk ducts to become abscesses is different. Some people can develop an abscess as soon as 1-2 days after the milk duct is blocked, but in some cases it lasts 3-5 days. Therefore, when seeing the phenomenon of blocked milk ducts, mothers should clear milk as soon as possible. The milk that is passed out will reduce the blockage and limit the possibility of developing an abscess.
In addition, when the milk duct is blocked, the mother needs to feed the baby more, actively sucking milk to clear the milk out. If the situation does not improve, you should seek the help of professional milk duct unblocking units or go to the hospital for advice from a doctor. If you still have questions about the issue "after giving birth, there is a hard lump in the chest, is it painful to press on, is it blocked milk or an abscess? “You can go to the hospitals of Vinmec Health System for more specific advice from doctors.
Thank you for trusting Vinmec. Best regards!

Answered by Specialist Doctor I Pham Thi Yen - Doctor of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.