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More about breast lumps

· Mastitis is accompanied by flu-like symptoms of fever, aching, and lethargy. Red streaks may be seen radiating from the nipple up to the chest wall. It can take some time to resolve mastitis and antibiotics are often used to reduce infection.

· An abscess is usually the result of a plugged duct that swells and the abscess will require draining or removal. It can grow to the size of a lime, feels hot to the touch and is very sore and sensitive.

· A galacocele is a milk-filled cyst. These cysts can be drained using a thin needle inserted into the lump.

· A fat necrosis occurs when there has been a trauma or injury to the breast tissue. The lump often heals and dissipates on its own but if it persists, it can be removed.

· Lipoma is another type of fatty growth that develops within the fat tissue of the breast. These non-cancerous growths will also go away eventually and can also be removed.

· A cancerous lump is fixed (it can't be moved around); it is irregular in shape and texture.

Don't Quit Nursing

A lump in the breast does not spell the end of breastfeeding. In fact, a nursing mother should try to nurse even more in order to help the lump move through the tissues and dissipate.

In the case of mastitis, nursing throughout the situation (painful as it might be) actually gives the baby important antibodies through the breast milk. If the lump is an abscess that is close to the nipple and must be removed, or if the mother is going through chemotherapy, then breastfeeding is not advised.

Avoiding Breast Lumps

The best way to avoid breast lumps is for a breastfeeding mother to make her own self-care a priority by ensuring that she replace the extra energy stores used to make breast milk.

That means eating well, resting, and getting enough fluids. Most breast lumps are caused by poor diet and dehydration.

Breastfeeding can and should be a most amazing and wonderful experience for a mother and for the baby. It draws a closeness that isn't gained any other way. To be sure your experience is everything you hoped it would be, learn about breastfeeding and the various aspects associated with it on this site.

Be sure to check the article, Lumps and Bumps While Breastfeeding for more information on the various lumps and what they mean.