Many young mothers face such a problem as the formation of lumps in the mammary gland. Breastfeeding is a very important process that requires careful attention. Most often, the cause of seals is associated with stagnation of milk and is called lactostasis. With timely measures, complications and other negative consequences can be avoided. In the article, we will consider what to do if a ball is found in the breast, and why this violation occurs.
Reasons for the appearance
The anatomical structure of the milk channels and external factors contribute to the formation of compaction in lactating women. Among the various causes of the appearance of a ball in the breast, there are:
- Narrowing of the milk ducts. This structural feature makes it difficult to separate the liquid during lactation. The problem is relevant for women with increased milk production.
- Unorganized mode of breastfeeding. An erratic approach delays the flow of milk and contributes to the accumulation of fluid in the mammary glands. Feeding the baby should be carried out regularly and correctly.
- Rare attachment to the chest. If the mother does not have time to feed her baby on demand, the risk of stagnation increases.
- Injuries to the chest, strong squeezing can provoke an inflammatory process. As a result, pain is felt, lactation is disturbed, swelling is formed. It can also lead to the formation of balls in the mammary glands in women.
- Abrupt cessation of feeding a child. There can be many reasons for this action. However, it should be remembered that excommunication should take place in stages.
- Tight underwear can also cause seals. Lactating women are contraindicated wearing a bra with hard bones.
- Milk of high fat content and density usually leaves worse and leads to stagnation.
- Nursing mother is not recommended to sleep on her stomach. Improper posture causes pressure on the chest, which leads to a delay in the flow of milk.
- The structure of the nipples. It can be difficult for a baby to correctly attach to his chest, so he is not able to fully empty the mammary gland.
- Refusal of the newborn from breastfeeding.
Symptoms
In every woman, the disease can occur in different ways. However, most often the symptoms appear as follows:
- The presence of pronounced balls in the mammary glands in women (seals).
- There is pain during palpation of the formations.
- Redness of the skin in the area of seals, the formation of swelling.
- Temperature rise.
- Chest discomfort.
It is quite easy to eliminate lactostasis in a mild form, it passes without complications. The launched problem is progressing more and more every day, the inflammatory process intensifies, the general condition of the woman worsens.
If you have the following symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor:
- A sharp increase in the size of the seals.
- Severe pain in the area of the mammary glands.
- Heat.
- Sour smell of milk. This indicates an ongoing inflammatory process.
- General malaise, chills.
- Branch of cheesy flakes, possibly with an ichilium.
Self inspection
Breast examination should be carried out in stages on each side. Follow the instructions below. With systematic palpation, a ball in the breast in a girl can be detected at an early stage of formation:
- Having undressed to the waist, standing in front of the mirror, both glands are visually inspected. As a rule, one of the breasts has a slightly larger size and a different shape, this is normal. The difference is too obvious - this is an occasion to seek advice.
- Carefully inspect the skin in the chest area. The presence of redness, roughness and thickening is a reason to beware. If the nipples are pulled in on one side and the symmetry is broken, you must make an appointment with a mammologist.
- Standing in front of the mirror, hands rest on the waist, shoulders and elbows point in front of you. In this way, the mobility of the chest and its contours are checked.
- They raise one hand and palpate the mammary gland and the area under the armpits. Examine the other breast in the same way.
- One hand is raised up, the other is pressed on the nipple. If unusual fluid is released, consult a doctor.
- Lying on the floor, put a roller under the shoulder blades. Then they throw one hand behind the head, and the other palpate the chest.
In this way even deep seals are probed, if any. They also examine the other breasts.
Warming up
When the first symptoms of lactostasis appear, methods must be taken to eliminate it. So that therapy does not affect the quality of lactation, it is better to start with activities that do not involve taking medications. One of them is breast warming. It consists in applying warm compresses to the area of inflammation. The procedure is preferably carried out before each feeding or decantation. Thanks to such manipulations, the outflow of milk improves, and the ball in the mammary gland will dissolve.
To warm up, you can apply:
- warming with warm water from the shower;
- applying a moist warm towel;
- compresses.
This method is effective only at the first manifestations of lactostasis, it is used to improve the outflow of fluid. With the onset of the inflammatory process or abscess, it is extremely undesirable to warm the area of seals.
After warming up, they immediately start feeding. If milk is left, it must be decanted. The procedure is recommended only if it is impossible to resolve the stagnation by the baby.
Self massage
Self-cope with the seals in the chest can be done using self-massage. It is carried out carefully, excluding strong pressure, which can cause crushing of the glands and the onset of the inflammatory process.
To perform manipulations, the mammary gland is supported with one hand, and the ball is massaged in the breast or with localized seals with the other. Forefinger and thumb in a circular motion wrap around the areola of the nipple. Light, stroking and patting actions are permissible. You can exercise moderate pressure with your knuckles. Performing massage, hands are moved around the circumference of the chest for better coverage. Most of the time and effort should be devoted to seals. At the end of the massage, they start feeding or expressing milk.
Multiple meals
To get rid of stagnation and balls in the mammary glands during feeding, frequent (on demand) application of the baby to the breast helps. If both breasts are affected by the problem, they must be alternated.
Experts also recommend changing positions more often:
- Seals in the upper chest. Feeding is carried out in a jack pose, with the mother and the child lying on their sides.
- Stagnation in the lower or lateral part of the chest. Mom - in a half-sitting position, the child lies at hand. Its head is supported by the palm of the nurse.
- The seal is closer to the center of the chest. Mom lies on her side, rising on her forearm, the child is also on his side and sucks his upper chest.
Decantation
An effective method in the fight against balls in the breast in a nursing woman (lactostasis) is decantation. It is better to carry it out after warming up and massaging the mammary gland. The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- The index and thumb lie on the areola of the nipple, three fingers and a palm are under the breast.
- The technique of the procedure is as follows. Two fingers apply pressure on the chest. In the process of decantation, movements are directed down and up to the nipple (as milking).
- The positions of the fingers change in a circle, covering the entire chest area. The movements are active, but without jerking. If pain occurs in the process, movements alternate with gentle massage.
- In places of compaction, decantation is carried out with great effort.
- At the end of the procedure, it is advisable to attach the baby to the chest.
Often, women prefer to use a breast pump, however, for some it causes severe pain and cracking on the nipples. To use it or not is a purely personal matter, there can be no unequivocal opinion here.
Compresses
If the ball in the mammary gland in women hurts, then there is a possibility of the formation of edema. In such cases, applying compresses is recommended.
They effectively relieve swelling, eliminate pain and release ducts:
- A whole leaf is cut from a head of cabbage and greased with honey. After feeding, a compress is applied to the chest. The manipulation is repeated several times a day with a fresh leaf.
- After feeding, you can make an ice compress. It quickly eliminates pain, inflammation, reduces swelling. Make it as follows. A few ice cubes are wrapped in a napkin and applied to the affected area for three minutes.
- 2 tablespoons of salt are dissolved in a liter of water, then a napkin is moistened and applied to the affected area for one hour. The procedure is performed three times a day. A salt compress eliminates swelling and discomfort.
Ointments
To achieve a better result, the use of compresses can be alternated with directional drugs. If the ball hurts in the mammary gland, doctors advise using the following medicines:
- "Traumeel" - the gel quickly reduces swelling and eliminates pain. The drug is applied with light massaging movements to the affected area. The basis of the product includes natural ingredients that are safe for mother and baby.
- "Arnica" - a medicine for external use based on sea buckthorn and tea tree. Absorbs seals and reduces pain. There are contraindications.
- Syntomycin ointment. It is a pain-relieving drug. Before feeding, the ointment must be carefully removed, the product can cause an allergic reaction.
- Levomekol. Well-established drug. It has a restorative and antimicrobial effect, helps prevent the inflammatory process of the mammary gland. It is applied according to the instruction.
Physiotherapy
As additional measures to the main treatment, physiotherapy is used. As a rule, doctors prescribe such procedures:
- Light therapy, magnesium therapy, electroneurostimulation should be carried out with safe devices. Only in this case they do not affect the quality of lactation. To achieve a positive effect of resorption of the ball in the breast in a nursing woman, two procedures are enough.
- Ultrasound. Usually a positive result is observed after the first session. In the absence of improvement after the second procedure, therapy should be discontinued.
Consequences and Prevention
The first symptoms of the presence of seals - small balls in the breast - this is an occasion to immediately take appropriate measures. Inattention can lead to serious consequences for the whole organism. The size of the seals will increase, affecting the entire chest, pain will begin to intensify. The disease is accompanied by redness, swelling and fever. In the future, suppuration occurs, which will inevitably lead to surgical intervention.
Prevention of lactostasis is:
- decantation of milk residues after feeding;
- wearing comfortable underwear made from natural fabrics;
- compliance with the feeding regimen;
- performing gymnastic exercises that improve blood circulation;
- a change in the position of mother and baby during breastfeeding;
- systematic light massaging of the chest.
A careful attitude to your health will help to avoid many problems and complications that during lactation affect not only a young mother, but also a baby.