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What Is The Lump Under The Left Armpit In A Lactating Mother?
Hi, I had a baby 6 days ago. My milk is in, and I m breast feeding too. I just noticed a little lump under my left armpit.. I didn t breast feed on my left breast for 2days prior to today, because my nipple was very sore, and I needed it to heal first. Pls advise what this swelling could be
Thu, 3 Apr 2014
hello and welcome,
Please do not worry.
There are two possibilities:
1. The lump is nothing but an extension of the breast tissue called the axillary tail of spence in medical terms. It gets prominent during breast feeding when milk fills in it. It will disappear after feeding. Very common.
2. enlarged lymph node due to nipple infection. In this case it will be painful to touch and the nipple will have a pus like or blood stained discharge.
In your case the first possibility is more likely. The best test is to feed the baby from this breast if possible. If the lump decreases or disappears after this, it is the axillary tail and there is no need to worry. If it does not disappear it is due to infection and then you must see a doctor and get treated for it.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Thanks for using HCM.
Feel free to ask any more questions that you may have.
Dr Madhuri Bagde
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist
Please do not worry.
There are two possibilities:
1. The lump is nothing but an extension of the breast tissue called the axillary tail of spence in medical terms. It gets prominent during breast feeding when milk fills in it. It will disappear after feeding. Very common.
2. enlarged lymph node due to nipple infection. In this case it will be painful to touch and the nipple will have a pus like or blood stained discharge.
In your case the first possibility is more likely. The best test is to feed the baby from this breast if possible. If the lump decreases or disappears after this, it is the axillary tail and there is no need to worry. If it does not disappear it is due to infection and then you must see a doctor and get treated for it.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Thanks for using HCM.
Feel free to ask any more questions that you may have.
Dr Madhuri Bagde
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist
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