I have a lump under my arm...

goinggreengirl

I noticed it about an hour or two after I delivered. It's in my arm pit- it's firm but moveable. Since my body was so out of whack after delivery, I didn't even think to ask the doctor about it. Well, it hasn't gone away and it's kind of tender. It's in the arm that had all the IVs running through it, if that makes a difference.

I asked my midwife at my appointment yesterday and at first she said it might be a clogged duct. But, when I told her it had shown up before I even nursed for the first time, she's not sure and recommended that I call my doctor's office. 

I called the office yesterday and left a message that I had a lump that showed up after delivery and was concerned. A nurse called me back, didn't ask any questions about it, and just told me to put heat on it, nurse in different positions and not to tuck my shirt under my arm when I nurse (apparently her doctor told her that years ago when she was nursing.) She wouldn't even acknowledge that it showed up before my milk came in...

Anyway, just wondering if anyone has any insight about something like this? If it's not gone by Monday I'll call the doctor's office again of course. When I put heat on it, it seems to soften somewhat, but then will harden again later.

stephryan09

I'm probably not going to be much help, but I know that some ladies milk ducts are way up there.  You also have lymph nodes up there, so it could have to do w/ your body "de-toxing"...???

I had the same issue come and go a few months ago, and it got really sore. When I talked to the nurse, she said it was probably an ingrown hair. DEF NOT!

Good luck!

goinggreengirl

stephryan09:

I had the same issue come and go a few months ago, and it got really sore. When I talked to the nurse, she said it was probably an ingrown hair. DEF NOT!

Nurses are so helpful. My midwife thinks it might be built up fluid from an IV since I had so much going through that arm. I just want it to go away!

blissfully_caffeinated

I'd call and make an appointment with your doctor on Monday. There is no way a nurse could diagnose you over the phone like that. I think her advice on putting some heat on it and not tucking your shirt under your arm while nursing is good. I'd avoid anything that irritates it.

j.h.mommy

Hmmm...I'm not sure either. I had a sore lump in my armpit but it was after my milk came in. It was really weird actually because if you massaged it, milk would actually come out of my sweat glands in my armpit. TMI I'm sure.

mabst196

I have a small lipoma (fatty tissue) that I've had for a few years. It is right under my arm where my breast tissue starts and pea sized. Sometimes its tender. I keep an eye on it and I have the OB/GYN palpate it when I go in as well. She said it is fine and nothing to worry about.