The Breastfeeding Couple: Blocked Milk Duct

A tender lump in the breast not associated with redness, warmth, fever or other signs of illness is probably a duct that has become blocked by a plug of milk. This may be caused by a woman who puts too much pressure on her breast when she is holding it, or incomplete emptying of the breast ( Neifert, 1999 ).

Putting some warm compresses on the area prior to nursing or massaging that area while the baby nurses will help resolve the problem ( Freed, 1991 ).