Am I worrying over nothing- again!?

[LarsMal]

My doctor thinks I'm crazy, and maybe I am, but I've heard one too many stories of pregnant women being brushed off for lumps and bumps as hormones and milk ducts.

I have a small lump, more up in my left armpit than my left breast. It's a little sore to the touch, maybe a little bigger than a large pea. It popped up when I was 36 weeks pg with DS. My then OB told me she never would have noticed if I didn't point it out, but had me schedule and u/s anyway- DS came early, so I had it done a few weeks after he was born. The u/s tech couldn't find anything and basically got frustrated and sent me home.

It happened again when DD was born and my current OB sent me to a breast specialist. She did an u/s and said I just have extra breast tissue in my armpit- good conversation piece, but nothing to worry about- nice!!

It's back again, and much earlier than with the other two (with the first two it happened closer to delivery).

Of course I'm freaking out about it again, but maybe I should just let it go since it's not really "new". I'll definitely mention it to my OB when I go in two weeks, but I just don't know if I should push for another u/s just to make sure it hasn't become something else, or just let it go.

[brittone2]

I don't have any great advice, but I've btdt. I had a lump and although I was quite sure it wasn't anything, I got a referral for an ultrasound. The tech did locate it and the radiologist wasn't concerned. I have another similar feeling one on the other side now.

In many cases, I think I've read that soreness can actually be a good sign since many cancerous lumps don't hurt, but obviously that isn't really a reliable thing to go by.

I also feel for OBs because if they tell us it is nothing, and it is something...well, that's not great for them. But at the same time, it can be annoying get referred for an US, etc. for every little lump or bump.

If you are going to feel worried, I think you should push for some reassurance.

[Rainbows&Roses]

If I were you, I would push for another u/s so I wouldn't have to worry about it.

[maestramommy]

I've always gotten lumps in my armpits and a couple on my breasts that move around during pregnancy. The first time, my OB said it was mostly likely milk ducts, but he ordered an u/s anyway because he didn't want me to worry. I went in for a followup after Dora was born, and the radiologist said it was most likely milk ducts. They always disappear a few months later, but when my milk first comes it it's PAINFUL.

[KHF]

I have a lump under one of my arms that is always there, but it gets MUCH bigger when I'm pregnant, and stays that way until I have the baby (and after my milk dries up). During my first pregnancy, my OB noticed it and wanted to get a CT scan of it as soon as I had the baby. He thought it was probably milk ducts, and it turns out that my mom and her mother both had them too. The CT scan confirmed that's what it was.

That said, mine is pronounced enough that I can't wear anything sleeveless...ever. So, once I'm done with this pregnancy, and through the nursing stage (I hope I get to, couldn't with DD) I will be looking into having surgery to get it taken care of. I *hate* not being able to wear sleeveless and having all the women in my water aerobics class ask me if I've had that lump checked.

[pinkmomagain]

I've always gotten lumps in my armpits and a couple on my breasts that move around during pregnancy. The first time, my OB said it was mostly likely milk ducts, but he ordered an u/s anyway because he didn't want me to worry. I went in for a followup after Dora was born, and the radiologist said it was most likely milk ducts. They always disappear a few months later, but when my milk first comes it it's PAINFUL.

Yeah, that. With all 3 pregnancies I had a swelling lump under my right armpit, Never had an U/S with any of them. The OBGYN said it was preg related (milk gland). It always went away after each preg/nursing.

[tylersmama]

Push for the u/s. It's probably nothing, just like the other times, but what if it's not? I'm the one (and I've posted about it here) who had a friend who found a lump when she was pregnant and was blown off. By the time she was diagnosed, it was stage 4, and she died a year later. So, not to freak you out, but GET IT CHECKED. Please. For your own peace of mind, if nothing else!

[lovin2shop]

ITA, I wanted to add to the chorus of get it checked. It's probably a milk duct, but all of the extra hormones during pregnancy can cause fast tumor growth. An ultrasound is quick and safe and it also gives a baseline for monitoring in the future. I've BTDT and get monitored frequently because I'm high risk, but it is worth it to me for the peace of mind.