Anyone with mastitis?

[Crimson92]

Any extra tips on how to get rid ? had it for three weeks now and so painful, had a course of tablets and finished them and its still there, on my second course and need checked up after I finish them cause the doctor thinks I may end up with an absess and need surgery, bit scared, any advice? xx

 

[pinkymum]

Hey hun,
Sorry I've no advice but didn't want.to read and run! How's your little girl?

 

[Rayoflight]

Are you Breastfeeding? You need to feed through it, if not and baby is on bottles, express every two hours until the mastitis clears then gradually stop your milk over the coming weeks. (you need to express in the night too until it clears).

Your milk ducts will have, at first, had little bacteria deposits form. This causes the initial blocked duct (where you can usually feel a little lump and it's sore). You need to drain the boob to get the milk flowing to shift the bacteria deposits. If you don't, this is when the bacteria can increase, cause infection and the abscesses you talk of. The advice for mastitis is to express/feed often so that your body can use the force of the milk leaving the breast to flush out the bacteria/ infection. If you're still Breastfeeding, I know 'infection' sounds bad but it is fine to feed the baby.

On Facebook, join the 'The Leaky B@@b' group and post on the wall there. Thousands of women at your disposal who may have been in the same boat will also be able to offer their advice and support.

Sending you lots of love, to be told you may need surgery is very frightening but I hope you can help yourself to fight this off. We are all always here to help. Xxx

 

[Crimson92]

Thanks girls, yeah I am bottle feeding, never heard to express even if I am bottle feeding but will defo give it a try as its just so painful and its really getting me down now, and Amelia is good thanks pinky we had to rush to the hospital last week because she was projectile vomitting and had the runs, doctors wanted her checked out so we had to go but was just viral and she is alright now, picking up slowly but getting much better hows your lo ? xx

 

[Amy_J]

i had mastitis when LO was 8 weeks old and made the mistake of purposly not feeding from the affected breast as it was just too painful!! i did try but ended up in tears as it was so unbearable! i ended up getting a puss infected abcess about 3cm by 3cm (huge!) which had to be drained in hospital and treated with strong atibiotics.... not a nice experience whatsoever! this resulted in me stopping BF altogether =( my advice would just be to try and feed from the affected breast first if you can, massage and express as much as you can etc and it should gradually get better!!! goodluck!

 

[Crimson92]

Been expressing, was really painful at first but worked through it and it's not quite so bad now, so I'm getting there, feels like one god damn thing after the other! X

 

[Baby Bean]

I bf and have had mastitis a number of times so you have my sympathy. Hot bath/ shower and massage the affected breast works. Also, don't laugh but a cold cabbage leaf on your boob helps too! Google it, I'm not going mad I tried it and it did help me! I was sat around with part of a cabbage stuffed in my bra Hope you feel better soon hun

 

[DoulaJen]

Hi Crimson,

Youve done so well to come out the other end of your mastitis. Well done
Its such a painful thing.

Although you mentioned this was now easing up I just wanted to highlight a few groups who are there to support any breastfeeding worries you may have.

La Leche League
NCT
The Breastfeeding Network

How is the feeding going now?

x