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Dangle the breast while baby lies on the bed. Massage at the same time towards the nipple. Massage in a warm bath. I've had a blocked duct and doing this got it moving very quickly! Good luck!

Yes am feeling lots better today thank you. Still painful but not in the same league as before.
Managed to go to work today and expressed a couple of times. And ds has fed from the affected side so things seem to be getting back to normal. Still quite red though

Yeah mastitis is awful...it's was worse than my hideous labour for me. Really hope you're feeling a bit better again today & the pain is subsiding. I had residual pain for a couple of weeks but not as bad as the first 5 days. Keep expressing & massaging. Mastitis is like a full time job...

Stripping the breast is what's needed. As much as you can get out, as often as you can. I am cringing just thinking about what you are going through!
Painkiillers very very good!

I am due soon and I am kind of dreading BF, but will give it a go. I hope you get through this ok!

Yes-that's what I'm taking plus ibroprofen, cocodamol and arnica (thought it might help with the swelling)

DS isn't keen on feeding from that side- I don't blame him- I wouldn't want a mouthful of pus either. But managing to express a few ounces at a time.

I'm feeling a bit better in myself- less fluey and tearful but pain is still intense And pain and redness spreading out round chest and back.

It's the worst thing ever. Breastfeeding has a lot to answer for.

Yes mine was like that. It was so painful I could barely touch it. It hurt do much to feed I would vomit It was terrible. Take ibuprofen if you can & express to keep the milk flowing. Are you taking flucloxacillin?

You can get pus with mastitis too. Not sure about the pain (never had it) but as with most infections etc I would imagine there's swelling.

Feel better soon.

Still feel awful. Have sent ds to nursery so I can rest and am trying to express as much as possible.

A load of pus has come out of where the crack was-don't know if that's a good or a bad thing.

Breast doesn't seem to be softening and it takes me ages to work up to moving as it's so painful. Is that a normal level of discomfort for mastitis?

Could you get some nipple shields just to allow the crack/sore nipple to heal whilst still emptying the breast through feeding (which is the best way to clear a blocked duct)? You should start every feed on that breast until it feels more comfortable though...

Poor you...how are you feeling today? Mastitis is bloody awful. Hope it's a bit better. Keep feeding from that side if you can & express if not. You can develop an abscess otherwise. I express in the bath when I have blocked ducts/mastitis.

Thanks. Have got some ABs and dosed up on painkillers so feeling a bit better and have managed to feed ds a bit through gritted teeth to try to clear the blocked duct.

He's 9 months, eats well and happily has a bottle for one or two feeds a day so stopping isn't an issue unless I will actually explode.

Hard to tell what pain is from crack, what's from blockage. All just bloody painful.

Odd feed from the right, that should say.

Poor you. If breast is hot and inflamed, could be mastitis. Take some paracetamol and if humanly possible encourage her to feed as much as poss, use a nice hot flannel on the breast and try and stroke it along to empty it. If you just use one breast the other will get fuller and sorer (until it pops!..not really!). If we are talking cracked and bleeding nipples it is all about positioning. Try to get baby to latch on from a diffferent angle..hold her under your arm to approach from the side, lie on the bed etc...do you have a breastfeeding advisory midwife/service who can come out to help? If you are hating BF that much and want to go cold turkey (excuse festive pun)..have you got formula etc..be aware that if the baby isn't used to bottles they may scream blue murder. Mine did and I was forced to breastfeed until it suddenly got very very easy. . Good luck, I know exactly how you feel and am very much talking from experience.

I only ever feed from left and have been doing so for 73 months now! dS 2 has the odd feed from the left but I have never done anything special to acheive that. I have never had blocked ducts though. Good luck!

Please help-could really do with formulating a plan tonight.

have emergency thread here

Basically boob is in agony. Ds doesn't like te taste of blood and i was planning on cutting feeds down gradually anyway over the next month or so.

But problem is how do I clear blocked duct and prevent any more whislt not feeding from that side?

Would it work to just express enough off for comfort (ha haha) and let milk dry up or must I empty it?

Happy to keep other boob for a few nightfeeds/ emergencies but love affair with bf def over.