Mastitus and Pain

[SoSoon]

I´m about to have DD2 and would like to BF. I didn´t BF DD1 because I found it incredibly painful. 5 days after her birth it came to light that I had severe mastitus and I was put on a drip. I was still in hospital and none of the midwives had noticed I had the condition. I would like to know if the mastitus is likely to have caused such pain and if BFing will be easier second time round. It is smg I really want to do but I was in complete agony the last time.

[gigglinggoblin]

i had mastitis with ds2, it was horrendously painful and i stopped bf as i couldnt stand my boobs being touched. i have bf 3 other babies and it can be a bit uncomfortable, maybe painful on the nipples til you get used to it but nothing like mastitis. good luck

[BaffledByBabyTights]

bf 2 and 3 was a picnic comapred to no1 - do try it, you may be surprised, and make sure the MW know you had a problem last time and get them to show you again how to do it. Also, I would really recommend lettign them feed feed feed in the first 3 days no matter how tiring - it worked with my ds2 and dd1 and I never got engorged - didn't know that advice for ds1 - and wish I had.

[beckybrastraps]

God yes. The only time I have ever cried with pain was when feeding through mastitis. Awful. I had it with my first child recurrently. But not at all with my second. .

[SoSoon]

Thanks, that is encouraging.. I was like you becky and cried uncontrollably every time I fed her. It was completely humiliating in a large public ward.

[chocolatekimmy]

Mastitis for me was agony and excruciating. I was crying and groaning every time for the first 15 - 20 seconds of each feed. Never felt so ill in my life either.

You need to catch it fast and get to a GP asap for antibiotics.

Doesn't follow that you will get it again though. I think mine was due to engorgement as I got really full and didn't empty enough or soon enough.

Give it a go, my third baby was hardest for breast feeding - it doesn't necessarily follow that it gets easier but you kind of know how to deal with it better and that kept me going (still at 10months)