Shit, think I'm getting mastitis. Help me nip it in the bud please!

[PrincessRomy]

I can't get mastitis, I have a 5 week old and a 2 year old!

Breast is really painful. I'm trying to get ds to feed on it as much as possible this am but he keeps dozing off. His latch isn't great either as he doesn't seem to open his mouth very wide, I'm currently getting (very slow) advice about tongue tie, so this probably isn't helping the current situation.

I've tried massaging the hurty bit towards my nipple when he is feeding. I've got a hand breast pump somewhere upstairs, do I need to dig it out and try and drain my breast? What else can I do before I start feeling ill?

Any tips much appreciated, thanks

[shinny]

hi
poor you....try and get some belladonna if you can from a pharmacy. Its a homeopathic remedy and works wonders.
point your baby's nose towards the red streak if its appeared and try and get him to drain it.
If you have a wide toothed comb (and can bear it) brush it down the sore part
Get that breast pump out as well and try and clear it.
The earlier you can try and sort it the easier it should be to clear.

Good luck!!

[janeyjampot]

Hot flannel on the hard bit, I think. I had mastitis nine times but managed to keep going. Dd is 15 now, though, so I might be a bit out of date. Hope you manage to avoid it.

[MiconiumHappens]

I went back into my birthing centre after having my DD and they were wonderful helping when I was sure I too was heading for mastitis. Please get help ASAP :) it is out there.

[TwentyTinyToes]

Keep feeding and massaging, the milk needs to keep moving although don't entirely neglect the other side. Apply heat, massage in the shower or bath. Make sure nothing is pressing on the area. Rest as much as possible, take a multuvitamin, drink plenty of water.

Really hope you manage to avert it. If you feel worse then do get some antibiotics.

[LegoCaltrops]

Hi. Try:
Warm compress (eg a flannel) over the inflamed area prior to feeding.
Are you wearing the right size bra? And no, if you got measured at Mothercare or most other shops, you may not be. Head over to the Style & Beauty boards & look for a bra thread if you aren't sure.
Massage the inflamed area towards the nipple before & during feeding.
Can you get a pump? If so, do! Some hospital feeding clinics will lend them out. If you need to buy one, go for one with a flexible silicone type funnel, not a rubber funnel. Pumping will help stimulation of the milk & remove any old milk that your baby hasn't taken.
Look at La Leche League. lots of tips on there

If you still need more help, come back here. many women here have been in the same position & will be ready to help.

HTH

[PrincessRomy]

Thank you. I've just hand expressed and seem to have got some of the pain out. Ds has bloody fallen asleep, the one time I actually want him to feed! I'm going to try and get a hot shower soon and try to express the rest out.

[TwentyTinyToes]

I find hand expressing to be the most effective and keep expressing even when you think you have cleared it.

[PrincessRomy]

Right, I've hand pumped, hand expressed and ds has been feeding. If it's still painful does that mean it's still there?

I'm going to have to pay attention to the other breast soon, before it gets too big...

[DoingTheSwanThing]

Ibuprofen can help too, ditch the bra, try dangle nursing (not that I ever really figured that one out!). Expressing under water in a hot bath worked well for me, hot compresses get cold too fast! Ditto hot shower.
Even if you've shifted the blockage it will stay sore & swollen, but hopefully less so, for a few days - takes time for the inflammation to settle. BfN have a helpful leaflet you can download.

[PrincessRomy]

Been out for a bit and just got home. Breast pain feels worse and limbs gone a bit achy. Going to have a hot bath and try some more hand expressing. Doctors appointment in the morning I guess. Is it easily fixed with treatment?

[TwentyTinyToes]

Yes, you need antibiotics and think you need a longer course than 7 days but have a look online to check. I had it repeatedly with DS and it kept coming back after each course of antibiotics finished. Also probiotics are a good idea because antibiotics leave you likely to get thrush.

[TwentyTinyToes]

Just had a look at the breastfeeding network online and they don't mention a longer course of AB but they do state a suggested dosage. Sorry, i can't link i am in my phone. Have a look though, they have a good leaflet on mastitis that may be useful.

[LakeFlyPie]

Hope you're feeling better Princess

If you can take ibuprofen it worked wonders for me when I had recurrent blocked ducts with bf DS1 in the early days.
Not just for the analgesia, more for the anti inflammatory effect.

Does your 2yr old still bf?

I found DS1 who was 2.6yr when DS2 was born very helpful in clearing any brewing blockages with his turbo toddler suckle; he thought all his Christmases had come at once being asked to have extra bf

[beancounting]

Using a comb really worked for me - run it through a bar of soap so it's slippery and then "comb" the sore bit in the shower, alternating with a hot flannel compress. And massaging towards the nipple during a feed, if you can manage it, might need DP to help! I think I actually saw my blockage come out - a stringy gunky bit of milk .
good luck.

[PrincessRomy]

Hi, I think ds has cleared it for me, there was still a bit of pain yesterday but it's definitely going.

This might sound silly but I stopped wearing my bras on the advice here - they were only soft wrap style sleep bras from mothercare but were a bit tight on the side when you pull them back to bf. could it have been that causing the pain/blockage? I'm reluctant to put them back on again.

[CosmicForce]

Yes, any tight point in a bra can cause a blocked duct - try to change bras regularly so you are wearing different types so any tight areas are different every day (if you can't find a good fit). Also, try massaging any areas feeling slightly sore (towards the nipple) every time you feed.

An excellent way of clearing a blocked duct (for next time) is to either feed baby (or express) on all fours on a bed so that baby's suction (or expressing preference) are working in the same direction as gravity. Make sure you can see baby's nose to ensure you don't smother.

The downward pull of gravity along with the suction has unblocked the duct for me every time. Use a hot flannel on the area before the feed to ensure a quicker blockage release.