Stopping bf 10 days in with mastitis

[zippyswife]

I bf dcs 1&2 and suffered badly with mastitis etc both times. I promised myself this time round with dc3 that I would move to formula and not keep persevering if in a lot of pain.

Well sure enough I have mastitis again very early in. Ds is 10 days old and I want to drop bf. Both dr and midwife have told me/advised to just stop immediately- that I don't need to drop feeds gradually. Is this correct?? I only ask this as previously I dropped feeds gradually but that was when dcs were several months down the line.

Any advice/tips on this would be gratefully received. Thanks.

[Rpj16]

ohh I'm in same boat OP! Just out of hospital with a 7 day course of antibiotics for mastitis. They have said to leave breasts alone, my baby is 15 days old. I'm scared about it, but am stopping cold turkey following same advice as you received.

Please keep updating on how you get on??

My boobs sting a bit but mainly feel numb. On ibuprofen and paracetamol to relieve pain. Hoping they dry out soooon.

[NewLife4Me]

Ah, bump for you both

[Rpj16]

thanks newlife :) Just realised he's 16 days old... this is what being stuck in timewarp hospital does to you!

[NewLife4Me]

My sympathies to you both.
I had this twice and never got any support, nothing I read about helped and had to have anti biotics in the end.
Then dried up and never fed again.
I cried and felt a huge failure.
I hope it is much better for you today than 25 years ago. x

[zippyswife]

So.... Update.

When I had mastitis (twice with dc2) I was advised to feed through the pain and that I couldn't go cold turkey.

This time I was advised by both gp and midwife to cold turkey. Not to stimulate breasts- no hot showers/flannels/expressing. So I stuck to this. I'm 48 hours in and the first night was painful but not near as painful as the mastitis/breastfeeding. It was very tender yesterday and last night a bit uncomfortable but really has been fine so far (I was in utter agony before so to be fair anything would be better). They are still full and midwife said today could be bad but then should be through it in another couple of days. I would advise sticking with it. No stimulation and persevere through the pain. Appears to be working for me.

I feel very relieved (and guilty) about stopping feeding but the pain was intolerable for me.

Good luck.

[Rpj16]

It's the occasional chills that accompany the mastitis that is getting me down. I'm home now but terrified I'll be readmitted again! I've been prescribed 2 500mg flucloxacillin 4 times a day, so hopefully this will knock it out. What was your recovery time when you had it before?
Glad you are feeling better now, and hope you stay well!

I was feeling guilty, but its better to feel well overall and be able to care for the baby. My DP has been looking after him while I've been ill. X

[zippyswife]

I am on the same antibiotics. They cleared it up much quicker when
I had it before. I think it took 48 hours. I had it so bad then I was delerious hallucinating. I guess this time is taking longer as I've gone cold turkey but I'm not as bad with it. Some chills abd discomfort. I'm day 5 of antibiotics I hope I'm past the worst but I'll keep you posted. Good luck and

[Rpj16]

Hows your mastitis Zippy? Mines gone (hopefully never to return) a little bit of milk left, but so much better!!

It's unfortunately been replaced with extreme hives all over my arms and legs, and my armpit! Isn't pregnancy/postpartum lovely! changed my antibiotics now to combat it. hope yours has cleared up anyway x

[Rpj16]

Hows your mastitis Zippy? Mines gone (hopefully never to return) a little bit of milk left, but so much better!!

It's unfortunately been replaced with extreme hives all over my arms and legs, and my armpit! Isn't pregnancy/postpartum lovely! changed my antibiotics now to combat it. hope yours has cleared up anyway x

[Rpj16]

Hows your mastitis Zippy? Mines gone (hopefully never to return) a little bit of milk left, but so much better!!

It's unfortunately been replaced with extreme hives all over my arms and legs, and my armpit! Isn't pregnancy/postpartum lovely! changed my antibiotics now to combat it. hope yours has cleared up anyway x

[Rpj16]

Hows your mastitis Zippy? Mines gone (hopefully never to return) a little bit of milk left, but so much better!!

It's unfortunately been replaced with extreme hives all over my arms and legs, and my armpit! Isn't pregnancy/postpartum lovely! changed my antibiotics now to combat it. hope yours has cleared up anyway x

[Rpj16]

Hows your mastitis Zippy? Mines gone (hopefully never to return) a little bit of milk left, but so much better!!

It's unfortunately been replaced with extreme hives all over my arms and legs, and my armpit! Isn't pregnancy/postpartum lovely! changed my antibiotics now to combat it. hope yours has cleared up anyway x

[Rpj16]

Hows your mastitis Zippy? Mines gone (hopefully never to return) a little bit of milk left, but so much better!!

It's unfortunately been replaced with extreme hives all over my arms and legs, and my armpit! Isn't pregnancy/postpartum lovely! changed my antibiotics now to combat it. hope yours has cleared up anyway x

[Rpj16]

Hows your mastitis Zippy? Mines gone (hopefully never to return) a little bit of milk left, but so much better!!

It's unfortunately been replaced with extreme hives all over my arms and legs, and my armpit! Isn't pregnancy/postpartum lovely! changed my antibiotics now to combat it. hope yours has cleared up anyway x

[Rpj16]

Hows your mastitis Zippy? Mines gone (hopefully never to return) a little bit of milk left, but so much better!!

It's unfortunately been replaced with extreme hives all over my arms and legs, and my armpit! Isn't pregnancy/postpartum lovely! changed my antibiotics now to combat it. hope yours has cleared up anyway x

[Rpj16]

Hows your mastitis Zippy? Mines gone (hopefully never to return) a little bit of milk left, but so much better!!

It's unfortunately been replaced with extreme hives all over my arms and legs, and my armpit! Isn't pregnancy/postpartum lovely! changed my antibiotics now to combat it. hope yours has cleared up anyway x

[zippyswife]

Glad yours has gone rp. I thought mine had but the breast which has ok is still very hard and I've got flu like symptoms. I'm not sure if it's mastitis or not. What are your breast like now? Are they still full/hard?

[Rpj16]

They are smaller, but also a little bit lumpy, I'm going to doctors regularly atm, and yesterday she said there was still milk there, but my bloods came back infection free. I was on an iv drip in hospital with mine though. Omg. did not realise how many times my last comment was posted!

sorry tohear you are still not well. it really sucks. x

[zippyswife]

Sounds like you had it really bad. Glad you're on the mend. X

[WeedlesHatOfDisappointment]

Sorry to reanimate an old thread, but I wondered how you got on in the end going cold turkey? Ds is 3 weeks old, and I have mastitis. Didn't get it with ds1, and it's horrible! I've said to dh I'll carrying on, but if I get it again, I'm giving up. So just want to be prepared so I know if I should go cold turkey or not. I assume I'll have to feed to clear the mastitis first and then stop? Thanks.