Mastitis - gp advice differs from nhs website!

[OhWhatAPalaver]

I have had flu like symptoms all day and quite bad pain in right breast. Raging temperature as well. Been to walk in centre where gp said not to feed off affected breast and just to express. I've got flucloxicillin and will be taking it for a week. So only feeding off left breast for one week.. is this normal advice? The nhs website says it's fine to feed off both breasts even if infected. Confused!
Gp also said only take ibuprofen if I really have to, try to just take paracetamol.

[MumUndone]

I'm pretty sure you should carry on feeding as normal as this will help to clear the blockage. When I has mastitis I found that cold compresses really helped, much more than warm ones.

[Roystonv]

Old gimmer here but I had repeated mastitis with one of mine and was told to and did continue to feed from both breasts, dc was fine. You have my sympathy as it is rarely understood how debilitating it is until you have it.

[DaftPunkIsPlayingAtMyHouse]

I was told by GP to keep feeding whatever happens. You need to keep draining the affected boob.

Hope it clears for you quickly. Mastitis is fucking awful.

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

The GP is wrong, it is essential that you feed from your affected breast.

Feeding from the breast will help clear the blockage.

If you stop feeding it will get worse.

The Kellymom website has good info on mastitis.

I found dangle feeding helpful for clearing mastitis (google it).

[sentia]

When friends have had mastitis the advice has always been to feed (through the pain). Which kellymom also advises, like the NHS website. I think there is a risk of abcess if you don't feed through it?

Have you tried to contact a lactation specialist eg via La Leche League for another opinion?

[Poppytime]

Hi OP, I had mastitis recently, it's horrid my sympathies. Definitely feed off both breasts - leaving the sore one can only make it worse, you need to effectively drain it as much as you can. I know it's sore though - keep taking paracetamol etc. Fwiw flucloaxillin wasn't effective for me - I had to go to OOH (and eventually a&e) and get amoxicillin which worked. Maybe it was the dosage, not sure but it just didn't do anything. Give the antibiotics 24-48 hrs but if not getting better either go to gp or if weekend (in my case) call 111 for advice. Really hope you feel better soon

[chocoholic89]

Take tablets. Get ice on sore boob and feed off it! It hurts I no but it needs to be drained. Hope it goes soon. Take hot showers awel.

[McBassyPants]

People are missing the point here, the GP said to express from the affected breast so she would still be emptying it. Whether you actually feed from it directly or not is up to you, so long as you are continuing to empty it x

[DaftPunkIsPlayingAtMyHouse]

Feeding is often a far more effective way of properly draining a breast as opposed to expressing.

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Poppy what was your dosage? I'm on one tablet four times a day for a week.
Yeah everything I've read said to keep feeding but wondering if just expressing will do the job properly?

[Haggisfish]

Keep feeding and take ibuprofen as normal. Cabbage leaves really do help.

[loosechange]

Agree expressing unlikely to get as much off as feeding. I would feed from the affected side if your baby will take it.

I would also use ibuprofen unless it contraindicated for you. They give it post OP in hospital, it's not contraindicated in breastfeeding.

Good luck. Mine cleared with Flucloxacillin. Hopefully yours will.

[loosechange]

Agree re cabbage leaves.

[TheDisillusionedAnarchist]

Feed and express from affected breast and 7 days is too short a course of antibiotics and risks recurrent mastitis. Are you on flucloxacillin? There is good WHO guidance (and a BFN leaflet) on mastitis to point the GP too.

[TheDisillusionedAnarchist]

Sorry just read you are on fluclox. That is usual first line antibiotic but needs a longer course and ibuprofen is fine for breastfeeding and good for mastitis as an anti inflammatory. Hope you get rid of it quickly!

[dramalamma]

Definitely keep feeding - baby will drain more effectively than any pump. It's not the milk that's infected - it's the duct so absolutely no reason not to feed. You have my sympathies - I've had it several times and it's not fun

[TeaRexit]

Keep feeding.
warm flannel/warm shower & massage affected side.
cold cabbage leaves in bra
Lanisoh
Its horrible OP, I had it twice in a few months.
Hope you feel better asap

[TeaRexit]

www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk/

The ladies I rang were amazing, if you ever need to talk to them x

[toastedbeagle]

Hi , sympathies, think I had mastitis 7 times with my two... Never felt so ill! Def feed off the affected side, and try a different position if you can to fully empty the breast.

Flucloxacillin 500mg 4x daily for a week should do it. Paracetamol & ibuprofen both fine to take.

DOI: GP

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Thanks all! Have just fed off affected breast as per kellymom. Also tried dangle feeding, which curiously dd seems to like! Now sat here with warm flannel and will be getting cabbage leaves and probiotics tomorrow! Will speak to my normal gp about duration of ab's on Monday as you never know who you're getting at the walk in centre. She did seem like a lovely Dr but very over cautious I imagine!

[Poppytime]

Same dosage as toasted I think for the flux. Hopefully these ab's will work for you op! Yes agree it's draining that's important but also think feeding more effective if you can bear it. I only had 7 days worth of ab's, may be enough it really depends, if they are working you should notice a difference in a day or so. Definitely speak to gp again if no better soon. Ah the ups and downs of breastfeeding eh?! Hope you feel better v v soon

[Poppytime]

Ps yes it's hard when speaking to different docs! Think they prescribe general broad spectrum ab's on conservative dosage to start with as that can be enough - you can understand it as they don't want overuse of ab's etc etc - but annoying if not enough to help and for me meant a longer road to recovery!

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Thanks, hoping they'll be effective!
Another quick question, has anyone taken ibuprofen as lysine while breastfeeding? It's that faster absorbing stuff but is still essentially ibuprofen. I've got some and it's so much better than regular ibuprofen.

[Groover3000]

I found heat and massage the most effective, but eventually it was altering feeding position so that DS's chin was massaging blocked duct as he fed that cleared it - not that easy as it was under my armpit but thankfully husband helped out with positioning baby with me flat on my back!. Not sure where you are based, but if you have tried all the self-help techniques and it is still not shifting then a treatment that is not very well known about in the UK is ultrasound and massage from a Women's Health physiotherapist. Used a lot in Asia, Australia, USA and Russia as a common mastitis/blocked duct treatment. This clinic in London does it - sprintphysio.co.uk/services/womens-health-and-pregnancy/index.html.

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Thanks Grooved, the pain is much better than it was but I'm keeping on doing all the self help things just in case. Also it must mean the antibiotics are working, which is good!