Stopping breastfeeding due to recurring mastitis

[BabyMoonPie]

DD is 17 weeks old and EBF. I have had mastitis since she was 2w 5d. I think it started because of poor latch , I also had severe nipple damage (which has now healed). Breastfeeding supporters have helped with latch and a specialist feeding HV confirmed latch is OK.

Antibiotics reduce the redness but it has never gone away, it has just faded to a very pale pink. When it started the midwife saw me and prescribed a 7 day course of flucloxacillin. About a week after the tablets finished the redness flared up and the GP gave me another 7 days of flucloxacillin. About 10 days after those tablets ended the redness flared up much worse and I was admitted to hospital for IV antibiotics. I saw a breast consultant, had a scan which didn't show anything and was discharged with 7 days coamoxiclav antibiotics. I was in hospital for 2 nights during which I expressed and sent milk home but DD also had some formula.

About a week later the redness flared up and I got another 7 days coamoxiclav from the GP.

I have been back to the consultant for follow up and had another scan and a biopsy which didn't​ show anything.

After nearly 5 weeks of very faint pinkness the red came back yesterday morning. Coincidentally I had an appointment with the consultant in the afternoon. He has put me on 7 days amoxacillin. He asked if I had considered stopping breastfeeding but said he would never recommend it "because the midwives would kill me". The consultant hasn't suggested any further tests or treatment other than the antibiotics.

DD lost a lot of weight after birth and struggled to put weight on. Once feeding became easier she started to put about 200g a week on and is developing really well and thriving.

I want to carry on breastfeeding but don't know whether I should accept that there is something wrong with my breast and stop. 5 courses of antibiotics and an infection which has seemingly never gone away are not good but DD doesn't seem to have suffered. My current plan is to try and EBF to 6 months and then switch to formula when we hopefully start weaning.

Anyone been in this position and got any advice?

Sorry for the long post but BF has been has a saga for us!

[stargirl1701]

Have you spoken to an IBCLC lactation consultant? You can search for a local one on their website.

I used lecithin supplements to break a cycle of recurrent blocked ducts in one breast. I initially tried soya lecithin but I was allergic so switched to sunflower lecithin.

www.lcgb.org/find-an-ibclc/

kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/lecithin/

[EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic]

Sorry, have no advise other than if you are in the UK please call one of the Bfing Helplines. Have you got the numbers?

[BabyMoonPie]

Many thanks both.

I hadn't heard of lethicin supplements so will look into that. There are no lactation consultants near me.

I am in the UK and had thought about the breastfeeding helplines but wasn't sure how much help they could be without being able to watch a feed. I will try them though, it can't hurt

[EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic]

It's worth a try, I'd give them a call and see what they say

[Sunshineandlaughter]

Has anyone explained why you are getting this recurrently?

Are you being super militant about washing your bras and tops?

Are you expressing in general - could be a good/bad thing depending if you have oversupply or not - lactation consultant should be able to advise.

I can only offer sympathy that the boobs settle down a bit about 6 months! So try and get to root cause of problem and ask for advice about whether you should express after a feed to clear the ducts or not.

You're doing really well!

[Sunshineandlaughter]

kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/recurrent-mastitis/

Some good advice here

[BabyMoonPie]

Thanks Sunshine. No, the root cause hasn't been identified. Bras and breast pads being changed lots and bras fit well. I'm not expressing because after a feed there is nothing to express. DD feeds every 3 hours so milk is being drained regularly

[LikeaSnowflake]

Don't know if this would be relevant at all at this stage of bf but I had problems getting bf started. Severe nipple damage in the first week, sought support and was told latch looked fine. Ended up with a horrible bout of mastitis. I knew some other children in my DH's family had tongue tie and it turns out DD was actually tongue tied which it was affected the initial bf latch etc. So it looked like she was latched and feeding effectively but wasn't.

[LikeaSnowflake]

Also

Mastitis is close to the most unwell I have ever felt and I have had my fair share of other things.

[Sairelou]

Has your DD been checked for tongue tie? It can be a major contributor to mastitis as baby can never get a good latch.

[BabyMoonPie]

Yes DD has been checked for tongue tie - she doesn't have one. Mastitis is just horrific, it flares up so quickly and makes you feel so ill. Fortunately the antibiotics seem to be working much faster this time so fingers crossed it might go away at last

[silkpyjamasallday]

I've had mastitis once in the 8 months I've been breastfeeding, and it was absolutely terrible I was a wreck for 2 weeks, you OP are an absolute champion for continuing through several bouts of mastitis! I don't have any help to offer, just wanted to congratulate you for how much effort you've put in to giving your lo the best start. I don't think anyone would blame you for switching to formula at this point, just do what is best for you and your baby.

[BabyMoonPie]

Thanks silkpyjamas. It's hard to know whether it's better to keep going with the benefits of breast milk and risk more antibiotics or switch to formula