Urgent help please!

[mamakim]

Does this sound like mastitis? The breast i fed from last feels engorged, sore and lumpy. The other feels soft. During the night i've felt hot, cold, shivery and achey. But the family all have a cold so it could just be a coincidence. Oh forgot to say been breastfeeding 5 weeks almost. Surely i shouldn't be getting engorgement now? Dd hasn't gone any longer between feeds. Help feel really crappy!

[belgo]

Yes it could be mastitis.

You need to bf loads from the painful side. BF in different positions - lying down, sitting, rugby hold. Massage towards the nipple when you are feeding. Take a very warm shower and use the water to massage the sore breast.

Rest plenty, take paracetamol for pain relief and nurofen if you need something stronger.

Do you have a midwife or breastfeeding supporter you can phone?

[belgo]

Also hold a very warm flannel against the infected side.

If you are no better tomorrow, or feel worse beore then, then you should see your GP.

[mamakim]

With it being the weekend do you think i should try and get in the docs today for antibs in case it gets no better?

[belgo]

I've had mastitis about 6 times (been bfing nearly 4 years in total). Twice I needed antibiotics because I was very run down and need not have a chance to rest and recover. The other four times I rested, fed loads, and massaged loads and my body was able to fight it off without antibiotics. I prefered this to antibiotics.

I also had a good midwife who advised me.

If you can rest today, then I probably wouldn't go to the GP yet, but it's hard for me to say for definite.

[JackBauer]

What are your surgery's hours like? I would stick it out until the afternoon if you can at all as (fingers crossed) it may just be a cold combined with rubbish sleep.

If they are a nightmare to get an appt with though maybe best to go rather than not IYSWIM. Hope it clears!