Mastitis

[abstractblueish]

GP confirmed today that I have the beginnings of mastitis :(

I have antibiotics and am feeding & expressing the affected breast regularly but there is still a sore lump. Started the antibiotics today.

Will the antibiotics make it go away? Does anyone have experience?

[Orangedaisy]

Yes it’s horrible. Antibiotics will do the trick. Also hot compress/hot water bottle or directed shower hose on it, plus use a wide toothed comb to massage over lump towards nipple. Make sure you’re not wearing anything tight over it, stretchy bra and pjs will do. Be kind to yourself and try not to do too much, it can really take it out of you.

[gluteustothemaximus]

I've had it a few times.

Main way for me was to have a warm/hot shower.

Get the heat on the lump. Gently massage. Keep going for quite a while. A good 15-20 minutes. Pushing from outer edge towards nipple. Eventually you should be able to release what's trapped. It'll come out like when you put a needle in a water balloon!

Actually avoided mastitis full blown last time by doing this soon as found lump.

Hope it gets better for you soon x

[8DaysAWeek]

I've had mastitis twice so feel your pain! I was physically sick and almost delirious with it but within 24 hours of starting antibiotics I was feeling much better.

Suggestions from PP are all ideal for getting rid of any blockages/inflammation associated with it

Hope you feel better soon!

[abstractblueish]

Thank you all - I did try the above yesterday but no luck :( do I still have to do this if I’ve stared antibiotics or will those clear it?

[Bluemum18]

I am 8 weeks in to breastfeeding and have had this once. I didn’t actually have antibiotics as it came over the weekend and wasn’t able to see a doctor, I kept nursing from the affected breast as well as hot showers, massaging and iboprufen and with 48 hours it had disappeared. As I knew the signs of it I caught it right at the beginning so I think I got lucky as if I hadn’t and I left it I can imagine how horrid it would have felt as even catching it on so soon it was really uncomfortable 😣

[shallichangemyname]

I was so ill when I had it. Once with DD1 and once with DTs. The symptoms came on very quickly and I was incapable of lifting my head off the pillow. I put a bag of frozen peas on my breast but I never massaged the area at all, the antibiotics cleared it up perfectly.