Mastitis and it’s the middle of the night

[Imtootired]

I’ve got an almost six week old baby. He’s finally cried himself off to sleep. I’ve had aches and pains today and tonight I feel so hot and bad headache. I’ve taken neurofen and Panadol. My breast is red. I had it with my older son and I felt like I was dying. I want to start treatment ASAP but it’s the middle of the night here. I have some penicillin but from google searching it seems to be a different sort from what’s usually prescribed for mastitis. I guess I’ll just try to get some rest and see if I can see a doctor tomorrow but it’s the weekend so it will be a pain. Has anyone had bad flu symptoms from it that have cleared up without antibiotics? If I don’t reply it means Im trying to sleep but will be checking and I’m sure my baby won’t let me sleep for long anyway. I wonder if I should start on the antibiotics I have but that’s probably not a good idea.

[Imtootired]

He’s actually almost seven weeks. And the antibiotics I have are phenoxymenthyl penicillin

[SleepWarrior]

I have felt very ill with it but recovered without antibiotics or gp - the key was getting the baby to keep feeding from that breast first, despite the agony. Oh, and as much sleep as possible (ha!). But I would always recommend seeing a doctor nonetheless. Hope you feel better asap

[Inexperiencedchick]

So sorry OP 💐

[NameChange30]

Call 111. When I had mastitis, I'd been feverish and had hard, red breasts, I called 111 and they sent a GP to do a home visit. She prescribed antibiotics on the spot and DH went to get them from the OOH pharmacy.

Don't just take any old antibiotics that you can find in the cupboard!

Go to OOH if you can manage it tomorrow.

[NameChange30]

Oh just realised you're not in the UK sorry.
See a doctor in the morning if you can!

[kazza446]

Put a cabbage leaf inside your bra. Don’t ask me how, but it works!!! Other solutions, hot flannel on breast in bath, try to massage it too whilst in bath xx

[JuneWind]

Oh I feel for you OP. I had mastitis, however it was the non-infected kind. There are two types - infected and non-infected, so only infected can be treated by antibiotics.

Definitely get checked out by a GP as soon as you can to find out, but until then hot/cold compresses, whichever feels best for you. Hand expressing in the shower if poss, or pumping to relieve pressure, and getting baby to feed from the mastitis breast as often as possible (grit teeth through pain, usually first few seconds are the worst!). Lots of paracetamol, fluids and rest if you can.

Hoping it clears up for you really soon!

[NameChange30]

Fever and redness usually indicates infection needing antibiotics. But yes obviously a doctor needs to assess and diagnose!

[IrnBruAndTwiglets]

I had mastitis, I felt like I'd been hit by a bus! So achy and flu-ey all of a sudden. Expressing was one of the most painful things but that, together with keeping offering baby that boob and resting sorted it. No antibiotics needed and it lasted about 4 days. Hope you feel better soon!

[lisag1969]

If you have a cabbage in the fridge put the leaves in your bra. I know it's a long shot but soothes the pain. X

[ThisIsSharonVanEtten]

It is a long time ago, but the midwife advised me to lie DD on the bed and feed her sort of upside down - so sort of with her feet in the direction of over my shoulder iyswim. It didn’t cure it but gave me a little relief till I could see the GP. I do have huge breasts though and so having them hang like udders was helpful.

[lisag1969]

Can't you send Someone out to get formula too. So at least he isn't hungry if you cannot feed him. X

[NameChange30]

Terrible advice
With mastitis you have to keep breastfeeding
Stopping makes it worse

[MustardScreams]

kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/mastitis/ Really good tips here.,

Do not give formula! The worst thing you can do is to not feed from the affected breast. When baby isn’t feeding you need to pump. It is painful but it will clear the blockage and get the infection moving out.

Also google ‘dangle feeding’ - feels ridiculous, but the gravity will help shift the blockage.

[OnlyToWin]

I had it badly - was prescribed antibiotics - had to have two rounds for it to clear up.
It was really painful to feed. Luckily at that age DD would take a bottle (she later refused!) so I continued to express, which was less painful than feeding her and gave her a bottle. I was advised to keep doing this rather than stop feeding even when the milk contained blood. When it improved I went back to breast feeding.

Cabbage leaves - particularly those straight from the fridge or chilled in the freezer for half an hour really helped.

Hope you feel better soon OP.

[Imtootired]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Last night I was rubbing a lot on the red area. My actual breast didn’t hurt too much luckily. I think that managed to unblock it somewhat because I woke up feeling much better. Still quite achy and a red patch on breast so I saw a home visit doctor and have antibiotics for if I need them. I’m hoping to go without them so my milk won’t kill my baby’s good stomach bacteria but if I get a fever again I’ll be able to start straight away. Thanks for all the tips. I’ve been feeding on that breast a lot and it seems to have helped. Wow @OnlyToWin having blood in the milk sounds terrible. The things we go through!!

[OnlyToWin]

I know! I was really determined to keep feeding - must have been crazy with sleep deprivation.

Glad you are feeling better. Take care x