To beg for mastitis help

[Lonelymum11]

Sorry, posting for traffic as I need advice!

I have mastitis and have antibiotics but I know I still need to be massaging my breast to unclog the blockage but I can't make it work. I have a large hard lump in the top of my breast, and when I hand express I only get milk coming from half my nipple so I'm assuming I need to do something to unblock the rest and get milk coming from all the ducts?
DD is 4 months and not on board with the frequent feeding I'm meant to be doing, she's just not hungry often enough and no amount of coaxing will make her feed before she's ready.

Does anyone have any tips that worked for them? I've done massage, used a comb, sat in the bath for ages, massaged with a shower head and it's just stubbornly refusing to reduce at all.

Warm compress. Then cabbage leaves. Feed as often as possible and massage the area that's blocked. Mastitis is horrible. Been there a few times! 4 kids breastfed. Try and keep an eye on your breasts. As soon as they start to feel a little uncomfortable you might be able to catch the mastitis before it gets worse by pumping or hot compress.

Also stand under the warm shower and let them drip!

How long have you been on the antibiotics?

There is a risk that it can turn into an abscess so if it hasn't begun to improve 48 hours (max!) after take them then you really should go back.

There is a risk that it can turn into an abscess so if it hasn't begun to improve 48 hours (max!) after take them then you really should go back.

It's odd, I feel so much better in myself - fever pretty much gone, more energy etc, but the lump is getting worse if anything. Possibly my attempts to massage it out caused some extra swelling like PP suggested, so I might wait until morning and see what happens.

I pumped continuously with an electric pump until it cleared the blockage. It is horrible. I hope you feel better soon.

@LadyofMisrule when you say "continuously" do you literally mean non stop, or just very frequently. Did it take a long time?

Hot bath and comb downwards from chest to nipple over the affected area. A wide tooth comb is meant to be better but I didn't have one so used a normal comb.

I really had to knead mine, proper knuckle job. Bloody painful but the relief was immense. As a pp said, keep an eye and heat/massage can help clear before the infection gets on top of you.

Jeepers when this happened to me I was immediately referred to a physio who did a few sessions of UV treatment which broke the lumps up. I don’t live in the UK though so was referred privately.
If you are really struggling then either ask for an urgent referral or call a private physio, there’s probably one working at your local hospital.

Hi. You are doing great. The best thing to do is To get your baby to feed from that breast as much as possible. I know it’s painful as I suffered a lot. That and as much massage. X

Cabbage leaves need to be straight out of fridge and cold ! X

Ignore the "x" and good luck.

Have you tried feeding in different positions? I think where their chin is drains better so if you rotate the baby to a different position e.g. over your shoulder it can work on different ducts.

Had this 3x with DS. Not fun! I would recommend heat and gentle massage, also definitely try dangle feeding (google it).

I had mastitis a few months ago but wasn't breast feeding, it took 3 weeks of antibiotics and 2 weeks of anti fungal medicine before it cleared.

I found getting the child right under the breast helped. Akward as it meant laying child down and sort of leaning over them. But it did work shifting the block

Not overly scientific but I read that using a vibrator on the breast can help, similar to the electric toothbrush comments further upthread. Something about the vibrations helping to break up the lump

I hope you feel better soon, just reading these comments has made my entire rib cage fold in, similar to how a bloke holds his jewels when he sees someone getting a knee in the knackers!

I found hugging a hot water bottle helped me with the pain
Good luck mummy. X

Ok, please do not flame me. I had mastitis on holiday once, it was awful. 3 trips to the doctor, antibiotics, cabbage leaves, everything. Electric pump was useless. A friend gave me a tip. "Ask your husband" she said. I said no way, got sicker and sicker. I gave in, and asked him to help relieve me. Ahem. He was fine with it. Sorted it our big time. You basically need more powerful suction than your baby can provide. Believe me, I am not telling you this to be all cool and earth mama like. It was what worked. I only say it to help you. Me and my husband have never discussed it again

Mastitis is horrible, I've had it several times.

There is a supplement called lecithin you can get in Holland and Barrett type places which makes the milk less sticky and is worth trying. Def keep going with heat. Sleep as much as you can and rest. Call in all the favours!

I would ask for another opinion before getting more antibiotics that is is not an abcess. I had one and was massaging, pumping and using heat until the cows came home and most likely making it worse the whole time. I actually didn't feel that unwell at the time but the lump kept getting bigger and bigger and wasn't shifting, I wish I'd have acted sooner

Ask for help from a feeding specialist on case the technique needs tweeking.

Just to add to the “just in case” voices, I too had recurrent mastitis that ultimately turned out to be an abscess. I ended up giving up on breast feeding when DD was 8 weeks old as I was in such pain and discomfort. I saw 2 different GPs and a breast feeding counsellor over a 4 week period and none of them mentioned an abscess as a possibility.

Finally it ruptured while I was in the shower and I ended up in A&E. I was admitted overnight so they could drain it and get me on super strength ABs. I ended up having to visit the breast clinic once a week for 5 weeks so they could drain it and check it was healing ok.

My advice from all of that: trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right then kick up a fuss.

My most recent bout was on holiday. I did not fancy googling the French for “mastitis”. You know when you burst a really great spit? I basically spent couple of days doing that on my breast, squeezing out green gunk. It worked. In between time the shower head went on it.

Having said that I’ve had all sorts of varieties of mastitis in the four years I’ve breastfed. Some took some stronger antibiotics than others. If in doubt go back to the Gp.

This tip worked for me. I layed down on my side with DS nestled in to me but upside down, so his legs were by my ears. When feeding, his jaw jutted into the lump area and cleared it straight away. Instant relief.

Dangle feed. Gravity will help drain the breast more effectively

I had it and I found hot water in a nappy not soaking of course and popped in a bra really helped.

Warm bath or shower then use electric pump. You will feel it unblock immediately if it works.

I really feel for you, I had this a few times with DC1, luckily not at all with DC2.