mastitis please god help me

[upsetandang]

I have a couple of lumps in my breast and it hurts when baby feeds literally to the point I'm yelping out in pain.
I have a fever and a headache
its so bad in crying my eyes out

this is day 2 only.
I'm going to be home alone with 3 young children and crawling baby tomorrow.
please has anyone got better and sorted it out themselves?
DH called 111 earlier and they have called back but because of a temperature (coronavirus) they have to go through hoops and whatnot to do anything so I'm still waiting for another call.

its gotten loads worse despite a baby and young toddler feeding on it pretty much constantly.
I've looked all over the Internet but I don't know what else to try?

Kellymom is a good web resource.

Please seek medical help as the temperature is related and it sounds like you need antibiotics. I'd have probably died if my midwife didn't insist I went to the doctor's (you can go downhill fast if untreated)
Hope you're better soon, it's awful

Maximum dose allowed of ibuprofen as soon as you can. Then feed feed feed from the affected side. The ibuprofen reduces inflammation so that the milk can flow more easily, then the milk soothes the infection. It hurts as you feed because the milk can't get past, but with the ibuprofen it allow it to start moving.

I used to get mastitis very easily but managed to avoid antibiotics this way. You soon learn to recognise the first twinges, and to zap it quickly.

Best of luck. If you continue to have a temperature, you will need antibiotics, but hopefully you can get baby to help you to sort it.

I feel for you, the day my husband left to go on a lads holiday I started with Mastitis.
Had a temp of 40 with a lumpy red breast!
I had antibiotics and found feeding in different positions helped.
Also as much as it hurts to feed do not stop feeding it will make it worse.
Also getting in a hot shower or bath and stroking were the lumps are towards your nipple can help with the hot water (as hot as is safe ).
You really do need antibiotics though, took about 3 days to strat feeling somewhat better.

Antibiotics immediately you cannot wait. Then into a hot bath and massage behind the lumps to expel as much milk as possible. I had this repeatedly and found that in the bath the stringy milk that was trapped would come out. The relief was immense.

Advice to do this in the shower didn't work for me. Pumping made it worse.
I found just massaging in the bath starting from my armpit downwards was the best method.

Hope this goes quickly

Antibiotics are needed here. Demand an OOH phone consultation. In the meantime alternate a hot water bottle and a bag of ice on it. If you’re that ill your husband may have to stay off work, you can’t be in charge of three kids with a bad infection, you’ll be a danger to them and yourself.

Ow. I remember getting this with DD and it really hurt! Hot compresses helped but it sounds like you need ABs.

Cabbage leaves help. Also hot baths as suggested, both will relieve it. And keep feeding, it will hurt though.

My mastitis quickly turned into a huge breast abscess. You need to be seen by a dr ASAP.

This Breastfeeding Network leaflet is a good source of self help info. As others have said, take ibuprofen, get medical help to discuss antibiotics, and move the milk by expressing/feeding your baby - try a position with your baby’s chin pointing towards the painful patches, also try feeding on all fours with breasts dangling.

Oh you poor thing, you must be in agony if you have put up with it for days already. You really need antibiotics, I would call 111 back and threaten that you will turn up at A&E if they do not help you. My doctor was able to prescribe antibiotics over the phone for mastitis. I don't understand why they are not helping you, if left it can lead to an abcess which would need hospital treatment, makes no sense! Once you get the right antibiotics it will clear up very quickly

OP you can’t be left at home with small children and raging mastitis. It’s not a possibility. DH will have to stay home if no one else can come care for the kids.

I was delirious. I fainted. I could barely get out of bed to pee. DS wouldn’t have been safe left with me. It’s not a discussion. You can’t care for the kids, someone else has to.

Have you got a vibrator, a Clarisonic type devise or even an electric toothbrush?
If so, use it to massage the lump on the breast. Massage towards the nipple but not on the nipple. It works really well, along with dangle feeding/ funny angles, hot compresses and a bath.
Also, go back to basics in terms of looking after yourself. Rest when you can, plenty of water, good food.
Can you stick the other kids in front of the tv or even break out a Christmas present to entertain them? Santa will forgive you

Call 111 again, explain you are 100% certain that it is mastitis, and not Covid. Ask for flucoxacillin, it sorts it and makes you feel better within hours!! I have had it twice this year, once pre Covid and just last week. Both times flu symptoms set in on a Friday, I couldn't lift my toddler or parent barely at all the first time over the weekend, second time I called 111 and got prescribed antibiotics ASAP and it didn't get that bad at all.

Your husband needs to take the night/day off, or call grandparents etc for emergency childcare. Please don't try and do it alone, it's honestly the worst I've ever felt! I hope you feel better soon.

Mastitis is awful. Agree with seeing gp or getting antibiotics.

I'd recommend a probiotic too as when I had it, the antibiotics basically made me get nipple thrush which was only slightly less awful. Good luck

Antibiotics
Hold a hot water bottle against the lumps before and whilst baby is feeding, also try and massage the lumps down towards nipple whilst baby is feeding if at all bearable.
It's horrible. Like the flu but with incredibly painful tits and a baby to look after and feed. Sending you strength and virtual support!

@Waveysnail I'm not even wearing a top
it hurts that bad just having the fabric touching

I'm waiting for the call but they called over 2 hours ago saying that they are swamped and it'll be another hour before I get a call,

@SebastianTheCrab I will try that before next feed, baby just got off
I'm waiting for the hot water for q bath now but I've been so out of it the last couple of days I haven't had one. I actually stink to high heaven at

Can you afford to use a digital GP service?

I'm old and was told put cabbage leaves on to cool - in actual fact I think it was the anitbiotcs which worked but perhaps the cabbage leaves were psychosomatic. Also the bath and expressing the milk. - All best wishes @upsetandang - it's rubbish - but it will go by one means or another

It's very important you get antibiotics. Meanwhile, when I had mastitis, my mother suggested hot and cold bathing. I leaned over a wash basin full of hot water and put hot flannels on the lumps, whilst my Mum bathed me alternately with flannels soaked in very cold water. I think it was a very old remedy, and it was soothing.

Feeding and/or pumping on the affected breast at least every couple of hours to keep things moving. Mastitis is an inflammatory response and often isn't caused by an infection, although the default from GPs is to give antibiotics. If you don't get any worse and start to feel even a little bit better within 24 hours, you probably won't need antibiotics. I am a midwife, ibclc, and have been very prone to mastitis myself due to oversupply. And yes to regular pain relief that you are normally able to take if it is safe for you (paracetamol and ibuprofen).

[quote upsetandang]@SebastianTheCrab I will try that before next feed, baby just got off
I'm waiting for the hot water for q bath now but I've been so out of it the last couple of days I haven't had one. I actually stink to high heaven at [/quote]
If you’ve been out of it for days this really is an emergency. Mastitis can get incredibly serious. Please phone the doctor again.

I sorted it out myself. I was alone with three children including my newborn and my XP had done a runner as he couldn't cope. I woke in the night with a high temperature and shaking. I ran as hot a bath as I could tolerate, really deep and got the milk flowing with the heat. Then I completely emptied the painful breast until it was like an empty bag. I massaged it and squeezed it. In the morning, it had completely cleared up.