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?

[toastfiend]

You need antibiotics quickly, OP, as others have said. There's a very real risk of sepsis from mastitis. I'm not saying that to frighten you, but you and your DH need to be aware of the signs and if you get significantly worse or are left waiting any longer then you need to go to A&E.

For now, I'd call 111 back and stress how serious it is, or do you have a local OOH med centre if they're still open atm? As it's pretty obvious what's wrong then you could even ask if they'll do a phone appointment with you and write a prescription for your DH to collect if they're worried about seeing you in person with a temperature? I went to an OOH med centre when I had mastitis and they were very good. Gave me a prescription and directions to the closest 24hr pharmacy, too. This was pre-Covid, though.

You need antibiotics, but do what you can until you can get them. Have you tried dangle feeding? It's not the most comfortable but gravity can help baby clear the blockage, and you do need to clear the blockage regardless of the antibiotics: www.goodtoknow.co.uk/family/mum-mastitis-shares-pic-dangle-feed-method-4334 for an example. I know it makes you want to throw up it's so painful, but feed as much as you can, and try to do breast compressions over the affected area whilst you're feeding. I found running the hottest bath I could bear and fully submerging the affected breast then trying to hand express helped. Try to lean over as much as possible so gravity helps a bit and use breast massage and hand express. It was painful but really helped to clear the blockage for me, the hot water seemed to encourage everything to get moving! Try massaging the lumps with an electric toothbrush (or vibrator, anything that vibrates) to break them down, too.

Also, your DH needs to recognise that you're quite seriously poorly at the moment. He can't leave you with the kids if you're still this ill, it's not fair on you or them.

[Merename]

I’ve had mastitis many times and second lots of the advice here. Definitely push for antibiotics/to be seen. However in the meantime, moist heat is absolutely necessary, preferably bath but shower will do BEFORE EVERY SINGLE FEED. You have a hardened clump of milk in there, and you have to move it - even if you get antibiotics. It hurts like fuck, but sit in the bath and massage, working from back towards nipple, you literally need to push a blockage out. Then v important to feed baby while boob is still warm. Then more massage after. Carrying a hot water bottle or heat pad around in between can help, and constant massage. If you can face dangle feeding over the baby on all fours, worth a go. Don’t neglect the good side either. Vibration definitely useful, use a vibrator or toothbrush on the area. Sometimes you don’t realise a big massaging session has worked, there may not be immediate relief, but later things suddenly start to improve. I’ve had times where the temp disappears very suddenly when you clear the blockage, but with you being a few days in I’d be worried about the potential for abscess. Hope not, but you should be vigilant.

I agree with PP that you should not be left alone, plans should be cancelled. You need to be between bath and bed with baby near you and being looked after.

[lolabears]

Electric toothbrush pushed against the lump and what pp termed 'dangle feeding' helped me.
I mean you need to start antibiotics tonight, ridiculous that you're waiting hours for what should be a very straight forward prescription order on their end.

[Pumpertrumper]

In fairness OP your DH isn’t ALLOWED to go out for the day given that you’re running a temperature and haven’t had a covid test.

‘Wife is running a really high temp and very unwell. Too unwell to attend a test centre but will request a postal test.’ His work aren’t allowed to harass him over this. Government guidance is very clear. Yes you have mastitis but a fever is a fever!

[HollowTalk]

@Grenlei

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

Where on earth is she meant to get cabbage leaves from?

[Velvetpeel]

Just make sure if it doesn’t go down that it is a blocked duct and not an abscess. I carried on for days trying to ‘massage’ out what I thought was a blocked duct. In turned out it was an abscess and had to be drained for several weeks. How far post partum are you? Can you call midwife team still?

[lofthouse]

Are you still under care of the
Midwife ? If so can you call as they can issue prescriptions. Do you have an out of hours or minor incident ? If so I would head there if it's that bad. Otherwise in hot bath and empty and massage boob completely

[SillyOldMummy]

I only had it in one breast, and I fed through it, agony. Felt utterly dreadful, but possibly had flu at the same time so was hard to say.

Drink loads. Loose cotton clothes, take your bra off altogether. Paracetamol. If it does not improve just call your GP over and over.

[staceyflack]

Call the midwives! There should be a 24 hour number on the front of your notes - only day 3? Forget 111, absolutely go through maternity - calls like this are expected at this stage. Get well soon... and Congratulations! 💐💐💐

[skylarkdescending]

Sorry haven't rtft but have you tried dangle feeding? Always cleared mine up. And cabbage leaves are supposed to help. Mam hot/cold compresses are great if someone can get to a supermarket/pharmacy for you.

[awmum2b]

I agree with all the posters above, you must push for antibiotics. This is very serious. I had it twice and didn't anticipate how serious it was until I started shaking n couldn't get downstairs without help. I'm a single parent so had no choice but to crack on but it still took a good couple of weeks to feel better, even with antibiotics.

Importantly, try n feed through it, the baby is the best unblocker. I know it's hell but it helps. Hot showers n I used the end of an electric toothbrush on my lumps but I was also told a vibrator by my health visitor.

Rest when you can and I hope you feel better soon.

[BigDecisionsLittleTime]

Absolutely to PP re abcess. Intermittently soothing the awful pain of blockages only conceals the problem really, although of course do it for comfort in the short term, but please try to get anti-bs tonight.


I didn't in time and my abcess got so bad it burst. It was horrific and took months to heal.


PP suggesting they get a prescription sent to a 24hr pharmacy for you is very good, they would for a uti in my experience so no difference here imo.

Be firm op, I know it's the last thing you feel like doing but fight/cry/scream for it if you have to. 💐 for you, it's awful.

[Sunshinehousexo]

Hi OP, I ended up with sepsis when I had mastitis. I’d collapsed in the shower and only realised something was wrong (had mastitis) that morning. It was day 10 after baby was born and I ended up admitted to hospital and on a drip for about 5 days. Please make sure you get seen/get anti biotics. I remember it getting seriously really quickly. I was lucky to have my husband at home. It’s a bit worrying that you’re going to be on your own tomorrow.

[Sunshinehousexo]

I second what someone says about baby being the best thing to help. I was constantly told to keep feeding my baby. Whilst in hospital I used cold cabbage leaves and sat in the bath massaging downwards- this really helped.

[Tiktaktoe]

Hot bath/shower, massage the breast while feeding. Bearing down as heavily as you can on it. It hurts like the devil.
As others have said antibiotics as soon as possible. Plenty of fluids.

[ChikiTIKI]

Have you called your gp?

This is ridiculous you've not been given antibiotics yet! I got mastitis in April and got ABs right away. The fever that night while I waited for the drugs to start working was absolute agony, my whole body hurt. You must be feeling so so awful.

I would call the gp and if theyre not helpful either turn up there or a walk in centre asking for ABs.

[Iwouldlikesomecake]

Midwife here.

Call the hospital where you gave birth. If they have a 24 hour helpline call that. If they don’t, call the postnatal ward. It’s hard enough to get antibiotics out of hours never mind in the middle of a pandemic. They should be able to either see you or get a prescription sorted for you ASAP that someone might have to pick up for you, but it’s better than the alternative which is you becoming acutely systemically unwell and ending up in A&E at 4am.

Hope you feel a lot better soon.

[FlapAttack23]

Antibiotics and lay on bed and feed them upside down.. their legs by your head like Spider-Man .. honestly it helps

It’s awful and I hope you’re ok

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

Call 111, ask to speak to our of hours, ask for flucoxiccilan. Will sort you right out

[Notonthestairs]

Really hope you've managed to speak to GP/Hospital.
Going forward Savoy cabbage leaves kept in the fridge helped me no end.

[whataballbag]

You really need antibiotics. At least 10 days worth of flucloxicillin

[whataballbag]

And ring 111 back. Mastitis can turn very quickly. Last time I had it I literally felt a bit of a sore boob on the way to the shop. By the time I got home I was expressing blood, then a few hours later ive never felt so bloody ill in my life

[HoneysuckIejasmine]

I had this is May, it was hideous. When I spoke to 111 the person helping me hadn't even heard of mastitis but arranged for me to see a GP when I explained what it was. GP referred me to the breast clinic (tennis ball sized lump) and gave me antibiotics. The clinic tried to drain it with no luck (Christ that hurt) but luckily the antibiotics worked and it started to go down by the time I'd gone back for a second drainage attempt.

Do not be fobbed off.

[Wallabyone]

I really hope you're ok. I've had it a couple of times, once when my first was tiny, and then when my third was 5 months old. The second time was dreadful-it got so bad so quickly and I felt so sick and weak. GP prescribed antibiotics over the phone and my husband went to collect them-I'm so surprised they haven't done this. If you still feel dreadful now, you must get sorted tonight. I wish you better xxx

[Zanina]

Hi OP hope you get the help you need asap. When I experienced it, I was given double dose antibiotics. It didn't work and then on was sent to hospital and they gave me another double amount. The technique to unblock the ducts / lumps is to take 600mg ibuprofen every 6 hours. And you have to feed the baby in a different position to your usual. So that the top of their mouth is on the blocked duct (because that's where the suction is most forceful) and if you can tolerate the feeding like that, keep offering the breast and you should see the ducts clear very soon. Applying cool / heat can help soothing. Please let us know how you get on xxx