Mastitis a&e?

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I am pretty sure I have mastitis, had it before. Symptoms started this afternoon however now I am shaking, having vomited, have a terrible fever, can't keep warm and in a lot of pain. I feel so ill. 111 said callback is 6 hours, I honestly am struggling to type this. AIBU to go to a&e with this sooner?

If you feel you are deteriorating quickly then you could call 111 back and insist on an out of hours appointment, or if you can’t get through to them just go to a&e if you can get there safely. You probably need antibiotics.

If you can, continue breastfeeding. There are many safe antibiotics you can take while breastfeeding.

You may find these resources useful.

https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/factsheet/antibiotics/

https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/breastfeeding-information/mastitis-breastfeeding/

I think you should go to A&E. DD was admitted with mastitis. Hope you feel better soon.

Yes I'd just go

Go to A and E.

If you are struggling to type this and feel that awful get to A&E. I was shocked at how quickly mastitis came, id had a clogged duct for a few hours I felt like I had a bit of a headache (rare for me) and like I wanted to lie down and a bit shivery. We started walking to the doctors which was 5 minutes away and by the time I got there my entire left breast was rock hard and lobster red.

If you’re worried go down to a&e

if you’re in England go equipped for a wait - the strike means waiting times are long

Currently in a&e, they did obs and examined me and have put an IV line straight in. My heart rate is very fast and still spiking a temp even after paracetamol and ibuprofen at home. It came on so quickly.

It hits hard. Be careful of the advice they give you, however. When I went to emergency with mastitis I was given an antibiotic that was not recommended for mastitis, and told to stop nursing on the infected side. Turns out that is also not recommended. My ob gym or the on call doctor at my baby's pediatrician would have known what to do. I ended up with an abscess as a result of the advice I was given in emergency.

I've been nursing through it. I fed baby just before I left. Baby is ebf so feel terribly guilty leaving with dh and she will be screaming as nurses more in the night and we also have a 2.5 year old but I just feel so ill. I am feeling a bit better due to fluids and whatever else they have given me so far so hopefully will get to go home later. They've just done an ecg too.

Yes, definitely go. I spent around a week in hospital after a severe case of mastitis. You can't be too careful as it can lead to sepsis.

How are you doing now? Have you been admitted for IV antibiotics?

Hope you’re ok OP and being treated.
If you can keep feeding that would be ideal, the links I included above have some fact sheets about which drugs are safe during breastfeeding.

Thanks all - I got sent home this morning, I had a large dose of IV antibiotics, now on oral antibiotics. Feel dreadful still. I think because my blood pressure is so low too, its just making me feel worse. I nursed baby this morning, then dh took her to childcare later on, she will be home soon so will nurse again. Have been trying to express a little in between but have never got much out when expressing anyway. We are going abroad at the weekend and my plan was to continue to nurse and then try and wean off after holiday as she will be 14 months and I do feel our journey is coming to an end and I am ready to stop. She mainly only night nurses now, probably why I've ended up in this situation as things are getting blocked. I am now worried when I stop, this will return. Any advice on stopping? I asked HV but didn't find their advice very helpful if I'm honest and felt a bit judged for stopping at 14 months. This is probably my 9th bout of mastitis, although never, ever this bad before, shes biting me, playing with the nipple, doing crocodile rolls, I am not getting any quality sleep and she has weaned onto food very well, I feel its time.

I feel for you OP. I found mastitis more painful than giving birth! I was also judged for giving up breastfeeding by the HV even though my milk was green with pus. Just give up gradually is my advice, drop a feed at a time and don't feel guilty, you have done a great job.

I had mastitis (boob hard and red, temp going up) and hauled myself into shower, then massaged for ages, then expressed and expressed - after what felt like forever, it unclogged and it was like something out of Austin powers. Relief was instant !! Still remember feeling so ill but so impressed with the volume coming out …

Thanks @andHelenknowsimmiserablenow awful to hear you were judged too when clearly poorly! She's mainly just nursing in the morning and then through the night so plan is for dh to try and settle her like every other feed, sometimes it can be like 5+ feeds! He managed to settle her whilst I was in hospital Monday night so that's given me some confidence.

I hope you feel better soon - mastitis is horrific (I was hospitalised with it too). The HV is a loon - Breastfeeding to 14 months is rare in this country so you're fab and little one is lucky. Do you have a breastfeeding peer support group in your area you could ask for advice on weaning. Alternatively there are phone support lines you could contact

Thanks so much @BabyMoonPie HV said 'well its usual for people to carry on until 2 years now' and that was it and then said she will refer to feeding team, I went for one visit with them and again felt it was useless, just told me to let DH sleep next to DD but that was the only advice they gave me. I will look at support groups in area - thanks. Today dd is in childcare, I am still off work but I got a gush of milk coming out earlier after laying down with a hot compress on, usually my right one has always been the one with a lower supply but now its pouring, but it was very much like @StillProcrastinating said and instant relief. I hate saying this too but I don't feel like I've really enjoyed the journey, I had little support, but DD latched and only wanted breast so that's what I gave her. There are moments when it's been lovely but also alot of difficult moments and then I feel I have also been judged by formula feeding friends/colleagues and get the eye rolls when they ask if I'm still nursing and i'm sure they will be making comments when they find out why I have been off sick. My first DD only nursed for a few weeks but she was combination, I was very ill and she was given to DH and had a bottle stuck straight in her mouth, no skin to skin and she also had bad reflux and I was so sad when BF never worked, this time I was determined and DD2 just took to it straight away and now I have done both I can see the pros and cons of both and its whatever works best. If I had a 3rd which we won't but if we did, would I BF, yes I would try and see where the journey takes us but honestly I don't feel enough support is given in the UK.

Hopefully this will be the final time I ever get mastitis now and will be able to say that she's weaned off in a month or so. I know I'll get those moments where I may miss the closeness but overall its definitely time.

As an additional thing, can you get hold of a savoy cabbage?

Keep in fridge. The leaves are amazingly soothing

And it sounds like weaning is absolutely the right thing to do now.

Good luck!