tips for coping with mastitis :(

[marzipananimal]

i'm feeling very sorry for myself. ds is 9 days old and yesterday i came down with mastitis. I've started taking antibiotics, taking pararacetamol, feeding/expressing off the bad side, resting and drinking lots (thankfully dh still off work).

Is there anything else i can do? my left breast is so painful, i feel so rough, i threw up this morning (as did ds who's been very unsettled). Help!

yuk! just took my breastpad off and i seem to have been oozing pus! (sorry if tmi )

Ouch I feel your pain, sounds like you are doing all the right things but that doesn't make it any better does it? The anti bios should kick in soon, from starting them it took less than 48hrs for mine to calm down then only another day before back to normal... I know it seems like a lifetime and I still remember mine now 2 years later, but you'll get through it I promise. Hang on in there!!

You should take ibuprofen too (stagger it with the paracetamol). Feed as much as you can off the bad side (twice on the bad, once on the good so you don't end up with the same thing in the other boob!) Hot flannels (as hot as you can manage) on the boob.

Oh, you may also want to get your DH to get you some probiotic yoghurt drink thingies to take so that you don't end up with thrush from the antiBs.

Probiotic capsules are a lot better than the yoghurt drinks fwiw.

I feel for you. The ABs should make you feel better soon. Def take ibuprofen as well as paracetamol. Ib is better as it will also reduce inflammation in the breast. Mastitis is caused by milk being blocked up and to get rid of it you need to massage the blockage out too. I find getting in a hot bath and dangling my boob in the water helps. Try combing the affected area with a hairbrush or comb first and then use your fingers or knuckles. Comb towards the nipple. I have never had pus coming out and tbh I would keep a very close eye on that, you don't want to develop an abscess. Hope you feel better soon x

Good Info here www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html

Looks like can have pus actually with mastitis.

I think I would ditch the breast pad for now and just wear a well fitted cotton bra to let things breathe a bit.

thanks for the responses, we were told about cabbage leaves at antenatal class but i'd forgotten. is it supposed to be savoy cabbage?
Will send dh out for some cabbage and probiotics.
I generally steer clear of ibuprofen as when i've taken it regularly in the past it's made my asthma worse. Might take one or two though, what do people think?
Mw coming round today so i'll ask her about the pus

Yep, only savoy works. Don't take the ibuprofen.

You also need to think about why you got mastitis, why was the breast not being drained properly? I would suggest if you haven't already to need to go and have a chat with a bf counsellor.

Firt of all congrats on your ds! 9 days old

Savoy may well help, but you must feed from the inflamed side to get the milk flowing. It's important to not make your asthma bad, but if you can bear to take the odd ibuprofen when you first feel the twinges of mastitus starting, it will take down the inflammation in the the breast and allow the milk through. If the milk ducts are inflamed and swollen then the milk can't get through. Antibios will clear any infection behind the blockage, of course.

When you feel better, it's also good find out why the mastitis started. With me it was usually when the my milk monsters skipped a couple of feeds, and I let the milk build up too long, rather than wake them. However, at 9 days, it would be worth getting some advice on your latch to check that your ds has the best possible feeding position. Mastitis is horrible, so if you can avoid getting it again . . .

Best of luck

yeah latch issues could well be the culprit, he's terrible at it! Won't open his mouth wide enough so I've been using nipple shields to make feeding possible (not recommended I know but I had given up on bf until i got the shields). Going to try and get to a bf support group next week.
Am feeling a bit better after a bath, a nap and a feed :)

Good oh! I started off on nipple shields too as the only way we could get started. Ended up getting the hang of it after huuuuge difficulties - then feeding for 3.5 years!!!! BF support got us going - and we made some good friends there too.

Glad you are feeling better

Feeling much better today. Breast still a bit pink and sore but much improved and i don't feel ill any more, hurray for antibiotics! Cabbage leaves are very soothing too. Ds is feeding well (still with nipple shields) and now weighs more than when he was born :) Had a good night last night too. Life feels much better now. Thanks for all the support, mumsnet is great!