to rub or not to rub? mastitis

[MrsHumphz]

Hi all

I've got mastitis and have several large raised lumps on my breast. I'm on antibiotics. I have read two different pieces of advice:

1. Rub the lumps in the shower with a comb or a flannel to help unblock the ducts which is contributing to the mastitis

1. Don't rub the lumps as it will force milk further into the tissue which is causing the issue.

Any views?!

thanks v much....

I have never heard 2 given as a suggestion. All the sources I've seen suggest massage is v helpful. Who said not to and on the basis of what evidence?

I have never heard 2 either... If you massage you should definitely do so towards the nipple rather than pushing the blockage further up. Where have you heard 2?

You poor thing. Mastitis is horrible.

Number 1 works for me, but I do it before I get to full-blown mastitis (have only needed antibiotics once, other times I've sorted blocked ducts / milk blisters with some massage, nurofen, hot flannels, hand expressing, cabbage leaves etc).

So I'm not at all sure about number 2. Hope this will bump for someone more expert than me.

Hope you feel better soon.

Ouch, you poor bugger

I found putting a warm cloth on and massaging gently down towards the nipple helped - very gently though

Agree, be gentle if you do the massage thing. A good tip (from Mumsnet, of course, though I forget who gave it) is to use a wide-toothed comb once you've run it over a bar of soap.

thanks everyone... really can't remember where i read the 2nd piece. I was googling last night in a haze of pain and general malaise! I just didn't want to start massaging if it was going to make things worse.

Will have a bath now and try the massage technique...!

I remember the pain and the general "ill" feeling

good luck with it, hopefully you will get some relief from the massaging in warm water xx

Yup. hot bath, lean forward and massage gently towards the nipple. And bf/express as much as you can on that side.

You have my greatest sympathy. Only had it once, and it was about 2 days before finally giving up bf with my youngest of three. Felt unbelieveably sore and ill.

Success! Spent sometime massaging and then (look away if you're squeamish) spent about 40minutes squeezing pus out of my nipple... URGH!!!!!!

I saw that advice on the internet as well (can't remember where) but chose to ignore it.

Hope you are feeling better.

Remember being told to hold arm up above head and massage down in long strokes from the armpit down over lump and to nipple in warm shower. I did this over and over several times a day and keep feeding from that side even though it's tender. Hope you are feeling better mastitis is really awful.