Breast Infection (poss TMI)

[HelenLG]

Hi,

This may be TMI but I got prescribed antibiotics of Friday for a suspected breast infection.

It's absolute agony, my nipple is now purple and swollen on one side. I can't nurse LO from that side, so am having to express the milk to give to him.

The doctor said to take the antibiotics for a week and if it doesn't improve come back. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Is it possible that this is a blocked duct rather than an infection? Any ideas what I can do to help with the pain (it throbs constantly)?

You can take paracetamol if that would touch it. Is nursing too painful or have you been told not to?

You poor thing, sounds horrible :(

didn't want your post unanswered. I had a blocked duct (on a few occasions, I fed 3 dc) there was swelling and throbbing but no purple-ness. Can you get to the emergency GP, or are you still under midwife care? IMHO you need not to be in such agony, I really feel for you. Have you done all the stuff like nice warm baths, hot flannel on boob and so on?

Incidentally, I would expect ABs to work within 2-3 days so you should see improvement by tomorrow. If not I recommend calling the NCT BF line who would have some ideas to go back to the GP with, or see if your hospital has breastfeeding specialist nurses. GPs seldom know much about BF unless they've done some speciality in it for some reason. IME you need to work out what's wrong using other health care professionals, then go to the GP for the script.

well said OCC :)

:)

Thank you for the advice. I've been taking paracetamol which takes the edge off of it. I tried nursing on that side but it was too painful so I've been expressing at every feed, so as to not get lopsided and to try and draw it out.

I've found putting a cool flannel on it helps. It just makes me miserable cos not only does it hurt all the time, but I can't have cuddles and nurse in the same way as normal with other hurt my breast (they are quite large and get everywhere).

Incidently, I woke up this morning and it didn't start throbbing until I started moving so slept quite well last night.

Fingers crossed the antibiotics are working.

Ibuprofen is best for this sort of pain. As is bfing with the baby - I do know how painful that is but the baby is the expert at getting the milk out and draining the ducts. Breastfeed in different positions if you can.

Massage with a hot shower, and use a hot flannel - infused with ginger if you have this.

Agree with organiccarrotcake, you really need advice from a bfing expert.

Sorry to hear you are in so much pain. Breast infections are agony (have been hospitalised twice with mastitis since June) and my nipple was exactly as you describe. Second what belgo says about ibuprofen being best for this sort of pain. Have you had any fever or aches or shivers? Rest is also crucial to get over a breast infection. Take your baby to bed and stay there if you can. The pain will gradually ease off, it really will. Agree with belgo and organiccarrotcake to get advice from a lactation consultant to see whether it is a latching on issue or a bacterial infection or get an urgent referral to the breast clinic at your local hospital. Hang in there.

Yay!!! My DS has fixed my booby!!

I follow belgos advice, took some ibuprofen and have been nursing all day. Then last feed I had the sharpest pain and then nothing, all the pain stopped. When DS had finished, my nipple had gone down and was bleeding slightly.

I rang the NCT helpline and they said it sounded like a blocked duct, keep taking the AB's and keep feeding (the blood wont hurt him).

Thanks everyone for your support and advice.

Glad to hear you are feeling better!

Are babies brilliant!

...and boobs too

Unbelievable...finished my course of AB's on Saturday after the issue with my nipple clearing up on Monday. Tonight it's back again!!!

The side of my nipple is swollen and red again and feeding is agony. Surely it shouldn't have come back so quickly in the same place?

Please go back and ask for better ABs. I ignored my infection and ended up with an abscess that needed two operations and three months of daily visits from a district nurse to dress. Not to mention the episodes with needles

Been back to the doctors and they want to treat for thrush, so I've got Nystatin for the boy and Fluconazole.

I stupidly took the first pill (the big one) before reading the leaflet, which says not to use it whilst breastfeeding... but the doctor prescribed it to treat thrush from breastfeeding, so she knew that's what I'm doing.

Having a mini freak out about it now. Has anyone else been prescribed/taken Fluconazole whilst breastfeeding??

see this leaflet. I haven't had it but leaflet says it's ok, also says nystatin is not the best method for treating baby

by the way, sorry you're suffering so much, I'm in bed with mastitis for the second time in 3 weeks. It sucks :(

Ahh, we might not have been given the gel because he's only 11 weeks. Sorry to hear about the mastitis, it really sucks.

It's so upsetting, I was feeding DS last night, sat in tears and my poor DH is just sat next to me, rubbing my back cos he can't do anything to help.

HelenLG, so sorry you have been in so much paina nd that it is back again, I really feel for you, I had a bacterial infection in my breast a few weeks back (ummmm, I'm not actually sure what that is, my lovely doctor is foreign so understading her isn't that easy all the time!)and it was pure agony, burning sensation constantly and like someone was taking a razor blade to my nipple when feeding. Went to one doctor who was AWFUL and admitted he was cluless and then went to a female doctor who had BF 3 children, really struggled with all sorts of issues with her 3rd so was really well informed and supportive. Anyway she put me on antibiotics and they worked really quickly, but the best piece of advice she gave me was to feed using the rugby ball posistion (baby tucked under you arm, it will be on you tube!)which I found quite challenging with an 8 month old but really eased the pain tremendously, it might be worth giving a try!!!
I have another blocked duct brewing in my right boob, I'm preying it doesn't turn nasty agian it is so upsetting when something that is normally such a pleasure is so painful plus the worry that the support isn't there to get us through!!! Good Luck xxx

This is ridiculous, it's come back again. I rang the health visitor and they've given me the address of the local breast feeding group to go in and have my latch checked.

I don't understand how it keeps coming back in the same place. It has to be to do with how I'm feeding him, but we got through over 2 months in the same position with out any problems :(

Hmm, it may keep coming back in the same place because, once that spot is injured, it gets into more trouble, iyswim.

ABs effectively cause thrush (particularly if you have broken skin).

Helen - Make sure your bra's fit properly as tightly fitting bras can lead to ducts getting blocked.

I had simular to you, mastitus (x 3 times), thrush and repeated blocked ducts.

The medication for your thrush is fine, I eventually was taking 100mg twice a day.

At the first sign of symptoms of blocks get your LO to feed on that side, hot flannels while in a bath and masage it.

This will get better I promise!

Breast feeding councillor thinks it's his latch, because he lays on his back and turns his head rather than facing me, and also a fast let down which means he's fussing...