Help.... Mastitis?

[quixotic]

Hello,

I have gradually been cutting down feeds over the last month for my 17 month old, and dropped the last one 3 days ago - the evening one which was really short anyway. One breast has gotton really hard over the last couple of days and I feel really coldy and achy - could this be mastitis? All the advice I am reading seems to be keep on feeding to get through it - but I have been stopped for the last three days, my daughter is fine with it at the mo, and I don't want to start again. What should I do? Should I massage the hard breast or is this going to encourage milk and make it take longer to get rid of the milk - just not too sure???

Thanks for your help!
Becky

Becky I'm really not sure - it may be that expressing a bit will be enough, but I'd be inclined to get advice from a counsellor when the helplines open.

Only thing is, I am in Japan - argh, no helplines here!

Oh right, not so handy! What about the La Leche League forums? They're based in the US I think so there might be some knowledgeable types online just now.

Hi, I breastfed and suffered with mastitis 3 times, it is very unpleasent to experience. Itt started with a very sore breast, only 1 breast tho, then i started shivering uncontrollably, fever etc flu like symptoms. Best thing to do is, if you have finished breastfeeding, take co-codamol which decreases the symptoms loads and then just wait it out. If it hasnt gone within 24 hours go see your doctor you may need antibiotics. Mine had always subsided by 24 hours. hope this helps. Your breasts will stop producing as much milk soon and you wont get it agen

Ibuprofen should help as it's anti-inflammatory.

Thanks so much! It I had a hot shower and put ice on it after, it seems to be much better today!
:)