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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Recurrent Mastitas at 3mth EBF - DH getting annoyed!!

30 replies

Etalb · 06/02/2011 21:03

Hi there
I'm feeding my DS and now have mastitas for a 5th time in my right boob - basically feel like i have flu - high temperature - feel sick - headache etc and really struggling to do all the daily things which include looking after a 2 year old and 4 year old - husband has been great but now is annoyed as he is obviously more responsible for the other children when i'm ill with mastitas - so he has said i should stop breastfeeding as its causing too much upset in the family. Plus when i take the antibiotics DS becomes very unsettled which in turn means i'm even more focussed on him than normal and DH has to look after the other children more. I'm not going to stop feeding but feel so so sad that the fact that i'm trying to do the best for my baby is thought to take up too much of my time - surely this is my job - afterall he is not a baby forever. Men can be so selfish!!! Any advice re mastitas appreciated - i think i'm getting it as the right boob always has loads and loads more milk than the other and if DS sleeps through a feed at night for a couple of nights i tend to get it?

OP posts:

Ieattoomuchcake · 06/02/2011 21:10

I'm sorry I don't have any advice re mastitis. But just wanted to give you a big ((hug))
Sorry your DH isn't being supportive.

I'm sure somebody will be along soon with practical advice.

Original poster

Etalb · 06/02/2011 21:11

thanks ieattoomuchcake!

OP posts:

japhrimel · 06/02/2011 21:12

Express if your LO misses a feed and act fast with blocked ducts. I get blocked ducts a lot (mixture of messed up supply, thrush, a bad bra, etc, etc) and take Ibuprofen, use breast nurse pads (both warm and cold) and try to empty the affected breast as much as possible.

Original poster

Etalb · 06/02/2011 21:14

how do you know if you have a blocked ducts - are they the small lumps?

OP posts:

CrispyCakeHead · 06/02/2011 21:21

sorry to hear your DH is being less than supportive

Have you looked at what the cause of the masititis can be? could it be that DS's latch isn't as good on that side, or is your bra too tight? Even lying on that side can affect it. Also, if the cause is bacterial, perhaps getting the GP to tkae a swab to find out exactly what bacteria is causing it. If he is only prescribing a broad spectrum AB it might not be man enough for the job so there is residual infection that is cropping up again. You might need a bacteria specific AB rather than a broad sepctrum. There is also some good advice on www.kellymom.com.

I had hideous recurrent mastitis with my DS2, always on the same side, and it wasn't until he was about six months old that we discovered that he had a tight labial frenulum and wasn't latching properly on my left boob (which is a bit bigger than the right). Unfortunately it was something that I just learnt to put up with as my GP was loathe to do anything about it DS was thriving . It did get easier as he got older, and when he fell at about 13 months and burst the lip tie, feeding after that was like a dream; I had just become accustomed to it being slightly uncomfortable! Knowing that my mastitis was a result of blockages rather than bacterial meant I was able to avoid ABs as well.

japhrimel · 06/02/2011 21:23

Yup, lumps can be blocked ducts - they can be the precursor/cause of mastitis.

CrispyCakeHead · 06/02/2011 21:23

yes, blocked ducts feel like little peas.

If you can try and get to a blocked duct and clear it (massaging from the blockage down towards your nipple, with hot flannels applied to your boobs as well to get things flowing), then more often than not mastitis is kept at bay.

japhrimel · 06/02/2011 21:25

As well as the heat and massage (and breast drainage) to clear blocked ducts, using cold after feeds/expressing and taking ibuprofen can help reduce inflammation.

louby78 · 07/02/2011 06:44

Sorry about lack of support - it's hard on everyone but sometimes men struggle to get the imp of BFing to us.

I can't recommend pytolacca highly enough. It's a homeopathic remedy yhat helps get rid of mastitis avoiding AB and therefore avoiding upsetting baby and it stops it properly developing.

You must take it at first signs of mastitis. I ven used it with blocked ducts as it does help with swelling. Had mastitis twice early on. Took this as felt flu symptoms third time and in a day i felt better. Day later red mark went. Worth getting in.

japhrimel · 07/02/2011 09:24

Have to point out that there will be no evidence that remedy works beyond placebo and that homeopathic remedies contain no active ingredients! Don't ever take a homeopathic remedy in place of something doctor prescribed.

Original poster

Etalb · 07/02/2011 09:54

thanks for the advice - i'm going to get the doctor to investigate the bacteria as i can now feel it coming on in the other breast - which i just dont understand as he feeds so well on there. My bra is uncomfortable so that could be a cause. I have heard horror stories about the infections needing to be drained and just dont want to get to this stage!!

OP posts:

pinkyp · 07/02/2011 10:01

I've seen some info online about Lecithin a herbel suppliment - its suppose to help people stop getting blocked ducts/mastitus. I've actually put a thredasking 4 ppls experiences on it

Original poster

Etalb · 07/02/2011 10:45

i just spoke to breast feeding support and she seems to think the ds is not feeding for the right length of time on each side - he only feeds for about 6 mins? anyone else think this is the case?

OP posts:

Restrainedrabbit · 07/02/2011 10:56

I've got 3DCs and BF all of them (currently feeding DC3 who is 17 weeks old), had recurrent mastitis with my middle child on the right hand side. Try and avoid sleeping on the affected side to prevent it getting compressed and thus blocked. Also express from that side before bed and first thing in the morning if the nights are causing a problem. Hot/cold compresses work well as does massaging the breast whilst feeding.

With regards to the length of feed, my DD never feeds for more than five minutes each side and I've not had an issue. Although I always start a feed on the breast I used last to ensure it is thoroughly drained.

Original poster

Etalb · 07/02/2011 11:20

thanks restrainedrabbit - i dont want to fiddle with the length of his feeds as he seems quite content with doing what he is doing. I will try the expressing. Why i should have it now on the other side I dont know?

OP posts:

Misspaella · 07/02/2011 11:22

Etalb I feel for you. I had the same thing with DS2 (and had a 4 and 2 yr old). I kept getting mastitis on my right breast and here is what I did to "cope".

sleep with my nursing bra loosened
if DS2 wouldn't "drain" the breast I would quickly express a tad bit if I felt lumpy/uncomfortable
take ibuprofen and brush the breast downwards if I even got a pink patch/other symptons
eat "live" yoghurt and take bacteria tablets

I had an oversupply issue and the littlest thing would cause mastitis for me (sleeping on the right side too much, tight bras, even being tired!)

My DH did get fed up too - not because he wanted me to stop but because he didn't want to see me feeling so ill and in pain. Plus like you it was hard to deal with older DC's when feeling rubbish and your DP/DH is at work.

Best of luck.

Restrainedrabbit · 07/02/2011 11:24

Oh yes being 'run down' could make it flare up, another reason for your DH to be supportive

TheProvincialLady · 07/02/2011 11:28

Etalb who told you that he wasn't feeding for long enough? If you have a generous suuply/fast letdown then your DS may have learned to feed very quickly and efficiently. Look at the baby, not the clock! My DS2 never fed for longer than 5 minutes even when a week or so old.

Original poster

Etalb · 07/02/2011 11:59

misspaella - thanks for your advice - like you my right side seems to have loads more milk and this is the side that gets the infection - other people have mentioned these bacteria or biotic tablets - what are they - can i get them in Boots?

Provinciallady - the breastfeeding support lady at my local hospital said he was not feeding for long enough but he doesnt want to feed for any longer and when i express i get loads in 5 minutes so i dont think it this - however my right boob does seem to have more milk than the other one?

OP posts:

TheProvincialLady · 07/02/2011 12:23

I get so annoyed with this kind of rubbish advice

You sound like me, plenty of milk and it comes out fast! I found that I had to block feed (feed for 4 hours on one breast and then 4 hours on the next) to calm things dow a bit. I got mastitis a few times but the main causes for me were rushing around too much and making myself over tired (well, havig a 2 year old and a newborn) does tend to do that to you) and a particular bra and feeding top that I threw away when I realised. They both felt comfy but must have been digging in somewhere.

Original poster

Etalb · 07/02/2011 12:36

maybe its true about the over tired thing as it does tend to arrive after a few exhausting days in a row.

OP posts:

Loopymumsy · 07/02/2011 12:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

japhrimel · 07/02/2011 13:06

Get probiotics from any health food store -aim for a high dose capsule or powder not something like yakult!

Original poster

Etalb · 07/02/2011 13:10

loopymumsy - just got back from seeing the nurse at the GP's as she said my antibiotics were not a big enougth dose - so yes probable a re-occurrence - I now have a 500mg does instead of a 250mg does she also said that if i cant get rid of it i may have to stop feeding????? Is this correct - I dont want to stop..

OP posts:

Restrainedrabbit · 07/02/2011 13:45

I would have thought that stopping feeding would be the worse thing you could do!? I thought that was only recommended if you have an abscess that requires surgical drainage (I may be wrong here).

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