Mastitis again!

[Bekki]

Ds2 is 8 weeks and feeding is going really well, I love it and he loves it but I have just been given another load of antibiotics to get rid of an infection. The first was at 4 weeks, does anyone know why this is happening and how I can prevent it? Ds2 is feeding whenever he wants whether that be every hour or every 3 hours, but he never goes any longer than that at the moment. Should I be trying to make his feeds more regular?

It could be that DS2 is not emptying the breast effectively therefore making you prone to mastitis. You can help that by alternating feeding positions and massaging any part of the breast that feels lumpy. Let him still feed when he wants but try and make sure he is effectively feeding by being fixed as well as he can be. HTH.

Thanks Mears. I've just noticed that I tend to hold my breast in position whilst feeding which is more than likely the main cause of it.

If this happens again could I try beating the infection myself? I'm fed up of all these pills.

I got mastitis (not bad enough to need antibiotics) 3 or 4 times with my dd and only once with my ds. I'm sure it was because my dd was a "soft" sucker and my ds could suck a golf ball through a hose pipe.
As mears suggested, try massaging your breasts while feeding and change positions. Also, make sure you are not wearing an underwire bra or one that has hard bits that are constricting milk flow.

Try feeding under-arm, where you place baby with their face toward appropriate breast, while their body is under your arm, lift the engorged breast by placing your hand on your ribs and lifting,get baby latched, then stroke offending hard areas towards the nippple, thereby draining the milk!
If breasa the is extreemly tender, 2 drops lavender oil, in milk half a cup, placed into bath H2O, relax then massage towards nipple to express extra, (only after feeding) Try Cold breast shower after feeding.
Good luck, breast fed 3 children succesfully!

You've probably sussed it yourself there Bekki. When babies are fixed correctly you shouldn't have to hold the breast away ( except sometimes if you have really large breasts). As soon as you are aware of mastitis symptoms you can combat it by frequent feeds and massaging any blocked area. You could also try Brufen as it is an anti inflammatoty. You do not always need antibiotics.