Help! Mastitis - can't shift the blockage...

[raspberrylover]

As a bit of background to why I'm feeling quite so fed up: I'm EBF my 13 week old DD - she's always thrived so no worries there. I suffered the '2nd worse nipple damage' the midwife had ever seen, and it took until last week for the right nipple to fully heal after antibiotics, thrush etc. Hooray I thought, this is the bit where it finally gets easier - pain free BF here I come. Lo and behold DD fell asleep on me after night feeds, and the pressure caused a blocked duct in my left boob. I haven't been able to shift it, despite trying every piece of advice I can find: massage in shower/bath/while feeding, heat/cold, boob dangling, massage with comb etc.

I went to the drs yesterday and am now taking antibiotics for mastitis. If anything I feel worse today than yesterday - boob painful virtually all over, pain from armpit to shoulder blade, intense flu-type pains. General inability to do anything.

Any tips I haven't tried? Or just reassurance that I won't die? Over the top I know, but that's how I feel ATM. Thanks!

I am a first time mom of a 12 day old baby girl, sorry I don't have any advice to add,but just wanted to tell you to hang in there... this too will pass in a few days and you'll be just fine. Best of luck!

Ouch sounds very painful!

Are you able to continue bfing from the affected breast? I've managed to get over two bouts of mastitis through feeding, but they were a lot milder than what you describe. Antibiotics should kick in after 46 hours so hang in there!

Ouch, you are going through it all aren't you. Massage in the shower was always my friend when I had blocked ducts, or feeding through gritted teeth - babies are great vacuums! Hope the antibiotics help soon, in the meantime keep drinking plenty and leave everything else to be done 'later' Is your DH still on pat leave?

I've just had this and still on antibiotics.

The crappy awful ill feeling shouldn't take too long to go away now you're on antibiotics. The painful boob took a bit longer to go for me but it had definitely eased after 1-2 days. It was a bit scary as well watching the redness slowly spread up my boob but then the drugs kicked in fully and it started to recede. I then had a large hard lumpy area that I couldn't seem to massage or feed out but thankfully today that has gone too.

What antibiotics did you get prescribed and for how long? I had to go back to the GP yesterday to get some more as I was only given a 7 day course and it needs to be longer really.

Just keep feeding as much as you can from that side. I got in the shower a lot and massaged too. Take paracetamol too.

And rest. Make sure you're resting.

Oh, and you won't die

Thank you all! Yes, I'm still feeding her from the bad boob - I can't pump very much at all so it's my only option... DP is at work, but my lovely parents have dropped everything to come and take care of us. I think they're enjoying the extra time with DD! I've got a 7 day course of Flucloxacillin, so useful to know that 7 days might not be enough. Interestingly (?) the blockage seems to have moved closer to my nipple since this morning, so it's on the move. Back to bed now...

Had mastitis last week (full on flu symptoms and pain).
I was given 7 days of augmentin (co-amoxicillin).
You can take ibuprofen...if you can ordinarily take it. I rotated 4hrly with paracetamol.
Was told if I wasn't much better (as in flu symptoms pretty much gone) after about 16h to go back to docs (with an emergency appointment). So if you're not feeling better soon, go back.
I was just exploring taking up BF as I was slowly going mental expressing and mentally was having a bitch of a time getting my noggin round formula (I suspect PND)...ended up being a good thing as upping the expressing to clear the mastitis has re-upped my supply. She's now BF exclusively!

Well done for getting such a positive outcome Oeisha. I went back yesterday as things hadn't improved, and was given amoxicillin, and I have another appointment for this afternoon for if things still aren't improving. So now I'm staring at my boob wondering if it's slightly better than yesterday...!

Thanks raspberry. Just fighting a non-compliant latcher at the moment. SHe keeps wiggling her damn head...
Your boobs should be feeling a lot better. See if the doctor will refer you to a lactation specialist/BF specialist...they might be able to find you a position to help drain it.
The GP I saw mentioned it was possible to have the blocked duct drained, giving a bit of lee-way and allowing the breast to re-fill naturally...rather than just building up (and feeling like it might explode)...so that might be worth exploring too...though I think this means a hospital visit...