Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

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

Flip

Original poster

Mastitis - what do I do?

14 replies

PrincessOfWails · 03/03/2012 22:23

It started this evening with a pain in my breast (I had mastitis a few weeks ago, got antibiotics, it cleared up).
Took some paracetamol, and fed more, but it's getting worse. I'm feeling pretty bad and it's hurting more. It's late now - the walk in clinic here is closed - and I'm in London not where my GP is. I don't have a breast pump either.

What do I do?

OP posts:

planetpotty · 03/03/2012 22:30

I got really engorged (turned out to be Tongue tie) and I went back to my birthing unit, they were amazing, gave the baby a bottle to calm her, pumped off the excess, got me a meal and told me to go to sleep in the middle of the day! When we both woke up we got on better and they picked up the tongue tie.

I'm out in the sticks compared to London but could you ring where you gave birth or a local unit?

planetpotty · 03/03/2012 22:31

Sorry just seen you're not at home - try ringing a birthing unit locally maybe? Someone may be along in a min to say this is utter crap but it's worth a phone call?

Original poster

PrincessOfWails · 03/03/2012 22:32

Oh I'm 250 miles from my GP/local stuff.

OP posts:

Dorsetyke · 03/03/2012 22:32

Sorry you're in pain, PrincessofWails.

Try Googling NHS direct to see what is advised. What about calling the out of hours GP service? Can you express the milk by hand until you can perhaps get help tomorrow?

IBlameThePenguins · 03/03/2012 22:34

I don't know if the experts would agree, but the one thing that got me through when I was in that exact position was sitting in a bath, pouring hot water on to a flannel, and putting the hot flannel on to the hurty bit of boob, then using my hands to draw the milk out. I had two flannels.and kept swapping, so they stayed really warm. Might be worth a try. I really feel for you. It's hobble isn't it. I hope you find duetting to help. I'm sure someone with more knowledge well be along soon. X

Upside · 03/03/2012 22:36

Ooof, feeling your pain. Try hand expressing, anti-inflammatories (such as ibuprofen- you can take with paracetamol) and don't feel guilty about going to A&E for some antibiotics. The sooner you get treatment the better.

Afterwards, consider having your latch checked by a BF counsellor- helped me no end when DS was 3 months.

planetpotty · 03/03/2012 22:39

I was so shocked and relieved at how seriously they took being engorged and how the attitude was I needed immediate care so I can only go by experience but I'm guessing (and hoping it would be the same for you) know it's late but definitely making a few phone calls to NHS direct or local units. Please don't put up with the pain, I did for about 24 hrs longer than I should fir fear of being a pain

Hope you feel better soon.

Mumof1plustwins · 03/03/2012 22:40

Can I just ask, as I'm feeding DTs I keep getting blocked ducts but first I get aches and pains in my body, a lump in my breast and it's always sore and sometimes it lasts a day or two. Is that mastitis? I've never been to the Dr about it - I just take paracetamol and if I can I have a hot bath...

CelticPromise · 03/03/2012 22:44

Try a cool dressing, like a cabbage leaf or a damp cold teatowel, then express if you can (by hand is fine), then a warm compress. If that doesn't work seek antibios. Don't stop feeding. I just finished a BF peer support course and this is what we were taught.

Hope you are better soon, it's horrid.

Longtallsally · 03/03/2012 22:44

Definitely anti-inflammatories - they take down the swelling inside the breast, but then you need to get baby to feed from that side as much as possible to get the milk flowing through the inflamed area.

Once the baby can't feed any more, get hand expressing - you can google how, but will work better in a warm bath as Iblame says.

Loads of sympathy. Mastitis is horrible, but can be cleared if you take the ibuprofen at the early stages and then get the milk moving. Avoid the temptation to avoid feeding on the inflamed side - and if you can express and get hold of a breast pump in the morning to avoid the other side becoming engorged too!

I had loads of mastitis - basically every time my dss changed feeding patterns - and it is really really painful, but found that the quicker we caught it and the more we fed/expressed, the quicker it would be resolved.

Antibiotics will deal with mastitis, but a) more slowly than the above method, and b) will not prevent it coming back again - echoing the suggestion of checking your latch if there is no other reason for it - eg dc skipping feeds.

Best of luck

Original poster

PrincessOfWails · 03/03/2012 23:02

Thanks. I have now been in touch with NHS direct, and my DH's GP is calling me back (I'm at my DH's place): but they take it seriously.

I will try to hand express and I've already woken DS to feed him on the bad side. This is annoying - he is 8mo, my 2nd DS, and I fed DS1 for ages (15 months) with an enormous supply, actually hyperlactation, and no problems at all. This is my second bout of mastitis with DS2, and the last one was only 3 weeks ago. The annoying thing is I can feel it comign on, but htis time is worse than the last time because I feel ill in myself with it.

Off to see the lactation consultant next week - I'm a peer support worker (ironic, no!) so I am in touch; but need the help myself now.

Thanks everyone - and I'll hand express now. In the bath.

OP posts:

planetpotty · 03/03/2012 23:39

Glad the wheels are in motion so much sympathy for you sending an outlawed x as an un-mn hug might hurt! X

Dorsetyke · 04/03/2012 07:53

How are things this morning, PoW?

planetpotty · 04/03/2012 09:10

Hope you're feeling better this morning

Flip