mastitis question - only read if you have a strong stomach

[JollyRogerRabbit]

I know the advice with mastitis is you should keep feeding, but should I still be feeding if I'm expressing yellow pus?

Also, could this have caused DS to puke tonight? ( very unusual)

DS is 11.5 months, feeds twice a day. Mastitis developed on Friday and I started antibiotics that night. Started left side of left boob, now right side of left boob nipple very swollen. Left side of boob seems almost better.

Not trained but personally I would just pump from the infected side if that's happening, dump the milk and feed from the other side.

Like I say though, I'm not trained so you may be better speaking to a BFC, try the National Bfing Helpline on 0300 100 0212

Really hope that gets better for you soon too.

I think JJJ is right.

Also, many GPs give BF women too low a dose of not-strong-enough antibiotics for too short a course, and also (but not related to GPs prescribing habits at all) developing a breast abcess is incredibly common in BF women with mastitis, so if a new bit is red and swollen I would get the duty Dr to have a look at it tonight or tomorrow...draw a biro line around the red area, if its the same size or bigger tomorrow (while you are still taking ABX) it def needs looking at.

Hmm, I suppose it doesn't sound great really.

Thank you very much for your advice. Am on 500mg Erythromycin 4 times a day, but doctor only gave me a week's course so I was planning to go back on Friday for another few days - a week didn't seem like enough to me.

Will call the helpline and ask their advice.

Started ABs Fri night, new area on right hand side of left boob appeared Sat am. Nipple area also started to swell then and is still swollen. Original area on left hand side of left boob now not sore and looks like a healing bruise - brown rather than red.

I don't think that 7 days is enough either. Have a look at Kellymom here as it gives advice on the medication you should be receiving and for how long.

Yeah, kellymom says 10-14 days for erythromycin and last time I had mastitis (in early November) I had a 10 day course. Last time wasn't nearly so bad though, even though I didn't spot it so early.

Have tried the helpline but nobody's available. Maybe I'll try the kellymom forum to see if anyone's around on there.

Thank you again.

Have you got any of the other helpline numbers Jolly, can't link at the mo but try La Leche League, NCT or Association of Breastfeeding Mothers.

Yes, you can keep feeding, even though it seems disgusting and your baby feeding will help you get better faster than expressing as the breast will be drained better.

You have my sympathies. I've had mastitis eleven times in 9 months and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I hope you get better soon.

I have the NCT one. I was a bit concerned that interrupting someone's evening at 9pm on easter sunday might not be terribly polite, but I think you're probably right and I should try again.

I would pump and dump as well. Do you get a letdown on the infected side when you feed from the other? Can you rest your breast on a clean muslin or something and hand express as you feed on the other side? You may get a better letdown than with just expressing which could help clear it.

That sounds like a decent dose of ABs, but as you say you probably need longer than a week.

what midori says its FINE to keep feeding, seems yucky but honestly its fine, i had this with ds3? was still feeding ds2 at the time so having a toddler that could have ab ig feed helped, i also hand expressed a bit in the bath which is when i noticed the puss coming out!! i phoned a bfeeding counsellor who assured me it was fine to still feed, baby didnt seem bothered and nor did the toddler and it was feeding that really helped clear it :)

oh and combing my breasts really helped when i had mastitis, i used a wide toothed comb, worked best in the bath with a bit of soap and combed from right under the armpit down and over the affected area of the breast towards the nipple, pressing firmly but not so its digging in, this will help if there is any blockage etc and it seemed to really help me whenever i had mastitis :)

yes look on kellymum they will probably have advice on feeding when the milk has puss in it as well, i would expect, but as i said i was told its fine and my baby and toddler werent bothered by it :)

Just called the NCT helpline who says that the pus shouldn't do him any harm.

No longer get a letdown on the other side when DS feeds, unfortunately. I may try hand expressing while feeding when he gets up tomorrow though - that could definitely help, and I did manage to express quite a bit after his feed this evening.

Pumping isn't working either - I haven't pumped in a couple of months but tried for 20 minutes yesterday morning and got a wee dribble. Hand expressing is a better output with less pain at the moment.

I feel much less ill than I did yesterday. My temperature is still up, but low-mid 37s rather than the mid 38s I was at yesterday and friday evening.

Sorry, completely missed your post, midori. 11 times sounds like a complete nightmare. This is just my second bout of it and I'm seriously considering quitting bfing after this - had planned to carry on for at least another 6 months.

And thank you all for your posts. 5mad there wasn't really anything on kellymom about feeding with pus - it didn't say to stop but didn't explicitly say to carry on if you see what i mean. However, some of the references suggested that baby could continue feeding even if a breast abscess was present, which made me think that continuing feeding might be appropriate.

the puss coming out is the infection clearing in some way, i felt LOADS better when i expressed in the bath and loads of puss came out it, was gross but literally as it came out i started to feel better, so hopefully this is it coming to an end?

i know you say your ds only feeds twice a day? nay chance of offering him more feeds, that will be the best way of clearing it :)

Thank you again, all :)

I gave him 3 feeds on Friday, 5mad but not since. Maybe will try that again tomorrow.

Yeah like others say keep feeding, more if possible.

Breast abcesses aren't common in women with mastitis though, they are a rare further complication so don't anticipate one!

Check your nipple for blockages, white dots or pearly spots like white heads. If you find any pick and squeeze out. Keep expressing and massaging you may well squeeze out some cottage cheese....

Lecithin supplements thought to help. Not much evidence but good reports from some mums.

Thanks all. I'm actually feeling much better this morning. Still very sore but it feels like it's healing. My temp is back to normal too.

Clearly expressing all that pus yesterday was a good idea. My areola is pretty swollen though, so hopefully that'll go down soon. Will definitely head to doctor this week to get another few days of abs though - do not want this to cone back.

Glad you are feeling much better today Jolly, think you are right that expressing all that puss must have helped .