Mastitis twice in 3 weeks ! - help

[susiey]

I have a 3 week old dc4 who is wonderful and lovely and managed to latch on straight away.
At 1 week old I developed mastitis , I knew what it was due to having had it with dc3. Took ibuprofen, paracetamol, varied position and massaged while feeding etc.
I went to doctor who prescribed antibiotics and gave great advice( have feeling she may have breast fed herself!) felt better everything was fine within a few days.
Yesterday my 21 month old decided to kick my tricky boob while I was changing her and I started to get mastitis symptoms within 2 hours at point of impact.
Am taking ibuprofen, paracetamol at 2 hourly intervals but want to try to avoid antibiotics because I think this is due to impact rather than infection.
Is there anything else I can do? Do you think I should call gp and get antibiotics? Anyone have any experience of getting mastitis after a blow to the breast?

I don't know about a blow to the breast causing mastitis, but I wonder how long the original course of antibiotics was?

It is recommended that antibiotics for mastitis are given for 10 to 14 days to prevent a relapse.

Could this be what is happening to you?

Original course of antibiotics was 7 days but GP said if feeling better could stop after 5. I think I took 6 days in the end balancing risk of thrush and mastitis.

I got mastitis at 7 days and then again at 3 weeks and I do think in my case it was down to only a 7 day course of antibiotics and it not clearing properly in the first place. I am a bit of an old hand at mastitis now sadly and for some reason GP's have frequently tried to give me a 7 day course of antibiotics, even though literature suggests 10-14 days is appropriate.

I did get mastitis once after a knock to the breast and didn't go to the doctors right away. Partly as I was sick of the sight of them/of antibiotics and partly as I felt the symptoms were just grumbling along, not really acute and it might go by itself. However, it turned out to be the worst case I had had and I was stupid not to go to the doctors sooner. My breast became huge and the poor doctor looked terrified when she saw it, almost sending me to the hospital immediately. It has caused me no end of problems (although caused by the mastitis also related to breast implants) and now I have had to dry up that side and surgery is m,y only option to resolve the issues.

I would say if in doubt, get the anitbiotics.

Just to add, I have had 9 courses of antibiotics whilst breastfeeding and never got thrush. Some people just aren't prone to it. you can take probiotics if you are though.

Thanks for your replies
it appears that as long as keep on top of the painkillers I feel ok and breast definitley feels better than yesterday evening. Will keep an eye on it and visit the walk in clinic this weekend if it gets worse.
Midori I really hope this doesn't continue for 9 bouts that sounds awful.the flu like symptoms are just so horrible and with 3 other kids to look after really not helpful!

I wouldn't go without the antibiotics, personally. That fever was horrible. Glad you're feeling a bit better, OP.

I had six bouts of mastitis with varying degrees of yukiness, and IME if you get it a couple of times in quick succession you really do need anti-b's for a couple of weeks to properly see the back of it.
It's horrible though, get well soon OP X