5th bout of mastitis in 7 weeks :(

[mummyyates]

hello, I've just come down with mastitis for the 5th time in 7 weeks. DD2 is 8 weeks old and I am EBF but seem to be having lots of problems. I fed DD1 for a year without any problems at all so this has come as a bit of a shock.

At a week old DD2 was diagnosed with thrush. Both of my nipples were very sore and open at this point, and have been for most of the last 7 weeks. I have a crescent shaped wound on the end of my left nipple that was getting better until this latest bout yesterday.

Dr has prescribed 6th course of AB (finally a different one this time) and a week's course of fluconazole (have had 2week course of this previously). She said she had never known anyone have it so many times but could offer no advice on what it could be or how to stop it.

I have seen a lactation consultant who said DD2 has a bubble pallet and that she bites down which could be causing blockages. Saw an osteopath who said there were no problems that she could find other than a slightly mucusy nose. BF councillor gave some good tips on latch last week and my right nipple is currently blood free!

Mastitis has been twice on left side, twice on right side and now back to left again. Each time I have been 39.5 degrees with shivers and aches and my whole breast had gone red. I don't seem to have any hard lumps or obvious blocked ducts.

Has anyone experienced anything similar or got any advice?? I am desperate to keep BF but being wiped out and in bed for 2 days out of every 10 is just not feasible with a toddler. It's really frustrating- a few days after I start the AB I feel well again then 2 or 3 days after they finish I get it again. All help hugely appreciated.

How long have the courses of antibiotics been? My understanding is that it needs to be 10-14 days and courses of 7 days which is what is usually prescribed aren't enough to clear the infection completely, so it keeps recurring.

Did the lactation consultant mention anything about tongue tie or lip tie? Bubble palates can (but not always) be caused by a tongue tie (ds1 has one, as well as anterior and posterior tongue tie). Unfortunately, tongue ties are often missed even by lactation consultants

have a read of this, especially the list of symptoms about half way down

If your DD has a bubble palate and bites down, has a tongue tie been properly assessed for? Bubble palates often go hand in hand with TTs - lots of info on TT here.

Thrush is pretty rare in a very newborn baby and bleeding wounded nipples are a sign that something is up with the latch (be it 'poor' latch/positioning or something like a TT though a bubble palate may make feeding uncomfortable too).

Hope you get to the bottom of this soon.

Oh love you poor thing.

Is DD being treated for thrush as well? Its important you both get a 10-14 day course.

I think you need to see someone else ASAP to check latch and have another look in babies mouth. Contact your HV, and get to as many breastfeeding drop ins as you can, also try and see another LC or BFC.

In the meantime, hand expressing small amounts will relieve the pain somewhat (even though I know that touching your breast is the last thing you want to do right now). if you do notice any patches / blotches / blockages, then try and feed with babies lower jaw pointing towards them to help ease it up. Hot / cold flannels, and iprobrufen.

Thank you for your replies.
AB courses have mostly been 7 days but last one was 11. Have only been prescribed 7 days of the new one this time.
The LC I saw checked for tongue tie but having looked at the checklist, there are quite a few that apply to us. Where can I get this checked again?
DD is on Daktarin gel for thrush. Have tried nystatin but they then changed to this one.
Have left a message with HV but think they have finished for the weekend now. Although to be honest, I haven't found them very useful with either of my girls x

There is a really helpful tongue tie support group on facebook. It's a closed group, but you can just ask to join. There are some real experts on there.

Thank you- will check it out.
Have also just booked appointment to see infant feeding co-ordinator at local hospital tomorrow x

Also, milk matters who Truthsweet and I linked to have a virtual service for identifying tongue tie. There should be a link to it on the page that we linked to

Hello again. Had DD checked for TT today and they said that she doesn't have it.
If anyone has any other suggestions as to what could be causing the recurrent mastitis it would be much appreciated. X

Did they do when they examined her? If not, they didn't check properly.