Advice for stopping recurrrant mastitis?

[eversomuch]

I developed mastitis a few weeks ago. I'm finishing my second round of antibiotics (flucloxocillin) today but the symptoms are already returning (lumpy, tender, engorged-feeling breast).

My GP suggested last week that I try to regulate feedings more -- my EBF 7mo does a lot of "snacking". So I have been focusing on longer feeds, giving priority to the infected breast, etc, but it doesn't seem to be working. :(

I'd love to know what has worked for others as I really don't want to have to stop BFing.

Ibuprofen when the symptoms first appear.

Is your bra really well fitted?

I've had it three times with this baby (now 11 months). Each time has been after a long drive and just before he got poorly with something like d&v or a virus. Could have been the seatbelt, longer times between feeds, or poor feeding due to illness.

Hope you clear it quickly.

I tried different antibitocs. I took the ones your on twice the symptoms went but came back as I stopped the course. Then had a two week course of coamixiclav and I felt so much better.

My lactation consultant also reccomend to keep rxpressing/feeding every 2-3 hours till all symptoms are gone.

I would also suggest pushing for a breast scan in case it's developed in to an abscess. As antibiotics may make it better till you stop taking them but not clear it.

Feeding the same number of times at roughly the same times has helped. I also stopped feeding overnight as there was no pattern sometimes 3 times a night sometimes she slept through!

Lots of breast massage, hot flannel before feeds, cold in between. Sorting out LO's latch so she could properly drain breast. You have my sympathies. I've had this twice (so far - lo is 6 wks) and it's dreadful.

To help clear it you need to feed as often as possible from the effective side. Trying to empty best is a good idea but not spacing out feeds as this could make it worse.

Watch out for anything that maybe pressing on the breast tissue, bra, clothes are you holding the beast at all while feeding?

Also worth seeing a breastfeeding conciliar or visiting a drop in group to get your latch checked.
And don't stop until the problem is cleared or you could end up with other problems like an absess.

And to top it all of the BfN do a great leaflet on helping clear it with lots more tips. Which I'm sorry I don't seem to be able to link to at the moment. If you google breastfeeding network mastitis leaflet it should come up.

Thanks for a

thanks for all the advice. am finishing up my third course of a

sorry! phone not cooperating.

am now on erythromycin; finishing in a few days. some tenderness/lumpiness already returning. I've been pumping once or twice a day, doing compresses, started ibuprofen today. maybe should be mire disciplined about these measures, but it'shoping it will clear in nx few days. if not ... more antibiotics? I'm so frustrated.

OK, just finished 3rd course of antibiotics yesterday and am already feeling symptoms returning. I've been pumping, doing warm/cold compresses, ibuprofen, etc. This has been going on for a solid month now & is very disheartening.

If it doesn't clear, am I going to have to stop BFing? DS is only 7 months old and I really don't want to stop yet. :(

Any more advice, in addition to all the helpful comments so far, would be appreciated.

Ok
It is a long time since I had mastitis but this helped: get into a deep hot bath after you have fed and submerge your breasts, express all milk from the affected breast by hand, concentrating on the affected area. I managed to ease the engorgement that way.

Sorry, express into the bath

Push your GP for a breast scan. The antibiotics could be masking the symptoms of an abscess. So the symptoms will continue to come back until the abscess is treated.

How long is the course of antibiotics?
Often a week is not enough and two weeks is needed to knock it on the head.