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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Think I've got mastitis - do I need to see OOH GP or wait till morning?

24 replies

curlyLJ · 15/07/2014 19:19

DD (13 weeks) has been sleeping for longer stretches this week and my boobs haven't adjusted yet. After her having slept for a long stretch last night,my boobs were quite engorged this morning...

One of them is now a bit painful (it's soft now though so I have cleared the blockage as far as I am aware) and I took some Nurofen earlier as I felt a little feverish. Now I feel OK in myself, but I have 2 red streaks on the breast which weren't there a few hours ago and I am getting the odd sort of shooting pain in it, but nothing excruciating.

Do I need to call out-of-hours GP or will it be OK to leave until morning?(Given that I won't be able to get out and pick up a prescription until morning anyway.)
I really don't want anti-b's unless absolutely necessary as I have already had thrush once and I don't want that back again!

OP posts:
Munxx · 15/07/2014 19:21

Ooh and ab ASAP

Sorry am feeding

Don't delay as can get quite bad v quickly

LEMmingaround · 15/07/2014 19:22

If its mastitis you will need anti-biotics. Some ooh have antibiotics on site especially if you see a nurse practitioner Who can give but not prescribe meds

TheTravellingLemon · 15/07/2014 19:25

I don't think you need to see OOH GP. Keep an eye on your temperature, take paracetamol and have a hot bath. If your baby is sleeping longer, try expressing rather than letting yourself get engorged. Also a hot towel and gentle massage will work it through.

I would stick to paracetamol and if your temperature persists, see your GP. Can you tell I've been there a time or two before? Good luck Smile

nilbyname · 15/07/2014 19:27

Get thee to an ooh drs as you need antibiotics NOW!

Mastitus is no fun and can get worse rapidly. Keep feeding and massaging your breast, hot flannels help too and peppermint tea to drink. Warm bath is good too.

FrankelandFilly · 15/07/2014 19:51

You definitely need antibiotics ASAP but I'm not sure that you'd be able to get any now. Phone for an emergency GP appointment first thing in the morning and don't let them fob you off.

Original poster
curlyLJ · 15/07/2014 19:52

Thanks all. Some mixed responses there Confused
It's a bit difficult this evening as I am home with DD1 & 2 so I can't really get out. Do OOH do home visits??

Last Nurofen was taken at 1pm and temp is OK so I will maybe wait until DH is back in an hour and see how I feel. I can call the GP at 8am if I get worse overnight. Just can't work out if I'm taking too much of a risk by waiting...

OP posts:
nilbyname · 15/07/2014 19:55

Seriously don't wait call the NHS number, can you drive to a minor injury unit with baby and leave older child with neighbour?

schlooby · 15/07/2014 19:56

Red streaks on breast plus fluey symptoms - gp tonight. Ring them when DH gets in if he's back in an hour.

House visits only for housebound patients not social reasons. If you must, you just go and take the dcs with you, not ideal I know.

Ibuprofen is fine when bf and good for inflammation with mastitis. Feed feed feed too

schlooby · 15/07/2014 19:57

Look up your local late night chemists now in case you need to get a prescription dispensed too.

mrscog · 15/07/2014 20:00

You don't necessarily need abx they are over prescribed for 'mastitis'. Because milk gets into your blood supply y get the feverish see before it's necessarily an infection. If you feel the blockage has cleared keep feeding and try ibuprofen and paracetamol for 24-36 hours and see if it gets worse. If it does obviously seek out the abx but I just felt gluey for 36 hours or so but fed through it. Abx would have been wasted on me.

Guadalupe · 15/07/2014 20:03

I would go by how you feel really. I had masitits many times and often with a blockage, red streaks and feeling under the weather I would improve soon with expressing, warm baths and resting etc.

However, when I started started to feel really fluey or it didn't improve after 48 hours I needed antibiotics.

LJBanana · 15/07/2014 20:03

I had it a few weeks ago, I went from feeling a bit dodgy to absolutely shocking within about an hour. DP works away so I had to ring parents to come and look after older DC's whilst I went too ooh.
If you can get there tonight then is say go. It wasn't pleasant. Get well soon.

PrincessTheresaofLiechtenstein · 15/07/2014 20:09

You are ok for now as long as you are doing the massaging, keep feeding etc. if it continues/ gets worse you may need antibiotics but not necessarily.

geekaMaxima · 15/07/2014 20:11

The ever-trusty Kellymom advises no need for antibiotics is symptoms mild and present less than 24 hours.

Red streaking is on the list of things that might necessitate antibiotics, though. It might indicate infective mastitis has kicked in. Best go to the OOH GP if you have streaking, OP.

Original poster
curlyLJ · 15/07/2014 20:23

OK, I'm just holding out till DH gets home then I'll make a decision.

I just feel a bit tired/lethargic tbh, and I think DD has cleared the blockage although I'm still feeding lots before she goes to bed.

OP posts:
nilbyname · 15/07/2014 21:02

If you have a pump, then pump too.

Mastitis can develop rapidly. Take care x

Ratfans · 15/07/2014 21:51

I only go to GPs for anitbiotics I feel flu like. You know when it's developed into full on mastitis, it hits you very quickly and you can hardly get out of bed.

I've had lumps, blocked ducts and red patches many times that hasn't developed into proper mastitis. I just get baby to feed as much as poss from that breast and get into a hot bath and massage the lumpy bit with a hot flannel for a few minutes. And take ibruprofen if painful. It usually clears within a day.

DinoSnores · 15/07/2014 21:58

Definitely tonight. It is amazing just how quickly the antibiotics work for mastitis. Depending on where you live, there might be a Boots that is available until midnight or at least you'll have a prescription to go and get first thing in the morning without having to wait for appointments.

Until then, feed, feed, feed, express, express, express. Hopefully you'll have caught it in time.

SagaNorensLeatherTrousers · 15/07/2014 22:06

My GP prescribed them over the phone. My DP picked them up at a 24 hour Boots. But, I was really feverish with chills, the Gp said anything less and he would've waited to see how I felt in the morning.

fionnthedog · 15/07/2014 22:15

I had mastitis a month ago and went from feeling under the weather to very unwell pretty quickly but it was about 48 hours after engorgement that happened so you may well be ok waiting to see how you feel in the morning. If you begin to feel any worse - feverish / flu like then get to an ooh gp as soon as you can. An infection could really take hold overnight.

5madthings · 15/07/2014 22:19

I had mastitis loads and generally managed to self treat, lots if feeding and expressing. Combing the breast with a wide tooth comb from under armpit down towards nipple and rest and paracetamol.

See how you feel, if you feel really ill very quick you may need antibiotics.

Original poster
curlyLJ · 15/07/2014 23:15

I've got some antibiotics. Feel utterly shite. Rang the OOH GP via 111 at 8.30 and was seen by 9.45. Glad I did now.
Just doing a big feed now we're home and hopefully I'll be OK overnight. Suppose I'll have to get up to express if DD sleeps too long.

OP posts:
fionnthedog · 16/07/2014 09:23

Yes - make sure you don't get engorged again. Expressing when you feel crap is awful, but you have to remember that it could be worse if you don't. Once my anti-bs took effect I began to feel much better very quickly. There is light at the end of the tunnel! Get better soon.

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