Mastitis and abscess, what do I do?

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Does anybody have any experiences of an abscess and if so did you keep bf?

DD is 6 weeks old and I've been engorged for all of that time, so have ended up in hospital with mastitis and an abscess. I keep being told to drain the breast as much as possible by expressing but won't this add to oversupply and cause more engorgement, making it all more likely to reoccur?

Have you spoken to the Infant Feeding Specialist in the hospital? Ask your nurse/midwife to call her to the ward. She will be able to give you the best advice as she will know the exact circumstances of your case.

My gut instinct is for you keep pumping and feeding as you need to drain the breast. Oversupply can be sorted out later.

Ah no I haven't, thanks for letting me know these people exist! Nobody I've seen so far knows anything about breastfeeding and they've all been unsure as to who might know in the hospital, so I'm at a bit of a loss. I'll have to be a bit pushier next time the doctors come round. Don't just want to be sent home with more antibiotics and no advice.

The maternity unit will have her contact details if the ward you are on does not. Her job involves supporting bf mums at any stage if they are in hospital.

How are you doing, OP?

Ok thanks stargirl. In hospital for the second night but DD is still feeding well and I'm hoping to see a breast specialist today. No further feeding advice at this stage but hoping they'll know about feeding too (??)

Look at this link kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/mastitis/
(Sorry not sure if that will work on phone)
I found that info helpful when I had mastitis. Agree that oversupply can be sorted later most important thing is to empty the breast at this stage.

Hope you get better so it's horrible isn't it

Glad to hear you and your DD are ok. I had infective mastitis with DD1 which led to sepsis. I had a 8 day stay in hospital on IV antibiotics. It's very lonely and scary!

Clicky links:

kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/breast-abscess/

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Breast-abscess/Pages/Treatment.aspx

www.llli.org/nb/nbmarapr07p76.html

Thanks BabyHaribo :)

Stargirl that sounds awful, poor you. Did you carry on feeding and if so did the mastitis come back?

Hi,

If you have an abscess, please treat it urgently. I'm treating mine now, and after one month of pus drainages, and daily dressings, my wound is finally healing. Everything has been very painful and traumatic. I did stop breastfeeding. But from what i know, you don't necessarily have to. Please, if the doctor can drain your abscess with a needle, it's easier and less painful that having to cut your breast - which is what happened to me as my abscess was left for too long. Don't wait. And put some pressure on GP - my problem was left for too long because no one believed I had an abscess.

Well. I mix fed after we were admitted to hospital. We got home on day 21 and I just stopped coping. I gave bf entirely but as time went by I regretted that decision. I relactated at 11 weeks and mix fed from then on. It was a hard journey but worth it.

Breastfeeding has been the biggest challenge of my entire life. DD2 was easier than DD1 but there have still been challenges.

I have learned one thing. Do what YOU need to do to survive.

Thinking of you, OP.

Thanks Stargirl, really good to hear about other people's experiences. Guess that's the brilliance of Mumsnet! I'm feeling much better today and still taking the antibiotics. Redness and fever have gone now, just the lumps in the boob still to heal so hopefully that will get better this week.

Hello!! I want to encourage you. My DD is 5 months. I had a huge abscess (6cm diameter) back in June... I had it incised and drained after it burst (ewww) following 4 aspirations via needle over a fortnight. However I KEPT FEEDING, it did heal and we are doing great now. I feed from both sides still. Because of way it burst etc it took longer to heal (they couldn't choose where to incise and drain), so packing and dressing change daily for 6 weeks then alternate days for another 6. Was very boring but only very small scar / dip in boob now. Really REALLY happy to answer questions! You will be ok. It's horrid and very unlucky but I have a very bonny 5 month old who is EBF.

Here's my full story. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding/2194960-Breast-abscess-future-support-for-others