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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Help! Quick! Mastitis coming on...

18 replies

frogs · 27/04/2004 11:56

Do any of you clever people know any ways of heading it off at the pass?

I've already had two bouts requiring antibiotics. Never had any problems with my first two babies, so don't know what this is all about

OP posts:
Codswallop · 27/04/2004 11:57

get a wide toothed comb (like an afro comb) andcomb tour boob int he shower (downwards obv_)

Codswallop · 27/04/2004 11:58

Does that make sense?

lazyeye · 27/04/2004 11:58

I've had it both times as well, but always got the antibiotics as in such a state. I've heard others say they've avoided them with the usual lots of fluids, maybe those probiotics, cabbage leaves, rest (hah!), paracetamol......others will have other stuff.......good luck, its awful.

Clayhead · 27/04/2004 12:04

frogs, huge sympathy from me; I never got it with dd but got it 3 times with ds, no real idea why. Ended up having anti biotics all 3 times (hard for me as I hate the things) as I was also in an awful state, I tried to head it off the second 2 times but failed . Lots of fluids is a good idea, paracetamol too, trying to get the fluid going as Coddy suggests.

I hope you feel better soon x .

Original poster
frogs · 27/04/2004 12:26

Thank you for all your suggestions. The comb one I hadn't encountered bfore, happy to try anything, frankly.

I've put in my order for antibiotics, and if it's no better by tonight I shall start them

Just my luck, I've got three extra children back for tea today, and one of the mothers I haven't even got a phone number for. Think I'll let them go feral in the garden, and throw them biscuits and packets of juice, while I comb my boobs with cabbages or something...

OP posts:
JanZ · 27/04/2004 12:34

A hot (as hot as your skin can take) facecloth on the affected area and then gently massage on top of it towards the nipple.

My mum had a rice or bean "bag" that could be microwaved, which worked quite well, as it would keep its heat longer than a facecloth. I think it's something you can get from places like the Body Shop and works well for muscle strains - and mastitis!

Try and favour the "sore" boob when giving feeds too - even though it might NOT be what you want to do!

Good luck!

prettycandles · 27/04/2004 13:50

Oh poor you, how horrid. Try feeding in a different position from usual. I found that feeding lying down on the affected side, with that arm stretched out in a curve over the baby and away from me on the bed, and my head well-supported by a pillow, really eased it for me. (Admittedly not very easy to do when you've got the screaming hordes around, but perhaps later in the day.) I found floating on my tummy in a hot bath, while combing my boob and armpit, also helped alot.

Do hope it eases for you.

muddaofsuburbia · 27/04/2004 13:55

Before you do the combing thing, take some paracetamol cos it'll hurt! And smother your boobs in something slimy, like a moisturising shower gel so your skin doesn't get pulled. I took paracetamol before every feed too which seemed to dull the pain a bit.

prettycandles · 27/04/2004 14:27

Combing doesn't hurt if you do it underwater.

muddaofsuburbia · 27/04/2004 14:33

It really hurt me..what do you think I was doing wrong PC?

discordia · 27/04/2004 14:43

frogs, does your bra fit properly? I used the same bra after birth of ds as I had used with dd but it was too tight. It caused a blockage which led to mastitis.

florenceuk · 27/04/2004 14:45

Nurofen is better than paracetamol - in fact take both (I did) - works in the same way that you can double up Calpol and Nurofen. But have to admit I always always take the antibiotics as I was in absolute agony the last time I had it.

melli · 27/04/2004 16:06

just wanted to add, i took fresh ginger when i had a bout coming on and along with the hot-cloth treatment it was cleared up quich. grate ginger into hot water, gingers a natuaral anti-inflammatory i think.

Demented · 27/04/2004 22:52

Can I add to the excellent advice you have had and suggest savoy cabbage, take a leaf straight from the fridge, cut the stalk bit out and stick it in your bra, wonderful.

prettycandles · 28/04/2004 09:02

Sorry, mos, all I know is that when I tried it after a bath and hot cloths on my boob it hurt and tickled and scratched, but when I got back into the bath and combed, it was much more tolerable, so that's how I always did it afterwards. Perhaps the hot water is pain-relieving (like a birthing pool!), or it deadens the sensation of the comb on the skin, which was what I found particularly unbearable dry.

LIZS · 28/04/2004 09:14

Poor you . I used hot flannels and cold packs alternately - like sports injuries gel packs. There is a specially shaped set called Breast Nurse which you could put in your bra. Also lots of massage /combing in shower and expressing whilst massaging the tender part or lump towards nipple.

Original poster
frogs · 28/04/2004 11:49

Thank you everybody for your suggestions!

Sadly none of the tactics seem to stop it dead in its tracks, so I'm on the antibiotics anyway, but have been busily combing and cabbaging away, and I'm sure it helps with the speed of recovery.

Having never had mastitis with babies 1 and 2, I hadn't realised quite how astonishingly vile it is, so to everyone whose pain I may have ever underestimated -- I'm sorry!

OP posts:
bundle · 28/04/2004 11:57

try with least sore boob first, to get the letdown going in the other boob. gets lots of rest (!) and eat/drink well. i had 3 lots mastitis with dd1 and headed it off with dd2 last year, i had the antibiotics on hand (left at pharmacy for me on a bank holiday monday after i phoned the emergency doctor) but never used them
don't just try heat, try cold as I had red marks/heat generated from the sore bit and the heat didn't seem to help. the comb did bog-all for me, I just massaged quite firmly and eventually squeezed out a bit of the blockage (looked white and thicker than the milk). how old is your baby? I'd try to feed as much as possible. hth

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