Mastitis-help-feel hideous

[gio71]

Title says it all. Dreaded mastitis hit during night 2 days ago, felf awful when woke up and for the last 2 days have felt like got the worst flu ever. Am taking antibiotics-got immediately so on 4th tablet, plus nurofen but doesnt seem to be getting better. Am doing all the usual things-heat compresses, combing boob, expressing after ds has fed from it but no change. I thought mastitis was meant to get better quickly after staring taking anti-biotics!!!
Any reassurances/advice/sympathy out there??

It is awful. The only time I have ever cried in pain was when I fed ds from an infected breast. It did get better. Take care

how long did yours last for becky?

Can't remember. A few days? Perhaps phone GP if no better tomorrow. Really, you have my sympathy. Worse than labour IMO.

I hope you're feeling much better now? I had it too and it felt like such a kick in the stomach on top of trying to establish bf, get to know dd, etc.

Mine cleared up pretty quickly, perhaps 4-5 days. After that I was worried for a while abput it recurring but (touch wood) it hasn't.

HTH...

Am feeling a lot better in the sense that flu like symptoms gone now. But my breast is still blocked up. Anyone know if that should clear if I keep feeding/expressing??
Thanks for your posts anyway-you're right-feels like such a blow, especially as had just started to feel human again now ds is sleeping better, few mths have passed since birth etc...

Has someone advised you to locate the blockage which will be a lump at the outer edge of the red section of your breast, then massage it preferably in the bath or shower? You can also massage it while feeding. This should help free things up a little.

Also as you imply keep feeding/expressing from that side as much, or more, than ever.

That's what my community midwife told me and it worked for me.

Ooohhh i remember this. I did the whole massaging boob, trying to squeeze milk out of my very painful breast. The bigger and harder it got the less my nipple was sticking out for dd to latch on. The only thing i found that helped and relieved the pain was getting her to feed from it. Took alot of persuasion and lots of squeezing my nipple to at least try to make it feedable from! Nipple sheilds were also a godsend. The pain was much better once the milk was emptying properly. If you are breast feeding give this a try.

Oh gio poor you - it is so horrid. I was glad to read you are feeling better. One thing a lot of people have mentioned on mumsnet is feeding whilst pointing the baby's chin toward the site of the infection - no idea how it works and you get into strange positions but people really rate it on here.

I had it only once and it did not come back. also now you know what to look for you can spot it early.

Best wishes.