mastitis?

[Tumtitum]

Anyone have experience of mastitis? I noticed this afternoon my boobs were feeling a bit tender, particularly my left, which also feels ever so slightly engorged (always produced more on my left side). Feeding is not exactly painful but more sensitive. Very suddenly maybe an hour after feeling sore in the boob I started to feel shivery and achey and get a headache. I've taken some paracetamol which has helped a bit but still feel achey. Is this the start of mastitis? And if so do you always need antibiotics or can it clear itself? Any home remedies?!

Sounds like it. Is the boob red? Swelling? You definitely need antibiotics, call out of hours now because if it is mastitis you'll be on the floor and in agony by midnight! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news....

Cabbbage leaves cool the fevered breast. Paracetamol helps. You must keep feeding and massaging the ducts if you can. In my experience antibiotics are required. Can you get to out of hours? Are you still under midwives, can you ring emergency number for further advice.

It will be ok, but get yourself some clinical advice asap.

I second that. Get it checked out now, because it can come on like a truck.

I started to feel like this, went down stairs to call the doctors, and was on the floor, by the time I reached to bottom.

Is someone with you?

Ok don't panic I had this on holiday and it was a blocked duct which could have turned into full blown mastitis but didn't. I fed, fed, fed, fed and was on the mend within 24 hours and fine the following day. If it gets worse you will need antibiotics.

To clarify, I felt just like you describe and I got better without antibiotics.

Oh no that's not what I wanted to hear! it's been about five hours since I first started feeling rough and I've taken two lots of paracetamol... There's no redness at all. Any chance it could be something else??!! We have spent two hours trying to get my 14 week old DD to sleep so I'm really loathe to go anywhere and I'm EBF so couldn't leave her! Am I being an idiot if I just hope I can make it through the night and go to a clinic or something in the morning?! DH is here with me

Oh thanks Frazzled that makes me slightly less panicked!! She is actually going through a period of lots of night feeds at the moment so I'm sure we'll be feeding lots tonight!!! Should I be trying to feed mainly from the left boob? My right boob is ever so slightly sensitive but nowhere near as sore as the left (which isn't agonising but is sore enough that my husband just tried to put his head on my chest and I almost thumped him! )

Yes, same advice from me. I stupidly waited thinking it would clear itself. I was in A&E on iv antibiotics 24 hours after onset. Get someone to see you asap.

It might not be but when I had exactly the same symptoms, I rang my surgery, was diagnosed on the phone by doc who sent electronic prescription to the chemists! Don't know what provision you have nearby but try calling your out of hours service and see if they can do similar for a 24hr chemist?? If it is mastitis, you need those ABs ASAP before it really kicks in. Good luck

Okay, if there is no redness, then keep feeding/expressing from it, cabbage leaves if you have them. If you see a red patch develop, then I would go.

I had it three times, but the first was the worst.

I had it quite a few years ago..I remember been told to soak in bath with warm flannels..Massage where blockage was but yes I needed anti biotics...I was also advised to feed as much as I could

When this happened to me, I ignored it at first and just try to massage under shower and feed loads as per advice. It didn't help and I ended up really unwell with fever and flu like aches and pains. Horrible.

I also had no visible redness to begin with but it progressed quickly. I would call NHS 101 and talk it through. Most likely they can arrange for you to be seen and get antibiotics ASAP.

I hope you feel better soon

Thanks I think I'll see how I go the next couple of hours and ring NHS if I start to feel worse. She's been asleep for a couple of hours now, I wonder if I should express to try and clear the blocked ducts a bit??

i would call 111 as soon as you can. From my experience they'll need to book your info and someone will call you back but it will most like take a few hours. If it's mastitis you'll want antibiotics asap. I got on my birthday this year (sob!) it was so rubbish but I caught it early and avoided the true awfulness described above.

I repeatedly get blocked ducts however and I've only taken antibiotics that one time. Do you know where the blockage/s are? If so, is there any movement of milk? I often feel the lump, but can still work small amounts of milk out by massage/feeding/pumping. As long as it doesn't turn red and I feel okay I don't freak out and I feed my DD as normal until it clears a few days later. You're the only one who can gauge how well you feel...

111 have to refer you to the out of hours GP so call anyway and get yourself in the queue.

Also, la leche legue have a great helpline.

Good luck!

I feel like I don't feel so unwell to call anyone yet, but then I'm awfully English and don't like to bother people! I think I can feel the blockages and I tried massaging the last time I fed and in the shower. How can I tell if the milk is moving through? Should I try to express before bed on the off chance that she has a good long sleep??

I was like you the first time I got mastitis (with similar symptoms). I hesitated. I didn't think I was ill enough to see a doctor. When I did see one I was told they consider mastitis a serious infection and you should get seen quickly. I ended up in hospital on IV antibiotics for a week. I learnt my lesson and with subsequent infections called out of hours doctor really quickly. Definitely keep an eye on it and feed lots. But if I were you I would call get myself seen tonight.or at least speak to someone on the phone.
Good luck. Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks everyone. DD woke so I'm feeding now and will make a decision about what to do then! Don't know if it's my imagination but boob feels slightly less tender...

Worst thing that can happen tonight is for the baby to sleep for more than two hour blocks. You MUST feed or express every two hours otherwise this will take hold. Call ooh and get help moving so you have the ab s on hand

DD has been waking pretty much 2/3 hourly recently... Never thought I would think that was a good thing!!! ;)

Just realised I put NHS 101, meant NHS 111, apologies for that.

I must say I didn't feel pain on feeding but still suffered with the flu-like symptoms and then the redness and hard inflamed breast.

Definitely call if the sensitivity and feeling of engorgement continues.

How are you this morning tumtitum

Hey, so baby fed about every 3 hours overnight. Both boobs still feel tender, esp the left in one particular spot but still no red mark and neither boob is engorged/hard. It hasn't got worse than yday, just the same. Still feel achey and head achey but no worse than yesterday. I guess my choices are either go to a walk in clinic today or brave it out and see GP tomorrow?? Dreading leaving DH to deal with nap times today

Perhaps just feed and feed as much as possible and have a warm bath and massage the ducts. I would get checks ny the Dr tomorrow though because the fever and headache indicate an infection.

I second a hot bath, as warm as you can tolerate and massage in that. You can see thr milk coming out in the water, you want to try and clear any ducts that aren't producing anything, or that are producing "stringy" milk. Good luck!

Thanks guys, I love super hot baths so that definitely won't be a problem!!