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

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

Infant feeding

mastitis?

34 replies

Tumtitum · 21/05/2016 21:21

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?!

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Tumtitum · 22/05/2016 17:51

Thanks :) my DH has been incredibly helpful, basically let me lie in bed all day and dealt with all nap times just bringing me baby for cuddles and feeding :)

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BeauGlacons · 22/05/2016 17:31

You have done incredibly well to keep the patches at bay but if you feel ill, there will be some underlying infection so I think you've done the right thing. Sorry to hear about the funeral.

Good luck - and yes, by tomorrow you probably will feel much better. I usually find the fourth does is the turning point.

I think you've been incredibly brave and competent throughout this by the way.

Tumtitum · 22/05/2016 17:22

Just seen OOH doc as DH just found out he may have to rush to Ireland for a funeral and didn't fancy being home alone sick with baby! Got antibiotics so hopefully start feeling better soon :) thanks everyone for the good advice!

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pocketsized · 22/05/2016 11:58

Excellent! Hopefully youve cleared a blockage and will feel much better. Keep feeding and massaging and hopefully you've caught it early enough :)

BeauGlacons · 22/05/2016 11:10

Sounds positive. Hopefully you have caught it in time to turn it round. Mine had always developed hot red patches by the time I felt ill. The first time I just thought I had flu for 24 hours and didn't feed enough because I thought my boob needed a rest. Baby was only 10 days old and I didn't know any better. Nor though did the midwives seem to. By the following morning I could have sizzled steak on my hot, red boob.

Sounds like you are doing a grand job x

Tumtitum · 22/05/2016 11:03

Ok so I had a hot hot bath and massaged my left boob for about 40 mins and a tonne of squiggly blocked milk came out! It was like squeezing the most satisfying spot ever but also kinda gross I'll have another bath later. Will just getting the blocked milk out hopefully be enough to start feeling better?
In other news DH did an amazing job of nap time and got her down quicker than me !

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Frazzled2207 · 22/05/2016 09:14

Yeah carry on doing what you're doing and if no better see gp tomorrow. If any worse contact out of hours today.

Tumtitum · 22/05/2016 08:44

In bed now with a pint of squash having to listen to DH doing nap time and stop myself rushing in to tell him he's not following the routine properly!! I guess that's a good sign... If I was more sick I probably wouldn't care less!!!

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BeauGlacons · 22/05/2016 08:14

And lots of fluids and rest.

Tumtitum · 22/05/2016 08:11

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

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pocketsized · 22/05/2016 08:04

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!

BeauGlacons · 22/05/2016 07:59

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.

Tumtitum · 22/05/2016 07:53

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

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BeauGlacons · 22/05/2016 06:59

How are you this morning tumtitum

LikeaSnowflake · 21/05/2016 23:54

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.

Tumtitum · 21/05/2016 22:42

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

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BeauGlacons · 21/05/2016 22:41

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

Tumtitum · 21/05/2016 22:41

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...

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nothoughts · 21/05/2016 22:23

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.

Tumtitum · 21/05/2016 22:06

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??

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CeeCee00 · 21/05/2016 21:55

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!

Tumtitum · 21/05/2016 21:47

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??

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LikeaSnowflake · 21/05/2016 21:42

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

starry0ne · 21/05/2016 21:41

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

sunnydayinmay · 21/05/2016 21:38

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.

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