Mastitis with 10 day old

[meow1989]

Hi all, midwife has diagnosed mastitis today and I have a tender breast, temp of up to 39.2 and general crappy flu feelings.

My little one has had a tongue tie separated and that seemed to be going well (he's exceeding birth weight).

Midwife advised to feed feed feed and express if possible but he's really fussy at the sore breast and when I tried to pump or hand express hardly anything came of of the affected side. I'm also alternating between the shakes and sweats and I think he's falling asleeep on me because I'm so warm.

Getting. Lots of wet and dirty nappies and he's been clusterfeeding for the past 4 hours but only wanting little 10 minutes.

I'm on antibiotic, please tell me it'll get better?

I'm not an expert here! But, I would heed advice of midwife, and with your antibiotics it will resolve.
Lots of unmumsnetty hugs.

Both my DDs have been fussy feeders and I've found if I put the baby to my breast while walking around (sometimes I gently jiggle or sway) while humming or shushing, they have latched on OK with the distraction. Once I've felt a few good sucks I can sit down again and they have usually carried on. It's not something that's easily done in public (!) but I'm guessing with your baby only 10 days old and you with mastitis that you are at home. Can you give that a try? The other thing I've been advised to do in the past (DD1 on breastfeeding strike) is run a warm bath and feed while skin-to-skin in there. Might be worth a try? Obviously be very careful if you are at all sleepy.

It’s so horrible I feel your pain. I had mastitis twice with my DD and fed through it, I had same symptoms and felt my nipples were falling off! I had antibiotics and was also recommended breast shields not sure if they still exist and also cold cabbage leaves from the fridge. Do what is right for you and baby. I hope you feel better soon

Keep going and keep feeding. Express loads. It’ll feel better tomorrow and then much better the day after.

Ps massage your affected boob with your hand from outside down to the nipple as the baby feeds - it helps gets rid of any blockages.

I had mastitis about 10 days ago. The antibiotics kicked in quite quickly. Massage under a hot shower and /or warm compress. The cabbage leaves / cold help reduce swelling etc but the heat can help break up the blockage as you are massaging. Hang in there, it's grim.

Really feel for you. I've had it twice, and was genuinely surprised by how poorly it made me feel. Lots of feeding and resting and it soon went. If you're feeling warm and worried your baby if feeling it when feeding, try wetting a muslin with cold water and wring out well, then lay it on your breast between you and baby. Soothing for you and hopefully keeps baby cool too. Lots of tea and biscuits for you too. You will feel better soon

Sympathy - mastitis is misery and with a 10 day old you're also still recovering from the birth. It will get loads better as the antibiotics kick in. You must rest as much as possible though, and drink loads of fluids especially in this heat. If the fever doesn't go away in another day get back to the GP, the last thing you need is an abscess.

I'm just coming out the other end of mastitis OP. It's vile, and you feel like you're gonna die and your boobs will never feel the same again.

After 24hr on Antibiotics I felt a bit better. 48hrs felt a lot better! 3 days my boobs felt almost normal. 4 days now and I'm completely recovered, just finishing the course of ABs

Considering that 4 days ago I was freezing cold in 28 degree heat under a duvet and a blanket, with a boob that was red, sore and hard, it feels nothing short of a miracle!

Bad boob is now expressing as usual, couldn't get a drop out if it a few days ago.

Thanks for the advice and support everyone, night before last was horrific and I ended up in a&e and given fluids and a dose of iv antibiotics then stated on another oral antibiotic too. Do feel much better in myself now though, only managing to express a few times a day and getting about 15 mls on bad side (nipple damaged from before tongue tie separated so giving it a few days off still). DS has been feeding in good side beautifully but is still hungry after 40 minutes so on advice of midwife I'm giving him a formula top up if he needs it (he's taken 3oz the last two time so worried he's starving! He's 13 days today). Boob does feel a bit softer now so once feels safe to feed again (!) I'll start offering it in conjunction with pumping to see if I can majntain supply.

I may still top up as we're doing once that's done, we'll see. I wanted to breast feed exclusively really badly, but dr google has told me that he needs only 50mls breast milk a day to still get antibody benefits so that's reassuring. If I can't do it then at least I know that each day I can still get my milk into him is another day of benefits to him!

Pretty sure it's back 😫

We'd got in a good routine of formula in day, express around 5 then feed from 2100-0900. Started feeling bruised last night and the shivering has started again 😢

Think this may be the end of our breastfeeding journey.