Got mastitis, 3mo got teeth & biting, not sleeping, wont take bottle. Help!

[trackerc]

My DD is just over 3mths has had 2 razor sharp teeth for a few weeks now & currently exclusively bf. She has never slept for more than 3 hours in her life & this is a rarety. She is still around 2 hourly. I have now developed mastitis & it is killing me. Think I could cope with this & doing all the things I should do to relieve it, but at the moment I think she has caught her dads cold & is miserable & fretful/flaying arms & legs all the time with even less sleep now - only napping for 40 mins at a time. She is now biting & with the teeth, I can tell you it is excrutiating & I am shouting out & things getting really awful. GOt any tips, advice, help for my dilemma. Im getting to the point of just tears & FF seems so desireable but I cant even get her to take a bottle.

You poor thing! My ds seemed to go through an awful stage at 3 months, wouldn't sleep, not feeding properly etc nearly killed me so I know how you feel. It does come to an end I promise, ds wouldn't take bottles easily either have you tried expressing and getting daddy to do it, this sometimes worked for us, although he was really fussy about teats, the cheaper yellow ones were best or the tommy tipee natural something or other seemed to do the trick.
I hope this helps, I'm sure you'll get loads more advice.
Katy
xxx

Have yuo had medication for mastitis??
Who from?

trackerc why don't you give dd some baby nurofen or calpol? sounds like it's last resort time. that way you may help to relieve whatever it is that's causing her distress (ie being full of cold), she may then sleep longer adn you will be able to spend time looking after yourself.

Would it be possible to swaddle her before feed so she cant throw her arms around?

Have you been prescribed antibiotics? If not natural ways of dealing with mastitis are Belladonna - which is a homeopathic remedy for reducing inflammation. Silver breastpad- which will kill bacteria and infection.. also warm compresses to help the milk flow and cold compresses to reduce swelling and inflammation. Paracetamol to reduce fever if you have one.

Please ensure that you are keeping your infected bresat empty as this will relieve the pressure and reduce the pain.

You could also feed the expressed milk using;

a large feeding syringe - you will get this from your local hospital or pharmacy for free - iff you explain your reasons!

finger feeder to use with the syringe

Hazelbaker? FingerFeeder

Softcup Advanced Cup Feeder

All these can be used if you are unsuccessful with a bottle.

Tracker, you will have to grin and bare the pain to get thru it, just keep expressing to keep the breast empty and you should start to feel better tomoro.

Silverlon Breast Pad

tracker i have experience Mastitis 6 times and there is nothing worse... i would rather give birth than experience it again.

Thanks for all your messages so far.
I have been trying to swaddle her, but because last night was so hot, she was crying & didnt want her to overheat, I didnt yesterday. Not that it always helps cos she is a houdini!
Have just been expressing but can only really get 2oz at a time, dunno if this is normal. When I do feed her I try to start her on the sore boob cos it seems more likely when shes hungry that she will concentrate on feeding & not biting but not always right.
Taking ibuprofen or diclofenac depending on the pain, not been to docs yet cos would prefer not to have antibiotics, but went to see HV.

Have been trying to introduce bottle for weeks - getting her used to it etc, but have only had success in her taking milk couple of times. Am going to mums today to see if we can do it together (moral support too!) DH has a go but after about 90 seconds he says 'she doesnt like/want it' while just putting teat to her lips and taking it away when she moves her head. Grrrr

Tracker,so sorry you are suffering.
Look,don't assume the HV knows about mastitis.Most know piss all about b/feeding issues.I suggest you ring the Assoc. for Breastfeeding Mothers helpline

08444 122 949

I know a fair bit about breastfeeding but not Mastitis so bumping for you.Also,have a look in this topic's archives.Loads of useful stuff there too.

can i ask u what bottles ur using

Have been using avent, nuk, tommy tippee. Not really had any consistent success with any of em.
Had DH parents up this weekend so we could go out to a friends birthday, but cos DD wouldnt take bottle, (more their anxiety about it) couldnt go. Just need to be a little bit free...
Good news though mastisis has eased & only bit me once this weekend.