Recurrent mastitis and constant engorgement - miserable

[SundayMorningSun]

Baby is 7 weeks old, and EBF. I've had mastitis off and on since she was 3 weeks old.

We've tried all the advice we possibly could. It's basically impossible for her to latch onto such an engorged breast, but even pumping and hand expressing get almost nothing out. Massage, hot/cold compresses, lecithin - we've tried everything. I'm on my second round of antibiotics.

The private lactation consultant and the GP have both stressed how unusual all this is, and are now talking about referring me for a scan. We can't feel an abscess, but they're worried there could be some deeper problem.

Has anyone experienced anything like this? Was a cause found? Did it eventually resolve? I'm at the end of my tether feeding the baby off one breast and being in constant discomfort and pain.

I had a similar issue and had to have an abscess excised under ga in hospital when baby was about 12 weeks old, after having had two courses of antibiotics.

I'm sorry to hear that, @MrsJoshNavidi, that sounds really tough. Did that resolve the issue? Could you feed from that side afterwards?

I gave up feeding because it was too painful and switched to bottles. My other breast was sore too, but not nearly as bad.