Mastitis tanked my supply.. any help/advice

[Sunshineeeee]

Hello everyone,

This is my first time coming out of the darkness of the internet and actually posting something! (Let's hope I'm doing this right). I've been following mumsnet for years and usually get my answers without posting but this time I'm really stuck.

My babe is 19 weeks old and 2 weeks ago I got a severe bout of mastitis as well as a nipple blister which wouldn't allow me to feed for a week! My mastitis was misdiagnosed as covid-19 and by the time it was finally diagnosed my baby hadn't fed properly for about 8 days on that side (left). He was feeding fully from the right but I noticed my good side began to dry up after a couple days on antibiotics. My doctor said antibiotics plus the very high fever I had plus the change in feeding can affect supply (sometimes permanently).

Currently I'm topping up with formula for almost a week now and have no idea what I'm doing. I was exclusively breastfeeding and trying to stick to the supply and demand route but baby unlatches after a couple minutes really frustrated.

I used to pump 32oz a day and now barely get 8oz (including power pumping). I get about 20-30ml a session instead of my usual 120ml.

Any advice? Any similar experiences? I've tried the herbal routes. I've got a hospital grade pump right now. I'm trying to latch baby as much as possible and have skin to skin but he's getting frustrated.

Really hoping someone out there replies and can offer some help. Trying to get my hands on domperidone but my doctor is being funny. Feeling very down and miss my supply and my routine with my baby.

Thanks if you're still reading
A desperate mama

@GrumpyHoonMain I try that then he fusses and fusses and refuses to latch. How old was your little one when you got the infection if you don't mind me asking? My affected side is so flat and empty feeling and considerably smaller now. How long did it take for your supply to rebuild?

He was 12 weeks old. I nursed him throughout as my GP recommended I should but he did develop a preference - I just kept switch feeding him. It helped with the pain too as he was never on the affected breast more than 2-5 mins at a time. The affected side was smaller but with continued feeding it got back to normal within 3 weeks.

@GrumpyHoonMain thanks for the reply. My son is almost 19 weeks so I'm hoping that doesn't make too much of a difference and he didn't feed off the affected side for over a week. Just tried feeding him nonstop and he was crying so I gave in and gave him 2oz of formula. He immediately settled. Makes me feel really sad I can't provide for him like I did before. Ah well must keep persevering.

Just read your latest update. It might be worth giving one of the BFing Helplines a call and talking about topping up without using a bottle as he may be simply developing a preference for the bottle.

Have a read of bottle feeding the BF baby.

Tools for feeding should be helpful too but I really do think you need to talk to a trained BFC about the possibility of bottle preference

@JiltedJohnsJulie thank you. I've had a read. I've been syringe feeding him too and he gets so upset when it finishes that I syringe feed him formula till he calms.

I've spoken to the health visitor team who put me through to breastfeeding support. It was sort of conflicting advice about letting him have formula till he's full and keeping offering the breast but not giving him too much formula as he will damage my supply. I just got off the phone to them and feel none the wiser.

Did they say who is providing the BFing support? Is it a BFC, a Peer Supporter or a MW or HV and do they have any qualifications?

It might be worth making a cuppa and calling a BFing Helpline and asking if there are any BFCs in your area or seeing if there is a La Leche League Leader near time you. I know you can't seen them dave to face but I really do think you need some RL support from someone who is fully training, like a BFC

@JiltedJohnsJulie you're right. I've spoke to la Leche on the phone but haven't tried any video calls (some are offering this). I will probe further. I had a breastfeeding support worker call me (Hv referred me to her and she asked her colleagues too for advice).

Thank you for the support. Just feels a relief expressing myself (pun intended ).

Thank you for the support. Just feels a relief expressing myself (pun intended

No problem, I haven't got anything better to do

Just an update incase anyone has a similar predicament..

After much research and internal conflict I decided to quit the formula cold turkey (he'd only been topped up for a few days) and see if he could last 24 hours on nursing alone. He refused to latch a lot and has been unsettled but I've been offering him milk in a syringe and trying to feed him every 10 minutes or so. He usually stays on for a few minutes and is off again in frustration. Day 1 was super hard and I second guessed myself nonstop. Today is day 2 almost up and it's been a lot easier. Still pumping like mad and my left side is majorly affected but hoping the continued feeding builds my supply up again and helps me heal quicker. Nappy output is there but it's much lighter than before but sufficient (according to kellymom). Hoping I can post again in a week or two saying that things are 100% back to normal. Here's to having hope..

Have you managed to get him to feed off the affected side yet Subshineeeee or is he still refusing?

@JiltedJohnsJulie two steps forward one step back.. he has been fussy the last 3 hours or so and I've been latching him on. Only to find out his nappy is pretty much dry so I just topped him up on some expressed milk I saved.

He's still refusing that side. He'll only suckle on it once asleep but by then it's not very efficient.

This pumping plus nursing routine is getting very draining. Never thought breastfeeding would be such a hurdle!

I'm at the point of giving up now. Nappies are getting lighter and lighter and I only expressed 13ml earlier today. Sick of pumping. Sick of the stress. Sick of feeling so heartbroken. Never knew breastfeeding would be so hard or could crash like this so suddenly.

I think you have been incredibly unlucky having the Mastitis Moses for so long and I think you have tried so hard to carry on.

If you did stop, would it be so bad? You would know that you had tried everything you possibly could have done.

@JiltedJohnsJulie yes I just wouldn't get over it and would regret it further down the line. I'd probably be one of those women trying to relactate every so often. I personally wouldn't drink formula milk so putting that in my son just feels so incredibly wrong to me and unnatural (not slating formula feeders. Just my preference). I try to eat well and avoid preservatives and junk so when I see the expiry dates on formula tins for like a year ahead it really unnerves me. And the nutritional content of breastmilk is unbeatable :(

I know I keep recommending this, but do you think it's worth talking through how you feel about formula and how baby is doing with a BFC?

@JiltedJohnsJulie I just did exactly that :). She's asked me to get hold of an SNS and to try that as my last resort and then to make peace that I tried. She said to give it another few weeks as it can take a while. Let's hope I'm up to this and can fit in the 2 hourly pumping sessions (my poor nipples!)

Anyone have any experience with an SNS? So hard to get hold of one in the current climate.

I’ve not had experience with one sorry, perhaps you could start another thread about those?

How are things going today?

Today is better than yesterday. I was a bumbling mess . I pumped at night and gave my little one the pumped ounce as a top up during the day. And then kept expressing an ounce and topping him up after his nursing sessions. Think I'll have to give him formula as an afternoon feed in order to keep him satiated. Sad that he's not gaining like he was. He must be hungry. I'm going to give it my last shot for a couple weeks and then may just have to call it quits and either mix feed if possible or just come to terms with it and start all over again and learn the art of formula feeding and a new routine.

You've done an amazing job carrying on this far. I had to mix feed (lots of problems) but I kept pumping one breast (the not sore one) and now I add that little bit to his formula.

@GingerBeverage thank you. I think the shock is wearing off and I'm trying to establish a new routine. Still not a fan of formula but at least my son is fed and I have an alternative. Now to begin the joys of teething ..

Update: for anyone scouring the internet for similar experiences..

It's day 12 of using the hospital grade pump (day 21 since problems started).. I just managed to get 2ounces from the affected breast. It's the first time I've got so much from it in weeks. Something is happening most definitely. I think I will keep trying for two more weeks. Yesterday I managed to express enough small but frequent amounts to top up my baby with only breastmilk. Very heavy nappies too :). I hope the following days are similar and then I can stop pumping altogether and get back to exclusively breastfeeding. That seems like I'm jumping the gun though so one step at a time. I feel like since I accepted that I might just have to formula feed (and started giving LO bottles myself) a huge stress has been lifted and I'm able to pump better.

Tip: someone told me to have brown rice and lots of ghee (an Indian butter replacement). Since I've started having that two days ago I've noticed a jump in milk production. Not sure if it's coincidental but I do feel like my body has taken well to it. Apparently it's used a lot in South Asia to help women lactate and build their supply postpartum.

God!! Sorry for the novel

Yes butter , oats & believe it or not a light beer (coors light) or something similar will help supply.
Have you tried latching baby onto the affected breast whilst he is asleep? He might not be able to refuse as much and may help your supply.

@sauvignonblancplz the clever boy realises even in his sleep. He'll start moaning and fussing till I swap him again. That is the longest I'll get him to nurse however. I'm hoping if my supply keeps building and he gets a faster let down then he might go back to it.

Ah see I'd tried everything except butter. I'm just grateful something's seems to be happening.

@Sunshineeeee Are you on Instagram? There’s a lactation specialist called Milkmakingmama there . She is brilliant and was truly a God send when I was nursing , bit like yourself I encountered many, many roadblocks. She is very good at responding to questions and she has an abundance of information on her page.

@sauvignonblancplz no I'm not but I can easily make an account. Thank you. I'll get on that now