Mastitis- how long before I feel better?

[recreationalcalpol]

Just as I was congratulating myself for birthing a good feeder this time around, I’ve managed to come down with mastitis today . DD is four weeks and has DS’s cold, so has been feeding less and I guess that’s why.

My boob is so painful and I have a fever and flu symptoms. I have started antibiotics today, am taking paracetamol and ibuprofen, have hand expressed in the bath and am feeding from the affected side but the big hard lump is still there and shows no sign of coming out.

Is this normal? How long before I start to feel more like a human being again?

Antibiotics can take up to 48 hours. Try warming your boob before feeding, soak a nappy in warm/hot water and then week. Also massage from the nipple towards the lump. Do you have milk bleb?

Taking antibiotics made me feel better (fever and sickness) within one day. It didn't help with the duct blockage though. I had to clear this through massage, hot compress, feeding lots etc.

Okay, thanks all. I’ll just keep on doing what I’m doing. No sign of a bleb. Blimey, this is some painful shit.

Sympathies. Try massaging in front of the blockage.

It’s absolutely the worst pain isn’t it. I can still remember having it with my DS over three years ago! Thought I was dying! Once the antibiotics kicked in I think I was better in a day or so. Lots and lots of warm baths and showers, nipple cream, rest and feed or express regularly. Hope it gets better soon for you.

I didn't have mastitis but had v painful blockages/swollen boobs once or twice and honestly cabbage leaves in the bra genuinely helped with the pain. I didn't think it would, but I was desperate, and it definitely helped.

I felt better within a day or so once on antibiotics. The threshold for further intervention with mastitis is low - if by the end of 48 hours on antibiotics there isn’t an improvement, go back to your GP.

Hope you feel better soon - mastitis is so awful.

I felt better quite quickly once I got the antibiotics. My sympathies, mastitis is nasty. I couldn't believe how quickly it came on and how ill I felt. Antibiotics plus cabbage leaves in the bra did the trick.