Sore/bruised underside of breast - no other mastitis symptoms

[Birdsong1990]

Hi all,

Hoping someone can offer some advice please! I'm EBF my 3 month old DS and yesterday morning I woke up with the underside of my left breast feeling sore/bruised to touch. It also hurts a little when he latches on unless I make sure he opens his mouth extra wide but this disappears as he feeds.

I've kept feeding on this side just in case there is a blocked duct, I've also pumped a little to keep the milk flowing, and today have dangle fed him (really glamorous!) but the soreness is still there. There are no other signs of mastitis - no lumps, bumps, red spots, temperature etc and my breast feels soft and not engorged. It just feels bruised especially when I brush up against something or my 5 year old accidently elbows me in it!

The nipple isn't sore or cracked - I've never had a problem with his latch before. He is a big lad so does feed quite a lot so not sure if it's just got a bit overused 😝and I suppose he is feeding even more in this heat! Maybe I just need to suck it up and see how it's feeling in a few days?

How are you both today @Birdsong1990?

Tighten your bra strap, hoik the breast up so it's really supported. Wear night and day.

@PritiPatelsMaker still not 100% but definitely better than yesterday so hopefully whatever was wrong it’s healing!

@justasking111 that’s good advice thank you, as it hurts more in bed at night when they are just flailing around 😀particularly as I’m a front sleeper!

Im experiencing the same with my right breast so would like to see the responses. I have some lumps under mine though which I've been massaging to try and get the milk out? It's really painful so would be interested to see comments and advice!

I would try and change feeding positions if you can-have them feeding from other side or even dangling in their mouth if you can.

I also used to feed in the bath sometimes-the warmth loosened any lumps.

And inmigtb suggest the opposite about bras-I found mine sometimes caused the issue. Maybe try everything!

Yes, if you suspect it's a blocked duct (which can present without a lump/hardness) try to feed in different positions - some say that it can help to imagine your areola as a clock face & try to get your baby to feed at all the different positions of the clock... Easier said than done, I know!

Warm shower/bath/cloth and breast massage can help too

Of course if it doesn't clear and you start to feel unwell, get in touch with your GP.

A cabbage leaf in your bra cup under the boob is supposed to help with mastitis.

I think this is more to help with the discomfort of engorgement, but the cooling effect might be helpful anyway

Nerd warning..but...there has been recent new evidence & revised advise re Mastitis treatment.

The key differences are that it cautions against using massage any stronger than gentle stoking, or use of any object, such as an electric toothbrush, for massage, to avoid tissue damage that could exacerbate the inflammation. It also cautions against attempting to "drain" the affected breast completely or feeding/expressing from it more than is necessary for comfort and to feed the baby, in order to avoid stimulating overproduction. It suggests feeding from the affected breast second (where the current advice suggests first) in order to help down regulate milk production on the affected side.

https://www.bfmed.org/protocols?fbclid=IwAR1pTDYw-9FKSAPB-_E7yVK2AuA5bApvNhg47001lsp-P0jMH4X6ll0Sxoo&fs=e&s=cl

This is the full version 👆

This is a summary; 👇

https://sarahoakleylactation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/mastitis.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0XTx2COai1EhWdSfP4eLIZuVhOz8BqVCGIJ15r9yz4iLN-Aj-IshstY7s&fs=e&s=cl&fs=e&s=cl

@babythrive this is really interesting- thank you for taking the time to post this!

It is interesting. I never fed to drain blocked side-only took off excess as suggested in article.