Mastitis and grumpy baby

[Mamabear04]

I've got mastitis for the 2nd time in 6 weeks and am so fed up. DS who is 10wo and usually a very happy easy going baby is just so grumpy, I'm assuming because of the antibiotics. He also just wants to feed to sleep for naps but wakes up when I take him off which is not like him at all. I'm just feeling a bit fed up as I have 4-5 more days of antibiotics!!! Any advice for helping DS and his uncomfortable tummy? He just constantly seems to have wind and is doing a poonami every 2nd day at the moment. Tummy massages are not helping! He's EBF.

He's also waking up at 5.30am every day for an hour and it's brutal because then I have to get up at 7am for my DC1. Its definitely because of his tummy!!!

Hi @Mamabear04 I'm so sorry to hear you're experiencing mastitis again. It's so painful and miserable, I feel for you.

In terms of making baby more comfortable, lots of parents find giving baby probiotics (they come in powder and drops I believe) can really help to settle their stomachs. I know introducing anything new can be a worry so worth researching. I know you've got a fair few days left on antibiotics but people do say babies feel so much better once the antibiotics are finished.

You've had mastitis a few times close together so I was wondering if you know what's causing it? It's often a latch issue so it's always worthwhile having a feeding assessment done at your local breastfeeding support group if you can. That can stop it recurring.

In terms of helping your symptoms, guidance on mastitis management has recently changed and the up to date advice is available here:

www.lllc.ca/mastitis-matter-inflammation

In case it's helpful, further information about latch and preventing mastitis is here:

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mastitis-2020.pdf

@Mumsneat thank you so much for your sympathy/advice and also for the links - very helpful!