Painful lumps in breast and armpit (breastfeeding)

[dreamerkr]

Hey guys, I’m 14 days PP and since yesterday I’ve been feeling like I’m about to get a fever (or have a low fever), painful lumps in my left breast and left armpit. I breastfeed DS most of the time, and give a few formula top ups too when he doesn’t seem to be full enough. Is this a blocked milk duct, or mastitis? I’ve been taking paracetamol which seems to be helping but as soon as the medicine wears off I feel feverish again. I’m so worried thinking that my baby will catch this fever from me and fall sick too, even though I’m sure it’s because of how painful the lumps are. What can I do to make it feel better? I can’t even contact my GP today because it’s Saturday.

Could you ring your midwife? If it's mastitis putting a cabbage leaf in your bra can help, as can massaging the affected boob under a hot shower.

I had this with both of my babies. A course of antibiotics sorted it out both times.

Does it sound like mastitis? I’ll try the hot shower now, I feel like crap. Is it possible for DS to catch the fever from me? I’m so worried about this, he’s only 16 days old.

If your getting a fever you need to talk to your midwife. If it's just a blocked duct try positioning baby so their chin lines up with the lamp, then that's the part of the best they will feed from, so might unblock it.

It does sound like mastitis. It makes you feel really rough.

Your baby won't catch it, no - in fact, feeding is one of the best things you can do because it helps to clear any blockages. But if I were you - and I have been - I'd call 111 and get a prescription. The ABx work really fast.

Hope you feel better soon

Thank you so much guys

Definitely get it checked out- but when I had this, a hot flannel applied to the lumpy bit and then a bit of massage/ expressing really helped. If it was really bad, I used a stickle brick.

Massage the lumps under a hot shower. It'll feel sore but the relief is immense. Keep feeding on that breast too as hopefully the lumps will be sucked out.
Also contact the docs as you feel feverish too

I had something similar, and they did go down after a few days but would talk to midwife or gp in case of infection. hope you feel better soon

Hope you're feeling a bit better now.

I had this. Long hot shower, massage the lumps out gradually. It’s gross and incredibly painful but the relief is amazing when you manage it. Hot flannels on, when you’re not in the shower can help too. It’ll take a few goes.

Antibiotics if you can’t shift it yourself.

it’s really distressing but it will pass xx

Speak to your GP or midwife about antibiotics tomorrow or Monday if it hasn't cleared by then but tonight keep feeding as much as the baby will. I would try your best to not give any formula for a couple of days as feeding lots will help clear it. I found hot water bottles or something cold helped as well on your boobs between feeds. I also found not putting anything tight on really helped so slept without a bra (but towels literally wrapped around me as I was leaking a lot at that point!)
If you start to feel unwell and the paracetamol stop working on the fever then you need to try and get some antibiotics asap. Once you start them it will clear fast but it can be horrible. The baby will be fine and can't catch it.
For me it got a lot easier a few weeks in. 6 months in, still feeding and my boobs are pretty much back to normal. No lumps or bumps or pain and very rarely leak. Good luck, sound alike you are doing amazing.

The updated protocol for mastitis is feed baby as normal, use cold/ice (wrapped up) on the breast not heat, don’t feed or pump to empty the breast, don’t massage and don’t use heat. Any massage should be the pressure you’d use to rub a baby’s face, no harder. As suggested try to use baby’s chin to work out any blockages, but get antibiotics asap if it’s possibly mastitis already.