Recurrent mastitis - advice needed.

[OneDay1234]

i gave birth to my second (DS) in April. I got mastitis a couple of times the first 2 weeks, but he had a really bad tongue tie. We had it cut and all seemed well for a few weeks. Then at 6 weeks I got mastitis again, then at 8 weeks, 10 weeks, 13 weeks and now at 15 weeks again. His latch is okay, he is a huge baby. Was plotting on the 99th centile and is now currently off the chart.

I absolutely love breastfeeding, did it for 16 months with my first DD. But I’m struggling with constant mastitis with no apparent cause. Should I give up? I don’t want to, but I also don’t want to keep coming down with this rubbish infection everytime he has an off day where he doesn’t feed as much as usual.

has anyone else been in a similar situation? X

I've not been in a similar position although I've had it twice back when I was BFing so I don't envy you!

Just wondering if they gave you antibiotics for long enough?

Have you tried lecithin supplements OP? They made all the difference for me. I tried soya first but I was allergic so I switched to sunflower.

Thank you so much for your replies @SiouxsieSiouxStiletto & @stargirl1701
the Doctor I’ve been seeing has given me 48 hours to clear it on my own each time I’ve seen her, and I always do manage to clear it without antibiotics, but sometimes it’s touch and go. I’ve felt really poorly with it a couple of times, and panicked about sepsis etc but I have always managed to overcome it without antibiotics. perhaps I need some.

I haven’t tried lecithin supplements actually, I’ll get some off amazon. Thank you so much! X

I am not a doctor, but it sounds like you’re not actually clearing it fully so the infection is slowly growing until it’s out of control again.

Mastitis is not to be messed with, I don’t understand why your doctor didn’t prescribe strong antibiotics the first time you got it?

Are you using disposable breast pads? I found they seemed to harbour bacteria and gave me endless mastitis with my first, it only stopped when I stopped breastfeeding at a year. With my next two children I used washable ones and never had mastitis again.

Another recommendation for lecithin. I also massaged with a special Weleda oil daily which really helped. The one time I was refused antibiotics I developed an abscess which I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I had recurrent mastitis with both DC but once I discovered the lecithin and oil they made all the difference.

I've had it multiple times, maybe every three I the or so! For me it usually seems to be due to missing a feed or being run down/stressed in some way. Also if any soreness or damage from poor latch/octopus baby. The last time I had it the doctor looked up the latest guidance on recurrent mastitis and made us do nose swabs - apparently it can be caused by bacteria lurking in the nose.

I'd second having some antibiotics- otherwise I think it will just keep coming back.

*months

@CheekyHusky the first couple times I got it I cleared it on my own without seeing the doctor. Then the third time it was quite bad and I felt really sick but she asked me to go another 48 hours so as not to expose the baby to antibiotics in the milk needlessly. 2 days later I managed to clear the infection luckily. Then this happened again, same advice, and the past couple times I haven’t bothered visiting the doc if it’s gone within 3 days. So it might be my fault that I haven’t pushed enough for them.

@Createdjustforthis yes! I found this too! I ditched them at 10 weeks and just go without now. I rarely leak through my sports bras now as my supply has settled.

@z465757 can I ask what the symptoms of the abscess were? Was it like an obvious lump, or did you just get really ill?

@catsnore yes that’s definitely when I get it. Only happens when he misses a feed due to him having a cold etc. I got it a lot when I was expressing daily so my partner could give him a bottle, so I stopped doing that, but I’m still getting it. Not as often, but still getting it when he misses a feed. I find myself panicking when he does that and then I’m trying desperately to get him to feed even though he obviously doesn’t want or need it.
I think I’ll have to go back to the docs and ask for antibiotics.

thank you all for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate it x

Also @catsnore interesting about the nose thing! Never knew that!

I was already ill with the high temp and shivers etc when I was refused antibiotics (by a female GP who just gave me print outs of self help measures despite me having had mastitis before…).

I went away and within a couple of days an obvious large red painful lump developed, with shiny skin over the top. I went back and the same GP then agreed to give me antibiotics. I thought it was something more than mastitis at that point as I hadn’t had it like that before and it didn’t improve quickly with the antibiotics like mastitis usually does and it was extremely painful.

I did some research myself and went back the next day, saying I thought it was an abscess. She agreed and I was then referred straight to the breast clinic and needed to go there multiple times a week for over a month to get it treated - I ended up with a massive hole in my breast and I still have a scar many years later! I somehow carried on bf, though it was probably the worst month of my life - I was in so much pain that I couldn’t wear clothes over it at home. I’m glad I did though.

I got mastitis multiple times after that until I discovered the above but they always gave antibiotics straight away from then on.

I had the same issue OP, my doctor reffered me to the breast clinic after my second bad infection to rule out any problems with my breasts. Turns out I have scar tissue on the problematic boob so I will always have this problem.while breastfeeding. I took soya lecithin (from Holland and Barratt) and massaged the area where I have the scar tissue every time I fed DH at home.

I wonder if the initial infection has been cleared completely given you are getting a reoccurrence every couple of weeks, has your doctor given you just one type of antibiotics? If you get it again definately ask to be reffered to the breast clinic and ask to try another antibiotic.

Oh and please don't feel like you have to do everything to clear it on your own, mastitis is not something to be messed with. If you feel poorly, phone the doctor.

NICE guidelines are to prescribe antibiotics if it has not cleared in 12-24 hours

Never should you be left for 48 hours without antibiotics.

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/mastitis-breast-abscess/management/management-lactating-women/

I started pumping between feeds while at the same time also holding the back of the electric toothbrush against any painful spot (vibrator would work too) whenever I started feeling poorly to vibrate the block out of the ducts. A tip I got from an old and very experienced HV. I never got mastitis as bad as the first time again after that. My milk production never fully recovered in that breast.

Perhaps silverette cups would help? I used them from day one and bf with no issues. Obviously I don't know what issues I may or may not have had if I didn't use them but I'm sure they helped. Everyone I know ergo used them got through feeding with no issues. 🤞🤞

Mastitis is horrendous! I had it several times with each baby, and only once managed to overcome it without antibiotics. Never had any issues getting antibiotics, after the first couple of times the GP was happy to prescribe over the phone to save me a trip to the surgery while feeling terrible. They work really quickly too. Perhaps you need a course of antibiotics to properly get rid of it? Aside from that, a nice hot bath or shower while you express, or feed baby in the bath (obviously can't be quite as hot!)