Giving up breastfeeding after severe mastitis?

[Jba17]

I was recently hospitalised for five days for a severe mastitis infection and it has made me want to give up breastfeeding as I don't want to end up in the same position again. Mainly because I was so poorly that I needed to be hospitalised and I'm terrified that it will happen again. However, I am feeling so conflicted, sad and guilty about it as I want to do what is best for my baby, but I'm so scared about being hospitalised again and going through the same horrible experience. The breast which had mastitis has dried up entirely and there is very little coming out of the other but I'm scared to let it dry up entirely in case I regret my decision.

Has anyone been hospitalised for mastitis before and been in a similar situation?

You poor thing. I've had a few bouts of mastitis and it's awful, fortunately not so bad to be hospitalised though. If you don't want to continue breastfeeding then that's completely your choice - don't feel any pressure to keep going, your health is important.

How old is your baby? With this one I had three bouts of mastitis but have had no issues since 10 weeks so your supply does sort itself out in the end. For me, in hindsight, each time was either when I'd fed awkwardly (on a park bench with straps of clothing tight) or baby had skipped a feed because they'd had a sleep day. I didn't have mastitis with my first until I went back to work, but I think that was because it was lockdown and I had no other kids so could sit on the sofa all day with no bra etc.

In terms of supply, I've found the affected breast does reduce supply in the days after, but getting baby to that breast will restimulate it and it will come back.

I'm so sorry that had such an extreme problem with BFing.

I'd think about calling one of the BFing Helplines and talking through your conflicting feelings before you decide. Have you got the numbers?

Hello, I am finding myself in a similar situation and wondering what you decided and how you found it?

I had mastitis with my daughter. Not at all as bad as yours and I am sorry you had to be hospitalised.

I combi-fed then stopped very shortly after. My daughter is healthy and this was 11 years ago.

Deifnitly take the advice above but I wanted to say whatever you do decide, if BF no longer works for you, do not feel guilty as you have tried.

I decided to stop breastfeeding and I don't regret my decision at all. My baby is happy, healthy and thriving. It seems like such a monumental decision at the time, but now eight months on, I am nearly 100% at peace with my decision. Within a few months of stopping, I no longer felt guilty and depressed about it.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate the response. I think I am making peace with the same decision and now grappling with the practicalities of trying to stop breastfeeding without getting mastitis again.

@Jba17 Hi I'm going through something similar and currently on antibiotics. My supply has reduced. How did you stop breastfeeding if you don't mind me asking did you just stop cold turkey after coming out of hospital and let your supply dry up? Or did you have to do it gradually? I don't know whether to just stop cold turkey now whilst my supply is low but I don't know if that will make the mastitis come back fully again. Atm it is getting better and my fever has gone I'm on day 3 of antibiotics. Would really appreciate the advice

My memory is a bit foggy, but I was using a breast pump and reduced the length of the sessions by a couple of minutes each time and dropped a session every couple of days. I think it took around 7 or 8 days. I hope that this makes sense.

@Jba17 thank you so much for replying, that makes perfect sense