Mastitis prevention?

[PennyPenny1]

I'm just wondering how proactive I need to be for mastitis prevention... my baby is 8 weeks old tomorrow and didn't feed much yesterday after a few evenings in a row of cluster feeding. Last night and this morning I've felt engorged and had a large lump near my nipple, I've been massaging when she's been feeding but it's not totally gone away - at what point do I need to contact the GP for antibiotics or is it only when the fever etc. kicks in?

Kellymom is the go-to for anything breastfeeding related!

Prior to mastitis you can get blocked ducts. Painful and nasty but not an infection, which mastitis is. Alternate hot and cold flannels used to help me, along with hand expressing (just into a muslin).

Here's a thing from Kellymom

https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/mastitis/

Do you have a La Leche group or breastfeeding cafe locally? I'd suggest going to a meet up if possible as they can suggest and help so much more in person.

I had mastitis but kept feeding and it went away on its own... just had to keep baby feeding and lots of skin to skin. Paracetamol, warm shower and not too hard on the massage as you can make it worse!

www.laleche.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Blocked-Ducts-and-Mastitis.doc#:~:text=Encourage%20your%20baby%20to%20breastfeed,breasts%20should%20never%20become%20overfull.&text=Ensure%20your%20baby%20is%20well%20attached%20at%20the%20breast%20when%20he%20feeds.

Hakaa pump with Epsom salts is meant to be another trick for getting rid of blocked ducts. Agree that you don’t need anti biotics yet as it doesn’t sound like you have an infection.

I usually massage strongly as I feed to release any blocked ducts.