novice breastfeeder - mastistis in right boob, is the infected milk making DS sick after feeds?

[papaya]

went to doctor today, for the last 2 weeks despite massage, hot.cold compresses etc etc I cant shift a lump i have (red on surface) this morning the red patch has spread across my entire boob. Doc said its mastitus and has prescribed me anitbiotics. He also said not to feed from this boob, but to express and single side feed from the other and top up with formula instead of using right breast?? I have ignored his advice and have continued to feed from my right breast. However, ds seems quite unsettled this evening and has been sick (twice after every feed for the last 3 feeds). his sick was very thick and lumpy.

Has my milk made him ill and if so what should i do?? I am wondering whether to express tonight and give him formula, i dont want to make him ill???? argh....

He will be 4 wks old on friday.

tia

you're right to keep feeding. expressing won't drain the milk as well as your baby can and you need to keep it all up and running to stop it getting worse.
feeding is the best thing to do.

there is some very useful advice here on kellymom

it's also a good idea to take a probiotic drink or something because taking antibiotics can lead to thrush

Hi Papaya

I too had the start of mastitis when my DS was only a week or so old. I second that you should keep feeding from the infected breast to help drain the milk away, after all mastitis is caused by milk stasis where it is not draining away. Mine didn't develop fully fortunately but I had a huge red hard patch covering one breast. I had lots of hot baths during which I massaged my breast, I also had a warm compress on it whilst feeding (one of those microwave lavender sack thingies) and kept feeding from the infected breast until I was absolutely sure it was completely empty (think my baby fed from it three times in a row!). I was lucky and these all worked for me, maybe some will work for you too.

Apparently the infection does not harm your baby as stomach acids destroy it, but then I'm not a doctor! BF Counsellor was very certain that feeding from the infected side was definitely needed.

Good luck and I hope it clears up very soon .

I've had mastitis several times.

Both Gp and health visitor told me it's not the milk itself that's infected, but the surrounding tissue. I would guess your LO had lumpy sick as it was part-digested, maybe? (Not sure, no expert).

However, I would definitely continue to feed from the right breast, your milk won't hurt your baby.

Do try to rest, it really helps.

You may just have a sicky baby. Dd started "posseting" spectacularly at about that age, seemed like huge amounts, and I would always think; "oh bloody hell, it took ages to get that into you" !

how's it going papaya?

hi all, not so well cadelaide thanks for asking but its turned into an abscess as anitibiotics are not working. doc is trying me on some different antibiotics today for 3 days then if they have not worked/'helped any its off to hosp

does anyone know if having the abscess will affect feeding?? will general or local anestheict affect feeding? really dont want tto take ds into hosp either....

Maybe i should start a new thread asking this question .

Papaya, only just seen this.

Poor, poor you, how are you now?