Mastitis (I think) - what do I do?

[ChutneyMary]

Hello

I wonder if anyone can help me - having BF for 3 years pretty much non stop (2 DDs) I think I have mastits. My boob is hot and red and feels like agony. It has a huge red patch on it and red lines spreading out from the red patch. I have felt fluey all night and now feel dreadful.

I have tried to feed DD2 to clear it but it is too painful. She is a minky and keeps biting me. I just can't do it. It couldn't be a bite which has become infected has it?

ANy advice gratefully received. Am about to go and have a bath so will stick a hot flannel on it. I should also mention that I am 9 weeks pregnant and BF has been fine in the pg so far.

Many thanks in advance.

Hope you've managed to get to the GP this morning and that you feel a little better?

It really does sound like mastitis to me and you should get antibiotics asap if it is that.

Have you taken paracetamol to help with the fluey symptoms?

I don't know but I wonder if it's pregnancy hormones making more milk or making your DD drink less if the smell or taste of the milk is different. Then if your DD has less than normal the milk is sitting in the ducts and not draining away. Only a guess - I don't know for sure.
Hope you feel better soon though - mastitis is awful.

I had that and its really painful- definitely go to docs asap and get it checked- if you don't than it can turn into an abscess which is really nasty. I had antibiotics and paracetamol for it. if possible use a pump to check it is draining properly. Hot towels were useful too for unblocking it.

Good luck and hope it clears up soon

I had mastitis too and it's bloody painful. Get to GP asap if you haven't been already. The antibiotics really do work quickly. I know it's a bit worrying to take medication during pregnancy but I took antibios for about a month when I was pg and it was fine. Better than being ill.
Try to keep on feeding or expressing from infected breast and get on the antibios as soon as you can.
Good luck.

Thanks everyone. I have started taking the antibiotics and lots of paracetamol and am now feeling a bit better. Thanks for all the support - much appreciated.