Antibiotics and mastitis

[staranise]

Baby is a week old and feeding well, has put on weight. but yesterday i felt terrible, flu symptoms, fever etc, v painful red swollen left breast, recognise mastitis as have had it before with DD2. baby only feeds every 4ish hours so have also been expressing (not very successfully) to try and get the milk through, plus baths and compresses. fever and achiness gone today but breast still sore, red and swollen. Spoke with mw on phone who said i needed AB so my GP gave me a prescription without seeing me after i phoned the surgery.

Do i really need the AB or should i wait to see whether it clears up by itself over the next 12 hours or so? Am reluctant to take AB when baby is so small. Has anyone got through nasty mastitis without taking AB? Many thanks for any advice

I have got through it without them several times, but I also got very ill one time when it began to be systemic, or going into the blood. I was very ill.

I would carry on how you are, maybe mark the line/red area and if it's not improving by the morning see about getting the abs. You must be careful not to get too ill but I know what you mean about wanting to avoid them if you can.

I assume he has given you ones compatable with bf?

You're usually supposed to start abs if you don't feel better within 24 hours. Can you get lo to feed more often than every 4 hours? As they are better are clearing blockages than a pump. If I had mastitis I'd be offering the breast at least every 2 hours. Hope you're better soon

Oh yes, if you do need the abs, pick up some acidophilus capsules from holland and barrett. They replace the good bacteria in the tummy and help to prevent thrush.

thanks for help. am finding it difficult to feed more frequently as baby is so sleepy - any tips for waking them up to feed? even changing his nappy hasn't worked.

I'm not sure about waking a sleepy baby, mine always wanted to feed ALL the time. Can you express quite a bit in the bath?

Have you rung anyone for advice? With mastitis you can ring the bf councellors out of hours as long as it's not too late, you keep ringing the number until one of the on-call people answers.

Le Leche league - Call 0845 120 2918

If no-one replies stay on the line and it goes to the next person until you get an answer. I've spoken to them at this time before.

Hope you feel better soon. It is grim, I remember it well.

Here's some advice on bfing sleepy babies. Hope it helps Agree with ringing LLL for some more in depth advice.

Thanks very much, will look into all of that. Was feeling better, now feeling worse so think I will have to overcome paranoia and take the AB.Pharmacist didn't help by saying take the drugs after the baby has fed rather than before to minimise how much he gets.

Sorry to come back late. What ab are you on? Doctor should have prescribed one suitable for bfing so what pharmacist said is pointless and will just worry you. I can check the drug out for you if you like though. I honestly wouldn't worry. If you're feeling worse, take them. Feel better soon

Thanks, it's amoxycilin (sp?), am sure it's fine, though I haven't actually taken them as I started taking ibruprofen lasst night and felt better so quickly, plus the swelling and tenderness has eased enormously and it's much less painful to feed. The breast is still red but have been massaging lots and that is easing too. I've got the ABs in case I feel worse but am hoping it's clearing.

ALso think that jsut staying in bed for a couple of days baby is working wonders . Thanks again for your help

Yes amoxicillin fine for bfing if you need them. This website is useful if you're ever prescribed anything and you want to double check. It sounds very promising that you're feeling better, what a relief! I'm very glad for you. Keep an eye on it but it sounds good