Mastitis - experiences please

[Pagan]

Especially any tips on how to 'firmly massage' when I can hardly bear to touch my boob

[pabla]

Oooh this post is bringing it all back to me - this time last year I was enduring regular bouts of mastitis with my third baby. One thing I found out - if the antibiotics don't improve things in a day or two, you need to go back to the gp pronto to see if you need a higher dose. I would also advise speaking to a breastfeeding counsellor if there is one in your area. I was a bit blase about the whole thing, with it being my third baby, and I really wish I had seen someone for advice after my first bout of mastitis. Mine developed into an abscess in the end, I needed a hospital stay to drain it under a general anasthetic and I gave up breasfeeding on that side, though continued on the other side for a few months afterwards.

[Pagan]

Fabulous, my lovely mum just cheered me up no end by saying that DH will go elsewhere coz he's not getting it at home just now!

That't great mum, thanks for making me cry

[Kelly1978]

Don't listen to ur mum - what a horrible thing to say!! You have a 3 mnth old baby, I'm sure you're partner can wait for a while.
As for the mastitis, it is horrible - I had a bout the end of last week, with the fever etc. It did clear upwithout AB tho - I don't like taking them as I get thrush. I couldn't even bear water pressure on my breast from the shower - I found it better to sit in the bath and masssage it, and express loads to relieve it. You really need bedrest tho.

[Pagan]

Thanks Kelly - she thought it was a joke!! Seems a bit too obsessed with my sex life I think

[Homsa]

I got two good tips from a breastfeeding counsellor that really helped me - I never got mastitis again after I saw her. The first one is, when you get the first signs of a blocked duct, take some Ibuprofen. As it's anti-inflammatory, it may get the swelling down enough so you can get the milk flowing again. The other one, if you get mastitis and blocked ducts repeatedly in the same place, there may be some kind of "kink" in your milk ducts that keeps the milk from being drained properly even if your breasts feel empty after a feed. So, after feeding, try to massage out the remaining milk (worked for me, there was always a bit left in the tissue next to my armpits). Also, I read somewhere that taking Lecitin can help, I tried it for a while, maybe it did make a difference.
Good luck!

[rodeo1]

How are the boobs love?

[Pagan]

Better today. DS feeding out of the sore one fine and it doesn't nip as much.

Still got headache and a cold coming on and both DD and DS have the cold. Sods law huh!

And the only break I've had so far this year is this weekend ........ a camping trip to Isle of Mull. Ha bloody ha!!!

The hotties seem to work wonders folks.

[RachelsAunty]

You could try lying the baby on his back on the bed & kneeling over him on all fours when you feed him. This is uncomfortable & not possible to manage for long but it means your boobs will hang free so milk should not get trapped & cause mastitis.

[RachelsAunty]

Good luck!

[Pagan]

LOL I can picture the scene with DH coming home and me feeding DS like a big coo! Shall give it a go

Feeling much better now as I think all the drugs have kicked in