Is this mastitis AGAIN?

[Suzanne219]

I've got a nearly 7 month old son, breastfed. I also express a lot for him and donate to the milk bank (not being a saint, just giving you background to the extent of my supply.)

I've now had THREE bouts of mastitis, same boob. The boob is really hard again today (not all of it, just the right side of the boob and underneath.) I've got a kind of white spot on the nipple and it bleeds slightly. No other cracks, I don't think.

I feel like shit but that's not unusual, lol.

I really don't want ANOTHER course of antibiotics. The GP barely looked at the boob both times and just dished out a script for amoxycillin.

Does it sound like mastitis again? It's not that red, although it's a bit swollen. Could it be engorgement? I've just fed on that side and it hasn't gone down, and I'm trying to express now but nothing is coming out.

He's feeding less now that he's a bit older...am I backing up?

Grrr. Any advice? Thanks!

Sounds very familiar. I was on what GP said was third bout of mastitis at 6 months. It might be a bit of a block. Few things to try. While in the shower, get a wide tooth comb (I know it sounds mad but trust me!) and comb the breast over the hardness and towards the nipple. If you can bear it do this for a few minutes. Then splash cold and warm water, alternating for a few minutes. Before you feed, place a warm flannel over the hard area for a few minutes, then a cold when when you've finished feeding. Other thing is it may be an infection through a crack, but Lansinoh ointment really helps if it's just a crack. I used this after every feed from 6 months, and wished I'd used it from the start. To be safe though, if you're no better in the morning, might be worth one more course of penicillin and then use the flannel/lansinoh going forwards. Sorry to go on. Good Luck. x

Hi Kerry, thanks for the response. A wide-tooth comb?! Ouch! I'll try this morning.Thanks for the water tip- I tried a hot pack last night but with no relief so I'll try your suggestion.

It's annoying- today was a day 'off' (DH was going to have the baby) but I feel so lousy I'm going to have to go to the docs, I think.

Thanks again. x

Sounds like the white spot might possibly be a bleb in which case it needs to be pierced to relieve the blockage (and you may find the backed-up milk shoots out satisfyingly).

Instructions here:
www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipplebleb.html

Ah, a bleb! That's it, definitely! Thanks so much for the links xx Off to buy Epsom salts etc.

You don't necessarily need to pierce a bleb, I did and think it may have worsened things, I'd maybe try the other stuff on the kellymom link first (just speaking from painful personal experience!)

Thanks purplemyrtle, I'll try everything else first!

Annoyingly, Boots don't stock Epsom Salts.

I wouldn't worry about the epsom salts TBH. They are not essential.

When I had a bleb recently, I soaked in hot water to soften and then picked at the edge rather than pierce as such. (TMI warning). I used a sterilized needle and pushed away from my chest wall (so it can't go further into the nipple and cause more damage). Then once the skin was broken slightly I applied slight pressure behind and old milk squeezed out like a toothpaste tube. The pressure makes the hole a little bigger. I wiggled with the needle again and pushed once more and I felt the blockage clear and a spurt of milk came out. On this occasion I was only hours away from mastitis I am sure. The breast was very red. After the blockage was cleared I fed frequently for the next few hours and the redness disappeared and the breast softened entirely. I had a bleb a few years ago (I've been feeding continuously since 2004) and also cleared it pretty easily.

The key thing is not to push the needle in as such but just try and break the top layer of skin gently so the blockage can be cleared.

Thanks, not TMI at all, very useful indeed! It looks a but better- it's opened up a bit but I'll check again later. Thanks again.

Think I may have messed about with mine too much SamJamsmum!

Another thought Suzanne, as your trouble is always in the same place maybe there are issues with flow from that area? I think one thing that kept mine at bay was feeding in different positions (i.e. lying down, sitting up, DS kind of sitting up next to me, on lap etc) so that DS wasn't always latched on in the same place in the same way if that makes sense. Also a fairly thorough express on that side whilst massaging towards the nipple on the affected side.

Ah, yeah, that could be it-I don't really feed lying down anymore. I think that area id definitely susceptible to blockages.

Well, I've hod a good clean-out and fed on that spot. It's all nice and soft and pain-free so hopefully the spot will heal soon.