Mastitis.... Ouch blardy ouch. Anything else I should be doing?

[Derv78]

Have had mastitis twice before when bf DD.

Currently ebf 4month old twins. On holiday for Easter break, no breast pump with me.

Have developed mastitis over course of past 12hours or so, very painful. Still feeding from affected side, swapping babies for alternate feeds. DH gone to collect antibiotics from Out Of Hours GP. Taking regular pain relief.

Anything else I can do?

Hot flannels and massage breast with olive oil. This'll aid hand expression too.

Use varied feeding positions. Cradle/underarm/lying down/baby sitting up facing you/you positioned over baby with breast 'dangling' into babys mouth...

Hope you get better soon

Yes, much much feeding and massage and warm baths / showers. I find I am most successful at massaging out the blockage when soapy in the shower.

Also, I am quite convinced that I tend to get blocked ducts / mastitis when I am a bit dehydrated, so drink lots of water.

Thank you both for your advice MrsKitty and MaMight.

Will definitely try to vary feeding position (usually tandem feed using specific twins nursing pillow so will feed the boys individually as far as possible).

The thought of massaging is but will grit my teeth and massage through it!

Funnily enough, have been feeling a bit dehydrated, Mamight, so will up my water intake.

My last bout of mastitis resulted in a 48hr hospital admission for IV antibiotics (temperature was 39.8, blood pressure was very low & was having rigors) so will try anything that might help me avoid that!

Thanks again ladies. Happy Easter.

Can't link as am feeding but some v good advice on kellymom re treatment.

You say pain relief - go for ibuprofen first as it contains an anti-inflammatory.

Try to do as little as possible - can anyone come and help out with the twins, and you can just feed them? Keep feeding as much as you can.

Hand expressing video

Thanks BIOTB and Bertie.

Will have a look at Kellymom.

Have been massaging in the shower & boys doing a good job of draining boobs (feeding as I type!).

We're away with ILs, so lots of people to help out with DTs (although also have DD, who's almost 2, so it's a bit hectic!).

Alternating ibuprofen with paracetamol to obtain maximum pain relief: seems to be helping.

Thanks all

Cool savoy cabbage leaves from teh fridge. That really helped me, combined with warm shower, gentle massage, with the water running on your back (someone on mumsnet recommended that), and of course feeding from affected side as much as pos. Yes, and drink loads

How you feeling today OP?

Just remembered another fab tip from a BF group I attend...

Use a fine tooth comb, or a baby hairbrush (you know, with the supersoft bristles) to very gently 'comb' the affected breast - start at the outside of the breast and work towards the nipple. It acts as a massager to help release any blockages and can help to stimulates flow.

Feeling much better thank you MrsKitty.

Everybody's tips have been very helpful, thank you all.

The boys are able to latch on without me yelping now

Will keep the babybrush in mind (don't have one with us on hols!)

Does the thing with cabbage leaves in your bra actually work?

Does help. I used it when I was hospitalised with mastitis; my mum had brought me in savoy cabbage. Was in the lift on the way to have an ultrasound scan of my boob (to exclude an abscess) when I remembered it was there! Found a bin to chuck it in before going in to the radiologist though!

One of my breasts is hard and lumpy despite having just fed. Is this mastitis? Sorry to be a bit dense

chellie, probably a blocked duct - but do what people have recommended here to stop it developping into mastitis

You may want to check your latch. I posted elsewhere that I had mastitis twice when I first started bfeeding. The first time I got antibiotics but it came back a few weeks later. The second time I went to a breastfeeding clinic and they cleared it up in one session and I worked on perfecting my latch and it hasn't come back (I have now been feeding for 9 months).

Ibuprofen is also good for the symptoms.

Good luck - it is very painful!