Mastitis and Feeding

[ClimberChick]

Woke up today with texbook mastitis. Got some antibiotics from GP, but she also said not to feed off the bad breast until tomorrow and express instead. Now I thought that this was opposite of what I'm suppose to do. So really just looking for some reassurance, that I'm doing the right thing by offering the bad breast first. Have tried expressing at the times that I normally do so, but have not managed to get any significant quantity out.

I had mastitis with ds1 and the one thing everyone told me was to keep feeding off that breast no matter how terrible it felt and how much you wanted to curl up into a ball and cry but it hurts!! Keep feeding, I was never able to express large amounts and it would not have been enough to relieve any pressure.

I've heard the same - keep feeding, and consider varying the position because it could be something about the latch which has caused a blockage. try positions which make the baby approach from a different direction/angle eg. rugby ball, lying on your sides.

Good luck!

PS Ibuprofen and paracetamol alternately, each at their correct interval...

I expressed through my bout of mastitis (when DD was about 10 days old). There was absolutely no way on earth I could have fed her, it was like rubbing broken glass into my nipples.

I came through the other side and we are still breastfeeding 3 months later. The main reason to keep feeding is so your milk doesn't dry up and expressing serves the same purpose although to a lesser extgent. As a bonus someone else can give baby a feed of the expressed milk, giving you a rest.

Had I not expressed through the mastitis I think I would have gone onto formula, it was so awful (and I speak as a passionate BFer who would do anything to sustain feeding). It really worked for me

When I had mastitis, I kept feeding from that side more than normal to help relieve any blockage (it did hurt ), also using a hot water bottle helped. La Leche advice on mastitis is here

Feed Feed Feed off the affected side and get the baby's chin ontot the red bit. This helps dran the affected part of the breast.
This can involve some strange positions but works.
HTH

realised I never said thank you for the advice.........thank you
It all worked out fine btw and still on 100%BF despite a nursing strike which happened the week after.