Breast abscess - private consultant?

[Ben123456789]

My girlfriend has a breast abscess, which is being treated slowly on the NHS. The infection seems to have died down (3 weeks after diagnosis) after she was finally given the correct antibiotics (Flucloxicillin) and numerous drainings, but there is a fistula below the nipple which is leaking milk and 'other stuff'.

When we asked about whether she should carry on breast feeding and whether this would prevent the fistula from healing or get reinfected, the junior doctor (it is practically impossible to see anyone who actually knows what they are doing) said 'we will have to wait and see'.

I am not going to go into a huge rant about the appalling standard of service we are receiving on the NHS, suffice to say that I'm getting health insurance for my girfriend and baby ASAP.

In the meantime I want to find a private consultant, who has experience of breast abscesses in breast feeding mothers, who we can go to and pay for advice.

Can anybody recommend somebody? I've never used private health before so I don't know where to begin. We are in Guildford, Surrey.

Go to your Gp they will be able to advise/point you in right direction

Go to your Gp they will be able to advise/point you in right direction

Again go to your GP and possibly call your local private hosp to find out the names of their recognised breast consultants you will then be able to look up sub specialisms on the internet or via a phone call. IMO most though deal with breast disease rather than breastfeeding.

I went through this and if bf is taking over your girlfriend's life and is upsetting and unduly painful please don't struggle like I did for eight weeks with infective mastitis and then a breast abscess and the determination that my baby would be breast fed because it was best. Call it a day, switch to formula and get the abscess healed up. Then you will all start enjoying pain free parenthood.

Our son is 16 now and came to no harm whatsoever either from our hairy start with feeding, my upset about it all going wrong, or formula. I'd be minded to draw a line in the sand and start enjoying yourselves.

Get the healthcare sorted for the future but get the present sorted right now because even privately this will take another week or so. Call the maternity unit and find out if the local health authority has a specialist breast feeding counsellor/consultant.

The thing is, private consultants generally get their best training and experience with the NHS. So if you can find the best NHS expert on this, find out if he or she does anything privately.

Mothers can carry on breastfeeding after an abcess. The breastmilk is antibacterial.

Does your girlfriend have any idea what caused the original lump? The advice I've heard is, if a mother has a lump that stops being painful, but is still present, she needs to seek medical help right away, as that's an abcess (and the sooner you see a medic, the smaller the lump will be, so the easier to sort).