I have a painful breast. mastitis?

[PavlovtheCat]

I am breastfeeding my almost 14 month old DS.

My breast is sore to touch on one side/underneath, feels bruised like it has been punched hard. I woke in the middle of the night and thought it was hurting as it was full (DS not fed in the afternoon). However, when he woke up at 4am and fed, it hurt, and it did not stop hurting after he fed. It seemed that he was not getting enough/any milk as he bashed it like he does when it is not fast enough, and ended up on the other side after a while/too painful.

The breast is not red that i can tell, other than through me prodding it to see if there any lumps and bumps, which there does not seem to be.

I feel a bit achey muscley, you know that pinpricky feeling, headachey, tired, a bit off colour, but to be honest have had this for a week or so anyway, before the pain started so might not be related.

Is this mastitis? something else like a blocked duct?

It sounds like it could well be mastitis, especially with the cold/flu like symptoms. Only advice is to try massage and hot flannels on breast and feed from it as much as is possible.

Hope you feel better soon.

oh feed from it?! ok, i will do that, have been avoiding it as the second time i tried it just hurt too much.

I was not sure mastitis could occur so late in breastfeeding! what causes it do you know?

I haven't a clue - i got it t'other week as it happens, and i've been BF continuously for 32 months!

oh so i it may well be then, thanks deemented. Did it go away ok, did you need to see doc for ABs?, how long did it take to clear?

I was on AB's anyway for something unrelated, so it only took maybe three days or so for it to clear.

It is sooo painful when he feeds. The moment he latches on it hurts all around the nipple, areola (sp) and the muscle around the sides/underneath.

It hurts when he is not feeding too, especially when he kicks me in the middle of the night while turning around ! (was in with me last night).

Sounds like mast. You should go on Monday and gt it checked out by GP though. The advice is feed from it first everytime, to help flush the bloackage through I think. Does hurt though, but I think you can take paracetamol safely, so don't suffer.