Mastitis help!!!!

[littleweedandherflowers]

I’ve got mastitis and it’s painful ! Any tips on getting rid and being able to feed baby off the blood which is so engorged 😩 I keep going shivery and hot / cold !
have a doctors appointment but wanted to know what else I could do ! ?

Ok the basics:
keep feeding from that side
if baby is not interested / you still feel full after feeding, hand express
gentle massage to the affected area to get milk flowing (gentle!)
Take painkillers!

then: hot or cold?
I would apply a cold wet muslin, or a cold freezer pack (suitably covered in muslin, don’t give yourself freezer burn!)

think of it as treating inflammation - hence applying cold

I was looking for this link (it saves me various times during near mastitis episodes)

https://breastfeeding.support/mastitis-symptoms-and-treatment/

pS : a wet nappy in the freezer makes a good emergency cold pack .

So go to the doctor though- if you’re shivery you may have a temperature/ may need antibiotics

Best of luck - mastitis can be horrid

Take ibuprofen, as much as youre allowed. Keep feeding off that boob first and had express if it still feels full. Cold on it like a ice pack and then lymphatic drainage massage (lots of videos on YouTube, reels). It hurts like fuck but helps. Cold is the recommendation but i did find a warm bath with boobs submerged was a relief.

I had three bouts of it, nearly gave up. Managed to get through 2 myself but then needed antibiotics for the last one. Worse than childbirth imo.

Cold cabbage leaves. If you have a raised temperature you may need an antibiotic.

I feel for you as I’m going through exactly the same and it’s horrible. Just been to the doctor and got antibiotics. Check whether you can also take paracetamol with the antibiotics to bring down your temperature.
My doctor suggested using a cabbage leaf on the breast for relief. I thought he was joking, but apparently it is a thing 😂 Look it up.

I didn't believe the cabbage leaf thing until my 3rd bout of mastitis. The wrinkly one, savoy!

But GP appointment asap. Keep feeding, nice warm bath and massage your boob in the direction of the nipple.

Utmost sympathy op, it's awful!