mastitis/breastfeeding help

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Really looking for some advice as feeling a bit deflated.

My 3 week old dd has never been the best feeder since birth. She sometimes struggles to latch but it's gotten worse over the last few days. She moves her head from side to side and when she does latch it doesn't feel like she's on right and she comes off quite a lot.

I'm also sure I've now got mastitis in one breast as I feel like death and the breast is very sore, feels almost bruised. I've read I need to keep nursing but it's hard when's she's pulling off and seems quite uncomfortable.

She is a very windy baby and struggles to get her wind up, we started giving her the colic drops 2 days ago but haven't really seen an improvement, don't know if it's related but I really don't know what to do from here.

Any advice would be welcomed.

Bump

If you suspect mastitis you need to ring GP for antibiotics. To provide some relief massage your breast while feeding and/or in the shower to help unblock. For the latch I would try to get some breast feeding support, my hv gave me details of what was available in my area. Hope it gets better soon.

Same advice as above. You must see your go if you have mastitis. And, difficult as it may be, you should keep bf-ing through it. Your HV should be able to give you a contact for Bf counsellor.

Call your GP re the mastitis and call your health visitor to ask for some breastfeeding support. I also swear by nipple shields to get through rough patches with latching, they were my saviour and we are still feeding at 10 months after a shaky start. Get some help and support, it is very hard in the beginning at times but worth it

Also, I found that stroking and massaging the sore breast during feeds really helped. Almost just trying to rub out the blockages if you see what I mean. Can be hard to get over the initial desire to just leave it alone and go nowhere near it but it definitely helped.

See your GP, but in the meanwhile express from that side after feeding. Can you feel a blocked duct?

Has she been checked for tongue tie?

The milk can taste salty when you have mastitis, is she feeding better from the other side?

Thank you so much I will look at nipple shields. I breastfed my first for 8 months and didn't have anything like this so it's a bit of a shock and feel so guilty

She was feeding better from the other side and to an extend still does but has started being funny from the other side too now. I can't feel a blocked duct, it's like to the side of the nipple it feels swollen and bruised

I did wonder about tounge tie as read about it. She hasn't been checked for it. I've tried ringing the health visitor but just going to voicemail, when they ring back I will ask her

The other thing I'd check for is thrush. A long while ago now, but DD2 kept pulling off me when I tried to feed and we found it (eventually) it was because she had thrush in her mouth and was in pain. Worth a look, just in case - if it is that you'll need thrush treatment for you both to clear it up.

She definitely seems uncomfy when feeding, I don't think she's getting full feeds as she's on and off that much. Just need this health visitor to get back to me and will mention all the above as something doesn't feel right

I'd recommend the medela shields if you do want to give some a try. Good luck and come back to us if you need any more advice

Well health visitor still going to voicemail and can't get in the docs until next week. I honestly feel like death, sat here blubbering in pain.

I've had a warm bath and took paracetamol earlier which must have worn off as the chills and pain are back with a bang. Just taken another but I'm worried about taking too many but the pain is unbearable.

I've tried expressing and getting nothing, can usually get about 4 oz from both breasts in total but I haven't been expressing for long, still offering baby both sides frequently but it's so difficult with her fussing.

I'm really hoping they get back to me soon as can't continue like this, I have a toddler to entertain too and it's so draining and I feel so guilty on them both.

Partner is going to nip out soon for some nipple shields

Did you explain when you tried to get a doctors appointment why you needed it? When I had it I got an appointment at an urgent care center as gp couldn't see me but it needs to be treated quickly. The medela nipple shields have been great so second that recommendation.

You poor thing, mastitis (if that's what it is) is absolutely grim. I hope you get antibiotics for it soon or another diagnosis.

If you have mastitis you need to be seen by a Dr and you can't wait until next week. You need to ring the out of hours service before you end up seriously unwell. Have you taken your temperature?

Health visitor came out and managed to get me a doctors appointment. They both said it looks like the start of mastitis, doc gave me a prescription but said she'd rather me not take them unless it gets worse as might give baby diarrhoea/upset stomach, she said to just keep feeding and put a hot towel over it but if it gets worse take the antibiotics.

Just hoping things improve.

Also checked for thrush and the health visitor said the white in her mouth just looks like milk but keep an eye on it. She also said she doesn't think she had tounge tie but that her tounge doesn't come right out which can be a sign but as she's fed ok she doesn't think it is advice it would be excruciating to feed. I'm seeing her again on Monday though so will see how things go

Take the drugs!!

She's really windy and seems in pain with her stomach at times so I'm really worried that taking the antibiotics will make it worse for her.

The paracetamol takes the edge of a bit so if I can manage with that I will but if not I'm gonna have to take them, reluctantly. I think the paracetamol is starting to wear off now though I can feel the headache and sweats coming on again

Take them because it won't get better until you do and untreated infections are dangerous. You could end up in hospital :(

HV is bonkers telling you not to take them as it will upset baby

Im really confused now, it was the doctor who said that, health visitor managed to get me an appointment as she said I'd need antibiotics after looking at the infected breast.

Has anyone taken them while breastfeeding and did it give your baby an upset stomach?

I had mastitis twice (once on each boob) while BFing my DS1 and the antibiotics didn't do baby any harm! Definitely would take them. But also keep squeezing and massaging the infected boob regularly under warm running water, or under a hot flannel, it can hurt like hell but will help clear things if you can get the milk duct unblocked.
It's usually the result of baby not latching well (mine had tongue tie) or sometimes missing feeds.
Hope you feel better soon, it usually took 3 days of antibiotics for me to feel human again.

I had mastitis and took antibiotics, the doctor told me they would be safe to take (presumably they wouldn't prescribe them otherwise?!)
You can get baby probiotics to give to the baby to minimise any negative effects.

Oh and the reason I had mastitis was that my baby had tongue tie. It sounds to me as if your baby probably has it too. Please get a proper tongue tie assessment - health visitors are not trained on it! See if there is a breastfeeding drop in you can go to, or see a lactation consultant - find one here.

You can also find info about TT and the assessment here:
www.tongue-tie.org.uk/Mobile/m-tongue-tie-information.html

Mastitis is horrible, please do take the antibiotics and get as much rest as you can (easier said than done with a newborn, I know!)