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Original poster

Help - mastitis 😭

16 replies

Nc1468 · 06/10/2019 19:51

Hiya
Just looking for some advice because really worried about DH having to go to work tomorrow.

DS is our first DC and is just over 4 weeks old. I'm not BF because he has a tongue tie but have been expressing for him. I've had real issues with getting enough for him and over the last week or so I've got basically nothing so thought I'd messed up big time and ruined my milk supply, so been using formula exclusively which DS is fine with.

Yesterday I really didn't feel myself but put it down to lack of sleep and tried to get in with my day. I ended up having to go to the out of ours GP last night because I was in so much pain and the flu like symptoms were unbearable, where it was confirmed to be mastitis. The Dr have given me antibiotics and was told it would be gone in a week but if not to see my GP.

We've been doing bits and bobs today and although I didn't feel amazing I felt better than yesterday so just got on with the day. 4pm comes and the flu symptoms come back with a vengeance and I've been in bed ever since trying to sleep this off as I'm going to be on my own with DS all this week whilst DH is at work.

I'm seriously concerned as to how I'm going to care for my son on my own. I'm in so much pain but honestly the flu is the worst bit.

Has anyone got any tips or tricks to help ease the mastitis? Or how to cope with the flu feeling? I've been expressing still but nothing has come yet, tried hot shower which was good for the pain in my breast and a hot flannel but like I said it's the flu feeling that is really worrying me.

Desperate and will try anything.

TIA xx

OP posts:
Harrysmummy246 · 06/10/2019 20:21

I seem to remember that the fluey feeling eased within a couple of days as the antibiotics kicked in.
Ibuprofen and just keep trying to massage the breast and work the blockage out- it won't be pretty when it does come.

Oh and paracetamol/ ibuprofen.

With a newborn, try to get husband to leave everything set up for the day (nappies etc) and just keep him close to you - at this age all he needs is cuddles and to be clean/ fed

HelloAgainYou · 06/10/2019 20:35

Go to your Gp. I remember (14 years ago now!) that my health visitor kept pushing me to breastfeed when I had mastitis and I ending up bleeding quite heavily.

In the end I saw a locum GP because I couldn't take it anymore, who was amazing, prescribed safe antibiotics and I was right as rain very quickly. I really wish my stupid health visitor gave a shit about me. I was in so much pain I was in tears and she kept saying "crack on" Angry

I'll never forget that.

buckeejit · 06/10/2019 20:36

Agree-get as much prepped tonight - bottles/changing stuff-keep in your room & easy snacks for you. Good luck, you will get through it though it's awful. Is there anyone that could call in during the day to check on you & make you a cuppa?

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sh13 · 06/10/2019 21:06

I’ve had it twice the first time was so bad and I was at my mums she had to drive my car home for me an stay with us for the night I was vomiting and shivering an could barely move so i totally get it ... my oh was at work I don’t think he believed how ill I really was with it. Soon as I got antibiotics they kicked in after a day or two. keep up the paracetomal and ibruprofen to keep your temp down ..hopefully you have someone to help out abit tommorow? But if not somehow you will manage to look after baby I know how hard it is when your ill just do the bare minimum baby won’t care as there so tiny. Feel for you it really is hideous

Blossom28 · 06/10/2019 21:10

I had it and ended up in hospital where my symptoms were so severe they started to suspect I had sepsis. It was so bad that they sent me for a scan on the breast. 😬 However, day 2 of antibiotics I started to feel a lot better. Echo what others said, get everything set up including drinks and snacks for yourself and just snuggle lo on the couch all day. Good luck!

Original poster
Nc1468 · 06/10/2019 21:14

Thank you so much everyone for your advice. I've had my antibiotics for tonight and some paracetamol so hopefully that'll help soon.

DH has sorted everything for me for tomorrow and is bringing bottles up so I can stay in bed and feed DS tonight which I love, he's been really supportive which is great.

MIL can help tomorrow which will be amazing but I don't have anyone else for the rest of the week but hopefully it'll be manageable by Tuesday. And you're right, my baby will need me and that's more important than anything else so I will just do it won't I. Motherhood is amazing like that 💕

I honestly can't remember a time I felt this bad, give me childbirth over mastitis any day!

OP posts:
kazza446 · 06/10/2019 21:16

Put a cabbage leaf in your bra!! Seriously it does work! I had mastitis twice and the cabbage leaf eased it!!

FusionChefGeoff · 06/10/2019 21:19

Don't forget that if you really need to - DH will have to take time off work. You are ill and have a very new baby to care for!!

Original poster
Nc1468 · 06/10/2019 21:23

@kazza446 how weird... Off to buy a cabbage in the morning then! Will try anything!

@fusionchefgeoff oh no he absolutely would, I'd just rather it didn't come to that as I was induced to have our LO which took almost a week for him to be born plus two weeks of SPP were down quite a lot of money from last month and would like to avoid that again if possible 🙄 MIL will help tomorrow and I'm hoping and praying that I'll feel better by Tuesday, just seems so unlikely right now 😭

OP posts:
BlingLoving · 06/10/2019 21:23

If you started the antibiotics yesterday, I think you'll be okay by tomorrow. (note, okay, not 100%). I had it twice and was the same - DH had to miss work the first time as I was so sick, but only for one day. By the following day I'd started feeling a lot better and while DS and I didn't get out and do anything, I was fine at home alone. Sleep and rest as much as possible and with your DH already stepping up so much I think you'll be okay. Good luck. Mastitis is the worst!

AiryFairy1 · 06/10/2019 21:31

Oh mastitis IS the worst, poor you 😣 when I had it (nearly 7 years ago but the memory is fresh 😒) I found taking a hot bath or shower really helped, and gently massaging the boob in a downward motion if that makes sense.
Hopefully the ABs kick in soon and you’re back to rights ASAP.

QS888 · 06/10/2019 21:40

I second the cabbage leaves - green and curly cabbage! I'd also recommend a hot shower with flannels on your boobs and lots of breast feeding ! Good luck x

Original poster
Nc1468 · 06/10/2019 22:24

Thanks everyone, I've had a shower which has helped, I don't BF as DS has a tongue tie but have tried expressing (nothing has come from that but hopefully it might kick things off)

Off to get a cabbage tomorrow so fingers crossed ☺️ and DH has just gone to get me a hot flannel so will try that too xx

OP posts:
vroc81 · 06/10/2019 22:41

If you’re pumping keep pumping ( sorry couldn’t tell if you’d stopped recently) on schedule but knock down the intensity a bit if it’s uncomfortable (if you have an electric pump you can do that on) even if you’re not getting anything much it will help a bit..

kazza446 · 06/10/2019 22:45

Definitely hot flannel and massage your boobs in the bath too. I really feel for you, it’s horrendous. Hopefully you will feel better tomorrow. Ps my baba had a tongue tie which was picked up at 6 months. It was a painless procedure. I cried more than he did 😊

Blossom28 · 07/10/2019 08:17

Keep pumping too, the milk will come back- at least it did with me!

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