At risk of mastitis?

[Paris2019]

Hi, my DS is 9 days old and we're on the breastfeeding establishment journey. I think we're doing ok (and midwife concurs) however, I am finding it much more difficult on my right breast... just can't seem to get as good a latch, and it's more sore on that side. Today my right boob started leaking, so I used the breast pump to express. LOADS came out of the right breast compared with left. Although I feed DS on both sides equally, my right breast doesn't seem to drain as much, and is often a bit hard/lumpy. I'm now really worried I'm going to develop mastitis on that side and am pretrified about it... what can I do to prevent this?

I used to sit in a warm bath and let the pressure equalise.

Mastitis is soo painful, I don’t think you can have it without knowing iyswim.

Try feeding on that side in different positions - rugby hold can be easier to get a good latch. Watch YouTube video of how to latch especially the ‘flipple’. When you are feeding massage the lumps.

Mastitis is horrible..I had it really early on dur to feeding issues and didn't realise how quickly it developed.

I massaged it frequently including in the shower, used hot compresses, pumped 8 times a day to get rid of it and also submerged my boob in a hakka with Epsom salts

Mastitis is grim, if you had it you’d know about it quickly.

I would pump after feeds on right side, reducing the amount you pump gradually over time, so the supply gradually reduces. Or, do two feeds on right side and then one on left if you prefer that approach. Basically you need to either reduce supply on right, or up the amount your LO is drinking on the right.

In the meantime, watch out for blocked ducts, breasts becoming rock hard, any chills or shivers etc that are the typical signs of mastitis.

I had mastitis recently and I suggest looking up your local breastfeeding support groups. In my area a couple of groups offer (free) support via zoom and a few face-to-face appointments. One zoom consultation with a lactation consultant really helped me fix the latch on the side I find trickier. I had watched YouTube videos, read lots (and had breast fed my eldest) but showing the latch to someone and talking it through made a big difference.

I also used most of the suggestions here. The one I would hold off on/get specialist advice for is aiming to up or reduce your supply. The lactation consultant told me that that was suitable for an older baby but not a newborn while supply is establishing.