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Original poster

Has anyone treated mastitis without antibioticd?

31 replies

Dahlia5 · 27/05/2022 20:59

This morning when I woke up and nursed my 9 month old I noticed my right breast was a bit sore. I was also having chills and my body ached. There is a red patch on the breast, but there are no lumps and the breast is soft to touch. It doesn't hurt that much. I drank lemsip this morning and went to work. I felt a bit better throughout the day, but got the GP appointment anyway. The GP confirmed it's mastitis and prescribed antibiotics.
Now I'm thinking if it's really necessary to take them? I feel like I have a mild form of mastitis.. could it suddenly become much worse if I don't take antibiotics?
I never had any problems breastfeeding so the mastitis was a big surprise. My baby has had a few infections recently from nursery, I'm wondering if he passed them to me when feeding.
Shall I wait till tomorrow morning?
Please share your experiences.

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BIWI · 27/05/2022 21:00

No. Don't wait.

sunscreenandsaltwater · 27/05/2022 21:02

Take the drugs. Honestly. It can get so much worse.

catsnore · 27/05/2022 21:03

Personally I wouldn't wait- take the drugs! It can get worse very quickly and apparently can lead to abscesses if untreated. I've had it five times (!) and each time I get treatment a little quicker because I spot the signs! It can also affect your milk supply.

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DramaAlpaca · 27/05/2022 21:04

I would take the antibiotics.

Mastitis is one of those things that can turn nasty very quickly. I got it when DS was about five months and went from a slightly sore breast to feeling really fluey and ill in just a couple of hours. Better to take the antibiotics before the infection takes hold.

Oh, and I rarely take antibiotics either. That time I knew I needed to.

MrsSkylerWhite · 27/05/2022 21:06

You’re not a GP, they prescribe for a reason. Please don’t wait until you’re producing nothing much more than blood, as I did - and was very silly (brainwashed) to do so.
yes, you need antibiotics.

CoconutQueen · 27/05/2022 21:07

Why on earth would you wait? You may well get a LOT more ill .

Beecham · 27/05/2022 21:12

I had it loads when bf. I'm surprised the doc handed out antibiotics on day one as they normally say wait a couple of days to see if it clears up first.

One thing that really helped me was a hot flannel held firmly on the affected area. Then feed your baby from that breast as much as possible. Keep reheating the flannel and reapplying.

Original poster
Dahlia5 · 27/05/2022 21:17

Beecham · 27/05/2022 21:12

I had it loads when bf. I'm surprised the doc handed out antibiotics on day one as they normally say wait a couple of days to see if it clears up first.

One thing that really helped me was a hot flannel held firmly on the affected area. Then feed your baby from that breast as much as possible. Keep reheating the flannel and reapplying.

That's what I was thinking, as some recommendations are to wait 24-48 h before antibiotics.
The problem is I've now returned to work so can't breastfeed that often, only express. I took a hot shower this afternoon and it helped a lot too.

OP posts:
multiplemum3 · 27/05/2022 21:19

Obviously it's your choice what you do by why seek a doctors advice then second guess it? They've given you antibiotics for a reason

Lindy2 · 27/05/2022 21:22

I'm not one to take antibiotics unnecessarily but I wouldn't mess around with mastitis. You can start to feel very ill very quickly.

I know someone who ended up in hospital on an IV drip because of mastitis.

Taking the antibiotics now to make sure it clears up quickly and doesn't worsen really does make sense to me.

7weekandcounting · 27/05/2022 21:22

Yep. I’ve had it a few times and it can be agony. That said, I’d hang on to see if I could manage it myself before resorting to aBs.

cabbage leaves wierdly worked for me, as did hot flannels with paracetamol.

only you know how much agony you are in. Don’t be a martyr

Eliakimi · 27/05/2022 21:27

Had terrible mastitis in both breasts - red rock hard, awful fever and screaming in pain. Cured with green cabbage leaves in the bra. I left them in all night too! The midwife came to see me and recommended it straight away.

Original poster
Dahlia5 · 27/05/2022 21:27

Thanks everyone. I really feel okayish, and feel like the soreness of breast is declining every hour. I hope I'm not being naive...
The reason I want to hold back on antibiotics is that later there is a high risk of developing thrush etc. Has anyone used good probiotics that you can recommend? And do you take them during the antibiotics course or after?

OP posts:
Heresafe · 27/05/2022 21:29

I felt was getting it (very shivery and feeling unwell when had a lumpy, full sore breast ) so had a hot bath and massaged it and made sure baby DS really drained the sore one. I didn’t ring the gp as thought I’d see how it was The next day and by the time I woke it was already feeling better .now completely fine

ancientgran · 27/05/2022 21:29

Beecham · 27/05/2022 21:12

I had it loads when bf. I'm surprised the doc handed out antibiotics on day one as they normally say wait a couple of days to see if it clears up first.

One thing that really helped me was a hot flannel held firmly on the affected area. Then feed your baby from that breast as much as possible. Keep reheating the flannel and reapplying.

Years ago they used to say use a cabbage leaf. I did it in the bath, nice hot bath and cabbage leaf on breast then baby passed to me and had a good feed. Made a huge difference. Did it again the following morning and all was OK.

Although my breast was sore and engorged I didn't have the chills, I think that might make it more serious.

ditalini · 27/05/2022 21:31

Cold and hot compresses, combing towards the nipple, massaging and lumps towards the nipple can all help.

If there's an infection you need antibiotics though.

First time round, I managed many blockages without abx by being scrupulous with the former as soon as any symptoms appeared.

Second child I ended up im hospital on iv abx for a week so I wouldn't personally risk holding off if you have a prescription. Initial presentation was identical in both cases.

Verbena87 · 27/05/2022 21:33

Nope, take them! I took 3 courses through my breastfeeding journey and never got thrush even without probiotics (I do eat live yoghurt but that’s about it diet wise).

surreymum89 · 27/05/2022 21:41

I have a 9 month old and have the same right now , lying in bed shivering and aching , this is third time , first time I fed loads and massaged and overnight was gone , second time still woke up feeling bad the next day got antibiotics but I managed to shift it just after I collected them , this time I haven't spoken to a doctor (I know I know but it's impossible to get through on a Friday) but I wondering whether to take the antibiotics I got last time but I was reading about infectious and non infectious mastitis and I don't want to pass antibiotics through my milk unnecessarily , not much help sorry but I'm in the same boat!

Original poster
Dahlia5 · 27/05/2022 22:01

surreymum89 · 27/05/2022 21:41

I have a 9 month old and have the same right now , lying in bed shivering and aching , this is third time , first time I fed loads and massaged and overnight was gone , second time still woke up feeling bad the next day got antibiotics but I managed to shift it just after I collected them , this time I haven't spoken to a doctor (I know I know but it's impossible to get through on a Friday) but I wondering whether to take the antibiotics I got last time but I was reading about infectious and non infectious mastitis and I don't want to pass antibiotics through my milk unnecessarily , not much help sorry but I'm in the same boat!

Oh poor soul, I hope you get better .
I've decided to wait till the morning and if no improvement then start the antibiotics...

OP posts:
Eggsley · 27/05/2022 22:01

Take the antibiotics - I had mastitis and was given oral antibiotics for it, which I took. Within 2 days I had sepsis and was in hospital on IV antibiotics. Hope you are feeling much better soon.

rasberryandlime · 27/05/2022 22:17

Cannot advise enough to take the antibiotics. I started taking them too late and ended up with a breast abscess and sepsis, admitted to hospital really really poorly and ended up having surgery to remove the abscess. Please take the antibiotics. I hope you feel better soon.

surreymum89 · 28/05/2022 08:13

@Dahlia5 how are you feeling now ? Better I hope , I started on the antibiotics at about midnight my temperature was going up and I felt more and more awful by the minute , temp is back to normal this morning.

WildCoasts · 28/05/2022 08:50

I'm usually not keen on taking antibiotics if it can be avoided but, having had mastitis once, I'd say take them. You don't want to give it a chance to take off.

Soubriquet · 28/05/2022 08:54

Take the antibiotics

I had it really bad with ds. They were rock hard, hot, swollen and just plain sore

I had a bath and milk literally started coming out in the water.

What a relief. The antibiotics helped big time

lljkk · 28/05/2022 09:00

How you feeling, OP? Yes I had mild mastitis, had no antiBs, it got better by itself. Was fairly quick recovery as I recall.