Swollen breasts in my baby

[MummyRR]

My baby has swollen breasts which I took her to the GP for and they said this is common. She has some milk leaking too.
The next day one of the breasts turned red looking like it could perhaps be an infection.
So I took her to the GP again and was prescribed some antibiotics which I am reluctant to give. She is only 11 days old. Reason being, she seems well within herself - is feeding normally and no temperature. Can somebody help/advise? Thanks

You’re reluctant to give prescribed antibiotics? Are you joking? Infections in anyone, especially in newborns, can be fatal.

Why would you seek the advice of random strangers when you have qualified robust medical advice from a doctor? Give your baby antibiotics NOW. Don't mess around googling or social media. Newborns can go downhill very very quickly.

If you went to the doctor because you suspected an infection, why are you not using the antibiotics that were prescribed by an actual medical professional to treat said infection?

Give your baby the antibiotics and stop trying to get medical advice from unqualified strangers. Take responsibility for your child ffs.

Follow your doctor's advice. If you doubt this advice then you can seek a second opinion from another doctor, not strangers on the Internet.

Give your baby the prescribed antibiotics - why would you not?!

Give her the antibiotics! You would take them if you had an infection

Give the antibiotics. If you can't be convinced by your GP then go and get a second MEDICAL opinion.

You took the baby back because you thought it was an infection. What exactly did you think the doctor would do other than prescribe antibiotics (that famous medicine that stops infection)? Use them!

Give her the medication. Infections in newborns can very rapidly go very bad. Plus she could be in discomfort and pain.

It's to do with hormones I believe, same reason as newborn girls can have a little 'period'. My first DD had that but second didn't. So not a worry in itself but the infection part is for sure.

Reported.

A real life health professional has seen and assessed your baby, but you would rather have advice from a bunch of randoms on the internet?

Give those antibiotics now, they weren't prescribed for fun.

For gods sake, give that poor baby the antibiotics. That infection looks uncomfortable, and infection in babies can escalate quickly.

I’m astounded that you would disregard medical advice and ask a bunch of internet randomers whether you should look after your baby or not.

Now I’ve seen everything. Giving you the benefit of the doubt that you’re in an early days baby brain fog and not thinking straight, GIVE YOUR BABY THE ANTIBIOTICS AND LISTEN TO THE MEDICAL ADVICE.

Jesus

I wish Mumsnet could actually step in, share information and ask for a welfare check for some of these babies

I agree. This should be reported to
social services.

You've all gotten the wrong end of the stick... the doctor advised to give antibiotics should it get any worse. This is how the swollen breasts looked yesterday and the doctor himself was reluctant to prescribe them since she's so young.
Jeez.

I’m not going to pile on but I think you should give her the antibiotics.

i don’t know why your doctor was reluctant when that’s clearly infected in the photo. If it reassures my youngest was preemie and I’m SCBU and lots of the very fragile babies in there had antibiotics because they needed them. I’m not one for antibiotics except when really really needed but I’m also not one for wee toots suffering and that must be sore.

the swelling itself is from your hormones as others said and will go soon.

This is the issue: she's well within herself and is feeding. No temperature. So is it actually an infection??? The doctor I saw yesterday didn't seem too sure himself and just wrote out the prescription.
Her stomach is so little though and I don't want to give her antibiotics unnecessarily if it isn't actually an infection.

I don't think it's going to clear itself up

Give the medicine

You do not know better than your GP who has undergone a decade of medical training. Give her the antibiotics and make sure you give the full course.

You're now changing the story. You didn't say the Dr was reluctant, or to take 'if got worse'. It looks infected - an infection doesn't necessarily cause a high temp or poor feeding, but is likely to get worse - why would you risk it?

'Babies can also, however, develop mastitis — which will feature red, sore and infected-looking skin that is also warm to the touch around the breast area. Antibiotics are in order in this case, along with drainage of infected fluids where necessary.' From a simple google.

You do realise that neonates don't always get a high temperature with infection?
They also compensate and act well before becoming unwell very fast.
Give her the antibiotics.

My firstborn had intravenous antibiotics at birth due to an infection RISK from a long labour. There were actually no signs of infection, it was purely "just incase", newborns can deteriorate so so quickly. The redness, and inflammation, definitely looks like some sort of infection, so I would 100% give the antibiotics... Just incase. Sepsis can develop from an untreated infection, and the symptoms may be hard to miss in a young infant. It's really not worth chancing it with a baby so young and vulnerable to their outside environment. Look at that large area of redness and how small her tiny body is, if it is indeed an infection brewing, you need to hit it on the head asap before she ends up back in hospital. I know we read all the headlines about antibiotic overuse, but in my opinion, there is no risk worth taking with a newborn. My daughter has never had another dose of antibiotics and is now 10. I don't regret the precautionary ones she had as a baby, as it quite simply could have saved her life if she did indeed have an infection.

Apart from the angry red infection site, your baby's skiin is a mottled colour. In young babies mottling can be an important warning sign of infection. Give her the antibiotics, and make another appt at the DR .