Mastitis help please

[LaForza101]

I almost exclusively pump and have mastitis 😞 Day 3 of antibiotics and all the flu like symptoms have resolved themselves after the first 12 hours but my breast is still red and sore. I'm using a hot compress before pumping and that is helping with the pain and there are no lumps now but I'm wondering if the remaining symptoms should have resolved themselves by now.

Is it normal to still have redness/red stripes and discomfort at this point? Nobody in my family has ever breastfed and I've found lactation consultants have been a bit sniffy with me using a pump (as if I wanted major latch issues but that's another story 🙄). Any help with this would be appreciated. I just hope I'm on the mend and the pain/redness is the last thing to subside. I've had experience with sepsis so I'm always nervous and on high alert with infections.

Have you had any antibiotics?

I find the relief of massaging while feeding (pumping!) helps too.

It can take a few days to clear up, fingers crossed it calms down too, but I’ve always had antibiotics when I’ve had it.

Yes, the redness and lumpiness hangs around a bit longer, unfortunately! It will clear itself up but stay vigilant - it’s easy to get recurring mastitis (I did) so keep an eye on it. Hope you feel better soon! It’s awful isn’t it 💐

Is the pain and redness getting better, or worse? I guess better if the lumps have gone? I think as long as your flu like symptoms have gone, and your other symptoms are improving rather than worsening, it's fine.

You’ve probably still got a clog in there you need to get out. Have a really hot shower, aimed at the sore boob, and ‘comb’ with your fingers from the top of your breast towards the nipple.

Then once you’re out of you can try pumping leaning really far forwards to allow gravity to help it should start shifting it.

Massage whilst pumping as well and see if that helps. Mastitis is a pain and so sore! Keep an eye on it, if your fever comes back call 111 for advice.

Thanks everyone. The pain and redness just feels the same not better or worse. I'll have another hot shower and try massaging, although I think the guidance has changed on that. Regular pumping isn't sorting it seemingly.

The antibiotics seem to be keeping on top of the fever/aches but I'll keep an eye on my temp too.

Use cold compresses after massage and feeding/expressing.

Regular ibuprofen. Lots of rest and lots of water to drink.

Use the shower head directly bron you breast in the shower
Use a handheld pump in the shower with alternating hot and cold

Don’t massage if you have an infection. This is old advice. Sore, infected boobs don’t need bashing around. Massaging out a clog before an infection takes hold is fine, but not once it’s like this. Your breast needs comfort, hot and cold compresses and regular pumping to help any blockages. Take painkillers to help too.

It sounds like the antibiotics are working if the flu symptoms are gone, but it’s taking a bit more time to clear completely. Finish the course and if it’s not cleared up then go back to the doctor

Okay, bear with me on this as it sounds a bit strange, but when I identified a blockage, my friend said to hold a vibrator to the lump to help break it down. I'd never heard of it but gave it a go and it seemed to work 😂 not sure if it was a fluke or....

Oh no poor you!

It does sound like you may still have a blockage Have you checked on your nipple to see if you have a milk bleb (a clogged pore?)

A few things that seemed to work for me in the past - dangle feeding (pumping) to see if gravity helps. Hot shower/bath whilst trying to clear the blockage and taking lecithin to prevent future blockages.

Hope it gets better soon for you

A sort of non update really - I was able to see an out of hours GP yesterday and she examined the breast and said there are no lumps but she could see the redness still and signs of discharge at the nipple. She said to continue the course of antibiotics as the only other guidance is to go to A&E for drainage (but what would they drain if no lumps?)

I've only got another day of antibiotics to go so I might try my GP tomorrow. I just don't want to get worse when the antibiotic course ends.

Just wondering how this ended up for you? I’m on day 4 and feeling better other than awful headache still

You poor thing, mastitis is the worst! I was told the guidance has changed recently and to use cold compress not hot and not to massage it as warmth opens up all the ducts and can spread the infection..

I ended up feeling worse a few days later and rang 111. They sent me to A&E. They decided not to admit me but double up the antibiotic dosage. This helped but I was still on it for another 2 weeks before I was fully better.

I would ring 111 if you feel worse or are struggling with it and can't wait until a GP appointment on Mon.

I hope you feel better soon!

I feel lots better today but have just noticed a red patch on the lower half of my other boob. What the hell is going on 😭
i think I’m going to ask my gp for 3 more days of antibiotics to make it a ten day course. I don’t know what else to do.
did it come back for you or are you all clear now? Xx

@Mum2HC I still have two red stripes on one side but no pain or other symptoms. If they don't fade in the next couple of weeks I will go back to the GP. I had so many breast exams from different medics that I think they would have noticed something more sinister but I will get checked out if I need to.

I'm still cutting down my pumping sessions very slowly. It was a lesson learned!

Fingers crossed it is all ok. Have you carried on feeding? I will be so sad if this carries on and on as breastfeeding is so special to me, I don’t want it to end! 😭

@Mum2HC The mastitis occured as I was stopping breastfeeding (well expressing I should say). Sadly, it wasn't an easy time for us and my lad struggled to latch even with nipple shields. I persevered with pumping for 6 months but that's all I could do. I don't have the time to clean and sterilise pumps and make the baby meals.

It's lovely that breastfeeding has been a good experience for you. I really hope the mastitis is just a small blip in your feeding journey and you feel better soon 🙂