Breast feeding- breast abscess

[Mazzatron]

When I had my first baby in 2018 I breast fed him. There were no problems with latch. Positioning was sometimes hard as I struggled to sit in a chair due to injuring my coccyx or the muscles around it during birth (on back with legs in stirrups due to problems). So I often fed laying on my side. He fed well.
I was very engorged when my milk came in and had an over supply. I was repeatedly told this would settle over a few weeks but it didn’t. I got mastitis twice and fed through it. I then got it a third time and also developed a large breast abscess that had to be surgically drained 10 times. Every time it was drained it filled up with milk again that then went septic. I was advised not to pump or express during this time due to the over supply.
I was then advised to stop breast feeding because otherwise the abscess wouldn’t heal. I was v upset but I accepted this as the whole situation was getting me down immensely and making me quite ill. I just wanted to get better and enjoy my baby.

However I still don’t really understand what went wrong and why this happened. Was I given any bad advice? I spoke with the breast feeding midwifes, breast feeding counsellors on a phone line etc I was advised some different positions to try also which didn’t help. I was told it wouldn’t be an abscess as they are extremely rare. Even the GP didn’t spot it on my first appointment, actually had to send photos to a friend who is a doctor who then called the local breast unit and managed to get me a scan!
I’m due another baby in 2 weeks. Hoping to breast feed for longer this time and with more success. Obviously a bit trepidatious due to this happening last time and just looking for ideas of what I did wrong last time to cause all this drama.

My breast abscess was drained once then when it refilled, the sac was surgically removed. No talk of redraining it. Draining it ten times is crazy. You must have felt constantly ill. I was able to pump throughout, and ended up exclusively pumping for a further 12 months. I healed beautifully and quickly. I was never advised to stop feeding.

My next two babies latched beautifully and I had no problems.

In your shoes, if you are unlucky enough to have the same problems with baby two, really forcefully insist on surgical removal of the abscess. Explain that draining it was an effort in futility last time.

It's not unusual to have multiple drainage, I had about 6 and I am so thankful as the alternative would have been a much longer and more difficult period of healing.
@Mazzatron I don't have the answers to your questions, but there is a group on Facebook with lots of people with varying experiences who may help. It's called lactational breast abscess sufferers.
I think the advice given to stop feeding was not necessarily correct. And there are things you can do to avoid in future, such as taking lecithin to avoid blockages.

@MangoSeason wow I had no idea that was even an option it certainly wasn't suggested. Thank you for sharing that.

@Imicola thanks so much. I've ordered some lecithin and will join that Facebook group now. I just want to understand more about why it happened if possible.

Thanks guys