Scared by severe post natal breast infection

[Emarosa]

Hi everyone,

I’ve just returned home from 5 days in hospital. I was diagnosed with mastitis - but everyone in hospital kept commenting on how incredibly odd and severe my case is. My son is now 18 days old and the mastitis started last Sunday. I took oral antibiotics for it almost right away. However the infection spread across my entire breast very quickly (rather than just a part as is usually the case with mastitis) and the tablets didn’t help - I needed an antibiotic IV drip. I had a breast scan but there was no abscess to drain, just one huge infection and inflammation. My breast was about double its usual size and no one could express milk from it. The only thing that eventually worked was the drip and my son nursing on that side. The breast is softer now and the infection is going down - but I’m terrified about what might have caused such an awful infection in the first place. I might be being paranoid, but I feel like since going off the drip and on to tablets that breast feels more sore again.

I’m seeing the breast clinic again tomorrow. Does anyone have any advice on things I should ask during this appointment? I’m terrified something more sinister is happening in that breast. Has anyone else experienced such a severe case? I feel like a complete medical anomaly and it’s terrifying. I just want to see my son grow up.

Don’t panic. It’s not going to be breast cancer or anything like that as surely when they scanned they would have looked for things like that.

Bacteria is incredibly powerful and nasty sometimes. It’s pure luck of the draw and likely you were unfortunate and had to be that one person who picked up the super nasty strong bacteria.

It will all be ok I am sure.

I had this and had to have a month of strong antibiotics. It can turn into an abscess easily without antibiotics if the infection hasnt all been killer off so keep an eye for that.
I had recurrent mastitis and got to the point where I was told I would have to take prophylactic antibiotics every day if I wanted to carry on breastfeeding. I switched to formula because the antibiotics were strong ones that went into breastmilk so it wasnt good for me or the baby, and after the painful weaning and reducing milk supply felt like myself again after months.
I've seen posts on forums where women breastfeed right through abscess surgery so it can be done if that's what you want, but it really wasn't for me. It's tough when you are in the midst of it but it does get better eventually.