Mastitis in both breast - I want to quit BF ASAP!

[dune2003]

My DD is currently 6 days old and I’m really struggling with breastfeeding. She’s had latching problems since being born and I feel she’s never getting enough milk so we’ve topped up with formula feeding since birth.

i Have breast implants which I think may be affecting the milk supply she’s getting. I’ve also now got mastitis in both breast and a GP prescribed antibiotics yesterday.

ive seen a few MW who had suggested different positions but still doesn’t help with latching.

both breasts are terrible engorged and blocked but she just can’t latch/feed from either due to either being too engorged and the implants. I’m manually pumping from both the help drain but reluctant to do this also as I’ve heard horror stories of implants rupturing from pumping. Are the antibiotics going to affect the baby if I feed her my expressed milk?

Im really struggling mentally as I feel incredibly guilty for not preserving and wanting to quit only a week in.

i had a traumatic birth with forceps and an episiotomy, so still recovering from that as well as being anaemic from post partum blood loss.

how do I stop breastfeeding if she won’t feed from the breasts and Im reluctant to pump? I assume I can’t just leave the milk dry up as it will make the mastitis worse?

It’s your choice
id go to formula at 6 days you aren’t producing much milk comparatively

go to mdu and see them and ask for advice on relieving pressure.
I would also ask the dr to prescribe Cabergoline it will dry you up completely

don’t be fobbed off by midwives
it cost £1.50 or something but weirdly nurses / midwives don’t like to prescribe it. Dr was fine with it.

Sometimes bf doesn't work for people, I loathed it personally, managed 15 weeks combi with first and 5 weeks combi with second. I'm just pleased me children grew up healthy - bf was important to me for colostrum but the rest was a bonus
Please don't beat yourself up, if it's not working then we'll don for trying but it's just not for you and that's fine
Good luck

I'd get some proper trained advice - someone like La Leche League or National Breastfeeding Helpline. They can tell you how to stop safely without making the mastitis worse, or if you would prefer, some help on continuing. I would personally hand express rather than pump to reduce slowly. Take enough milk off for comfort rather than emptying your breast because your body will continue to produce the amount you removed. Try cool cabbage leaves in your bra, they can help with engorgement.

If it's not for you, stop.

My 2nd hurt me when I BF, and he cluster fed like hell. I lasted 3 days. It was horrible.
I think DH was relieved when I sent him to get bottles and formula.

DS2 started our BF journey better than DS1 but with DS1 I had more mental capacity to battle through. With DS2 I was just done.

It's ok to be done.

It's ok to want to battle through.

Only you can decide but whatever you decide is great.

As someone said to me, when you're children are at their first school performance in the hall, you absolutely cannot tell who was breast fed and who was bottle fed. You can tell they were all fed.

I can't advise you on the feeding as I am too far out of the loop.

But please be kind to yourself, decide what you really want to do and things will improve.
It's a hard time without all the extra tough bits.
Enjoy your baby💗

I did not manage to breast feed at all. We expressed the day 1 milk but he refused to latch on. i tried to express but struggled badly. I was made to feel terrible by the professionals but there was nothing I could do. DM-in-law later told me my husband was the same as a baby. I expressed for a few days then went to formula. I had so many fears as I was told it would affect his development. He is 14 now, bright as a button and 6 foot 3! He turned out perfectly fine.

Do what works for you and enjoy your baby.

Hello! Don't stop! I have breast implants too and remember feeling the same (baby was around six days old and I had terrible mastitis and a fever) she's now 9 weeks and I'm still going strong

My first daughter I had it with too initially. It's so horrifically painful I know but I promise it's worth it to keep going. Get some anti biotic and it should clear within a few days a d then it's pain free like the mastitis never existed!

Breast implants I have too, felt very guilty like it was my fault but i now have a great milk supply. Breast implants generally should not and do not affect milk supply x

I'm all for breastfeeding (did with mine), but if your having problems then bottle feed your baby. There should be no guilt or pressure around breastfeeding or the inability to do it.

I also had a traumatic birth with forceps and an episiotomy- a massive hug from me. If you can get hold of it Dettol wound Cleaner it helped me heal and use a donut ring to sit on if needed. A mild laxative could help you not strain as much going the loo - which can help the stitches to heal.

I found warm showers help with Mastitis and go to the GP for help with meds for drying up milk if you choose that avenue / check for infections. Also ask for help for the anaemia.

Protect your mental health and your bonding time with your newborn (that doesn't need to include breastfeeding).

I found the midwives / health visitors completely useless that visited me - see your GP if you have any health concerns for you or the baby.

Obviously I say don't stop , of course stop if you want too I'm just saying if you want to keep going there's light at the end of the tunnel. I also used a nipples cream which was so good I can't remember what it was called I think it was in purple packaging x

Have you tried the man nipple shields. These saved my breastfeeding journey as my kids had problems latching too. www.boots.com/mam-nipple-shields-size-1-10231687

I couldn't BF initially bc my baby had severe tongue tie and just wouldn't latch, and then when the tongue tie was sorted it took weeks to sort her latch and for it to stop hurting. I had mastitis twice and it is so painful. But it did stop hurting eventually, keep with it, seek some advice from breastfeeding support. There should be some local groups you can attend as well for extra support
For the mastitis - hot shower and massage before pumping/feeding to help the milk flow.

I'm not an expert but I used to get blocked ducts which would lead to mastitis frequently. Although it's been several years since I finished breast feeding. The most effective way to quickly clear a blockage which is likely what is causing the mastitis is to feed baby from the affected side (obviously in your case that's both sides but you'll probably have to pick one to do first and the other at the next feed). It's a bit agonizing to do at first but it can bring instant relief after the first couple of minutes.
You need to ensure baby opens their mouth super wide and gets a really good latch. Then keep an eye that baby isn't slipping off through the whole feed. Hopefully just towards the end of the feed a blockage will shift. If I remember right it used to happen for me at the point when I thought the feed had finished and baby had gone to sleep, when they just do those last very gentle sucks that are spaced quite far apart. If I left baby on the breast at that point suddenly something would happen and I would start feeling instantly better
Good luck and go easy on yourself whatever you decide to do.

Happy mum equals happy baby. If it's not working for you. And making you miserable then stop. Formula isn't poison! Enjoy your baby.