Mastitis?

kaiteygrl

So I woke up this morning with extreme tenderness on the left underside of my left breast. It's more than tender but not burning or stabbing. There's no redness yet and I don't have a fever. Over the coarse of the day my whole body has become extremely achy. I'm taking Motrin without any relief. I normally have OS so I block feed. I've fed twice on the left and twice on the right today. Should I feed more on the left until this is resolved or pump after she's finished to make sure breast is empty or will this make the problem worse since I'll produce more milk on that side? I normally can pump more than an ounce after LO is done (I've only pumped three times and it's been once in the AM when supply is highest). Any other tips? I'm trying to massage but am literally in tears and nauseous because it hurts so much to touch.

Myaflowers

I would call your OB for antibiotics. I've had mastitis without a fever, and I have a friend who ended up with an abscess but never had a fever. I've always had redness on my breast with mastitis, though. I'm not sure about creating an OS, but I've always heard to nurse as much as possible on the affected side.

nursebride2be

Call your doctor to get antibiotics. Mine called in a prescription and said if symptoms got worse to start them and if not just hold on to them.
Both times I have had mastitis I gave not had a reddened area. Just pain in breast, chills and fever ( last time up to 102). I usually try to feed more on that side, and would make sure to massage really well when I pumped. Hope you feel better soon.

MamaLlama14

I have had mastitis a whopping 7 times (yeah, really).  I can tell you that it doesn't always present the same (or textbook), but the treatment is always the same.  You need to unclog the duct by nursing or pumping frequently, even though it hurts.  Massage under a hot shower stream.  I've also found relief by putting dry rice in a (clean) sock and then spritzing it with some water before microwaving for 30-90 seconds.  It makes a heat pack that retains heat much longer than a warm compress. Keep the sock on the painful area while pumping or nursing.  Ultimately you will probably need an antibiotic if it doesn't clear up within about 24 hours so reach out to your OB soon if you don't find any relief.

Myaflowers

I agree with PP. I've had mastitis 4 times, and it presented differently each time. Thinking back, I think there was one time when I didn't have any redness. Antibiotics cleared it up each time. My OB just called them in.

==N==

I had mastitis last month and it started out just like that. By the end of the day I was super sick and the redness didn't show up until the next day. I'd go in to get antibiotics now. My dd didn't like nursing on that side for about a week after, I think my supply may have dropped a little but it's back to normal now.

MAG716

Go get you some antibiotics!  It helped after 24 hrs.  I was stubborn and would have the symptoms, then I would feel ok so I ignored it but it just came back and worse.  By the time I was finally in the doctor's office I was waiting in tears hoping for some relief.  Also, I found it helped to feed because it felt better after a release.  

MamaMuslima01

PLEASE PLEASE CONTACT ME IN A PRIVATE MESSAGE OR IT YOU WANT EMAIL OR TEXT! I AM A MASTITIS EXPERT,, I HAD IT FOR 3 MONTHS IN A ROW (GOD IS MY WITNESS) AND I CAN TELL YOU ALL I KNOW. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONTACT ME BECAUSE I HAVE INFO THAT YOU WONT FIND.

MamaMuslima01

MamaLlama14 said:

I have had mastitis a whopping 7 times (yeah, really).  I can tell you that it doesn't always present the same (or textbook), but the treatment is always the same.  You need to unclog the duct by nursing or pumping frequently, even though it hurts.  Massage under a hot shower stream.  I've also found relief by putting dry rice in a (clean) sock and then spritzing it with some water before microwaving for 30-90 seconds.  It makes a heat pack that retains heat much longer than a warm compress. Keep the sock on the painful area while pumping or nursing.  Ultimately you will probably need an antibiotic if it doesn't clear up within about 24 hours so reach out to your OB soon if you don't find any relief.

If you already over produce on that side DO NOT pump to empty! That is the biggest miss conception, only pump or nurse to relieve pressure. Because the more you pump, the more you will produce. And if you keep producing more and more on that side it will become worse and harder to treat! What doctors forget to tell you is that you are supposed to pump while on antibiotics because it may burn your supply but if you arent on antibiotics do not pump to empty, only to relieve pressure!