Mastitis Question

Ivorytower2

hey guys,
for those who have had mastitis can you explain your symptoms and the onset?

the side of my right breast has been sore but I don't feel any lumps at this point. Today I feel aches and really run down (outside of the usual lack of sleep feeling). I just took my temp and it's 101.1 under the arm.

i called my doc, but wondering if this could be Mastitis. Also, what meds did you get and how long did it take to start feeling better.

ty in advance!

wintersong

It absolutely could be mastitis. What you do to treat it is nurse and pump as usual and take antibiotics. Fortunately as a bacterial infection when treated right away it is almost always very easy to treat. ❤

disneybaby84

I felt ill, my boob was burning hot to the touch, the only energy i had was to lie down.  I called my doc and they prescribed antibiotics after first asking about allergies i had.  It took about day 3 to feel better. The antibiotics gave baby green poop and baby was fussy. 

Cbeanz

It usually starts with a plugged duct (tender warm lump in breast). If you can work the plug clear by nursing and pumping before infection forms, you can avoid the sick feeling and meds (I had this with DD 2).
Once you have a fever over 101 you'll need antibiotics, according to my ob. Definitely worth a call if you already have aches. To me it felt exactly like influenza. Exhaustion and aching muscles along with a tender spot on the side of one breast.
My OB/MW prescribed meds over the phone without an office visit. It's one of those things that happens fast and you don't want to mess around with. She told me if I'm not feeling much better within 24 hours call immediately and they'd change meds. I got dicloxacilin. Keflex is another common one. 24 hours after starting antibiotics I felt almost back to normal.

Ivorytower2

Thanks for the quick responses everyone. I feel exactly like you guys did @Cbeanz and @disneybaby84

Super achey and could do nothing but lay here. Just odd because I had way worse clogged ducts with my first and never got Mastitis.

Ivorytower2

Have any of you noticed a drop in supply in the infected breast. I'm trying to have LO feed first on the infected side, but I can tell she's not getting much milk where usually it's way too much for her on that side. Is it just trapped? 

wintersong

@Ivorytower2

https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/mastitis/

Cbeanz

I didn't have a drop in supply with the affected side but I did so much pumping and started feeds on the affected side that now I'm a little lopsided (more milk and also bigger). But it'll even out eventually. Or not :-) 

Ivorytower2

Hey guys, me again with more Mastitis questions. I feel so much better, but it seems like LO has been having some tummy trouble since I started the antibiotic- is Doxycicillian (prob spelled it wrong). Did anyone notice this? She's been super fussy in the evenings and then pretty much unsettled at night until she farts for like 10 straight minutes around 4/5am. She had no gas issues before I started, so assuming there has to be a correlation. Did anyone else notice this? Anything that can be done to help?

marshmallowfarts

Yep! Totally normal! I exclusively pump and had to take two different antibiotics to resolve my mastitis (plus IV antibiotics). The doxy made my guy fussy but he still at least drank my milk. The clindamycin he straight up refused my milk. Since I pump I smelled my milk after each medicine. My milk had a different smell with each medicine but the clindamycin made my milk smell like an old stinky sock. I ended up dumping milk for 10 days and digging into my frozen stash to feed him. It won't hurt your baby though to have gas, honestly you could get her some baby probiotics too and that could benefit her a lot for tummy issues. 

Ivorytower2

Thanks @marshmallowfarts!! I called the pedi and she also reccomended the Gerber soothe probiotic drops. I feel like I had a mild case and it totally knocked me out, I can't even imagine what you went through. Hope BF has gotten back on track for you guys. 

Cbeanz

@Ivorytower2 thanks for bringing this up. I think we must be having an identical issue here. Baby is super gassy at night and very grumpy whereas before I started doxycillin it wasn't the case. I think a little gets into the milk and probably is messing with their gut flora. Cannot wait to be done with these meds! 14 days is a long time to have a grumpy baby!

Ivorytower2

@Cbeanz yeah it's hideous! I just gave the first dose of probiotics. Couldn't find the Gerber so I got Mommy's bliss. Think I might try gas drops too.  I'll keep you posted. Lmk if you find any solutions, My course is only 7 days.

disneybaby84

not the answer you want, @Ivorytower2 but yes my boy was incredibly fussy when i took antibiotics, he was constantly hungry but not satisfied with my medicine milk. I started pumping and dumping and then ultimately switched to exclusively formula.

Ivorytower2

@disneybaby84 how long were you on the antibiotics for?

disneybaby84

@Ivorytower2 7 days

Ivorytower2

Hey guys - I started a baby probiotic once a day  and gas drops before or during each nursing session since yesterday afternoon and she's back to her chill self and has been sleeping fine ever since and doesn't seem to be in pain.

I know all of these babies are different, but wanted to post in case anyone else goes through this- it's at least worth a try.

Cbeanz

Were you all taking doxycillin every 6 hours? I'm going to ask my OB Monday whether I need the full 14 days of this. Seems like overkill to me.

Glad to hear the probiotics helped @Ivorytower2 ! I didn't know they existed for newborns, so I'll definitely check them out.

Ivorytower2

Yeah every six hours. 

marshmallowfarts

@Cbeanz are you taking dicloxacillin? If so that only stays in your system for 6 hours - it peaks between 30 minutes to 2 hours and is eliminated at the six hour mark if that's what you're on. 

Cbeanz

@marshmallowfarts yes that's what I'm on, I just can't spell!

marshmallowfarts

@Cbeanz 14 days is a long time to be taking that. Is it a really severe case? Mine was severe but they switched me to a stronger antibiotic for 10 days. I know penicillins aren't the strongest sometimes but still - 14 days on an antibiotic? Your poor tummy!

MsTurney

@Ivorytower2 what gas drops do you give

Ivorytower2

@MsTurney the gas drops I got are just store brand - the ingredient is Simethicone 20mg. I got Mommy's Bliss probiotic. These two things have been a life saver for me and DD has been doing great since I started both - I've been giving the drops at every feeding.