mastitis + pump & dump

arob2009

So I called my Dr. this AM describing my symptoms of mastitis that started on Sat.  He called in a prescription & as part of my treatment plan he said to pump & dump from the affected breast until the antibiotics are gone (28 days!!!)  Everything I have read says the milk is still fine.  Dumping for a month makes me angry.  Did anyone else get different directions from their Dr.??

blondie75

I've never heard that before.  My doctor said it was fine to take the antibiotics (only 14 days, not 28) and continue to nurse DD.  I'd give a LC or La Leche League a call to double check. 

 

ETA:  Hang in there! 

webMistress0609

blondie75:

I've never heard that before.  My doctor said it was fine to take the antibiotics (only 14 days, not 28) and continue to nurse DD.  I'd give a LC or La Leche League a call to double check. 

 

ETA:  Hang in there! 

This. It seems like the majority of docs & OBs are not very knowledgeable about BFing. Some babies will refuse milk out of the infected breast because the taste is a bit different. Most don't care. You need to get as much milk as possible out of the infected breast, so getting LO on the boob is preferable as they can suck more milk than the pump can. 

Reagan's Mommy

What antibiotic are you on?  I've been taking dicloxacillin and was told to continue to bf as normal.

It doesn't make sense to pump and dump just from the affected breast.  The milk from that breast is still fine, and if it's the antibiotic he's worried about, then it would be in the milk of both breasts, so..... I'm confused.

I would either call back and clarify, or get a second opinion (check with the pharmacist or something).  That seems strange.

MissLinz

blondie75:

I've never heard that before.  My doctor said it was fine to take the antibiotics (only 14 days, not 28) and continue to nurse DD.  I'd give a LC or La Leche League a call to double check. 

 

ETA:  Hang in there! 

This!

meshl

Maybe it's because of the specific antibiotics he gave you.  I've never heard of that, though.  Everything says feed, feed, feed from that side to help.

busygal

I agree, you are supposed to feed from the affected side as much as possible. A month is way to long to pump and dump without a very good reason. Can you try to get a 2nd opinion? And def. call an LC or a LLL chapter...

ZacksBride

Reagan's Mommy:

What antibiotic are you on?  I've been taking dicloxacillin and was told to continue to bf as normal.

It doesn't make sense to pump and dump just from the affected breast.  The milk from that breast is still fine, and if it's the antibiotic he's worried about, then it would be in the milk of both breasts, so..... I'm confused.

I would either call back and clarify, or get a second opinion (check with the pharmacist or something).  That seems strange.

 

i agree with this - if its bc of the antibiotic, it would be in milk from both breasts, so to dump the affected side makes no sense.  in medical school, i was definitely taught that you SHOULD continue to bf as normal from the affected breast- the infection cant get passed to LO thru milk

arob2009

All of what everyone says makes perfect sense to me too!  Esp. the part about antibiotics being in both breasts' milk.  I have tried to pump today until I could decide what I wanted to do & it does not get empty as well as from DS feeding! 

 It also makes sense to me that my OB/GYN would not be that knowledgeable about BFing.  I am going to call La Leche league & see what they say--but I am sure it will be what we are all saying here.

THANKS ALL!

Winter*Mommy

Your doctor was clearly not paying attention.

I've never heard that. ?You're supposed to keep nursing as often as tolerable and take the meds until they are completely gone. ?And some Ibuprofen.