recurrent mastitis/weaning

lilcrablegs

I never ever thought I'd be asking for weaning advice, but I feel like I'm out of options at this point.  Today, I woke up with mastitis.  It's the 3rd time I've had it...please see LO's age and cringe (ha).  It came on very suddenly.

Obviously I know it's counterproductive to try to wean while you are battling mastitis.  But I also don't want to continue down this road and allow myself time to get it yet again. I can't maintain my sanity with a toddler and newborn while constantly battling mastitis and thrush.  

I have been EPing for a little over a week.  What would you do to start weaning at this point?  I certainly don't want to make the mastitis worse.  Any suggestions?  AmyG, I'm talking to you!  Thanks everyone. 

smiles1123

this just happened to me (but my dd is 4 mo. ) My 3 cases of mastitis happened between memorial day and this week. my ob said to stop and I was relieved. I have 3 kids under 5 and i can't keep getting sick like this. I am still on the antibiotics for 4 more days which will ward off mastitis from the weaning. I haven't nursed since yesterday morning and it is not as bad as i expected. I was ebf as well. Here is what I am doing.

- 2 sports bras

- cold cabbage in my bra

- 2 ice packs every so often

- sudafed and motrin

-i am eating sage leaves (in a little bread and swallow whole) until my sage tea comes

- cool shower

- i am taking my prenatal and extra vitamin c and i am going to pick up a probiotic tomorrow d/t all the antibiotics I have been on this summer.

Good luck!!

lilcrablegs

Thank you!  I'm glad I'm not the only one going through this.  Did your doctor offer any insight into why you got it so often?  Did you EBF your other kids?  Again, I appreciate the suggestions.

smiles1123

no. he just said that enough is enough with the antibiotics. he has a 3 strikes and you're out policy. I breastfed my other 2 for 6 months. 3 months exclusively and 3 months mixed in with bottles of formula. I had mastitis once with each but never twice with the first two. I have an oversupply this time which I know can contribute to clogged ducts. dd is teething and doing a number on my nipples so I probably have small cracks where bacteria can get in. It's also hard to be consistent with feeding with two other kids on the go. I would forget which side I fed her on last ect.. I am proud of the 4 and a half months I bf her. I had to make it work for all my kids and my ob gave me no choice. Also, I was planning on stopping at 6 mo anyway so a month and a halk early isn't the end of the world.

Good Luck and be proud of what you have done for your baby!