How to avoid mastitis while engorged...

ns1

DD STTN last night for the first time in a loooong time!  Yay!  I'm hoping it will keep up and not be a fluke, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up.  

But...as a result of this STTN, I was super engorged this morning, and she only fed on one side, so until I pumped next at work, the other side (left) was pretty uncomfortable.  I tend to just feed and pump according to what LO needs.  I go by the my-body-will-adjust-to-her-needs-and-schedule motto and it's worked fine so far, so I don't really want to add unnecessary pumping sessions.  (Plus I already produce a little more than DD needs, so I don't need extra.)  

My concern is that I feel like the left side of my left breast is not draining fully!  It's tender to the touch and just feels a little more full than normal.  I really want to avoid clogged ducts and mastitis.  I'm trying to massage it when LO is nursing and when I pump, but it's still about the same.  Any other suggestions? 

reederah

You may need to pump that side a little more right now if there is a clogged duct. But as far as cutting out night feedings is concerned, I'd still pump a little to slowly reduce your production at night. When DS started sleeping more and I didn't pump, I ended up with a clog. I just pumped <5min (just to the point where I didn't feel engorged but still had milk in there) so I'd be comfortable and after a couple weeks I was able to cut that out as well and finally sleep haha. HTH!

kerischrader

Im in the same boat and got mastitis I was also feeding him just on one side in the morning, but would pump the other side to even it out and create more of a stash in the freezer. Now I am pumping both sides to assure he drained it all and am trying to keep it empty to get the plug out. I am still not waking up to pump at night.. Assuming my body is adjusting seeing that I don't feel quite as full any more in the morning.