Mastitis and pumping help (long)

HattieLove

About two weeks ago I got mastitis. It sucked, but I just went to the doctor's and got an antibiotic and then it sucked less. I took the antibiotic for ten days, which ended this past wednesday (at 8pm). Thursday morning I woke up with mastitis symptoms gain. I didn't go to the doctor on Thursday (this was probably my biggest mistake) because no one could drive me and I was too sick to drive myself. It was even worse today. I threw up three times this morning and had a temp of 102.7. But luckily SO was able to watch Ramona and my mom took me to the doctor's.

My doctor is really concerned that I got it back to back like this, so she put me on a stronger antibiotic. I was on keflex the first time, and now I am on clindamycin, plus zofran for nausea and 800mg ibuprofen for pain. Since this is a stronger medication, she said it isn't safe to breastfeed with. Meaning that I have to pump and dump for ten days.

So today I pumped after I got home from my play (which opened tonight, excellent timing) and I could barely get anything out of the right side (the one with mastitis). When I stopped I noticed the milk was really thick. Like, probably thicker than cream. Could that be a side effect of the medication? How am I supposed to pump until empty if I can't pump? Help! This sucks.

I also have this fear that Ramona won't be interested in breastfeeding after having formula for ten days. Is that silly? Will she be okay getting back to our normal routine? 

lancyjo

I have zero advice, but I wanted to say I'm sorry for what you're going through. I can't imagine! And major kudos for breastfeeding for so long! That's so amazing!

suitern

I don't have alot of advice, but do you pump frequently normally?  If not I suggest cleaning your pump parts.  I know that when I let mine sit for a few months and then suddenly need to pump I have to dust the diaphragm off in order to get a good suction.  Also make sure you have good membranes as well and they don't have little holes that could also mess up the suction.  I don't pump frequently so hopefully the ladies who pump at work may have some more advice. Can you hand express or does that hurt too much?  Sorry this sucks so much for you, feel better! 

preggersINschool25

When I had mastitis the milk was thicker and kinda stringy. It was hard to get milk out too. Are you using warm compresses and massaging your breast? That helps. Also I thought using my hand pump got better reults because I could control the pressure and duration of each "suck". Also it helps to massage your breast and do the compresses while pumping.

I never went from all formula back to milk, but I went from all milk to formula and he transitioned well. I think that you shouldn't have a problem going back to milk as far as taste goes. If you are worried about going from bottle to breast you might have an issue. I would use a slower flow nipple to help with that. Worse case scenario you EP?

mkarns

preggersINschool25:

When I had mastitis the milk was thicker and kinda stringy. It was hard to get milk out too. Are you using warm compresses and massaging your breast? That helps. Also I thought using my hand pump got better reults because I could control the pressure and duration of each "suck". Also it helps to massage your breast and do the compresses while pumping. I never went from all formula back to milk, but I went from all milk to formula and he transitioned well. I think that you shouldn't have a problem going back to milk as far as taste goes. If you are worried about going from bottle to breast you might have an issue. I would use a slower flow nipple to help with that. Worse case scenario you EP?

Yes, all of this. I also had mastitis twice...Though my second time was about 3 weeks later. I've been told to nurse on the clogged breast often, and to try to hold your LO opposite the clog so that she can help break it up. Definitely massage. I know it's so so painful to do all of this. I've cried while nursing on the clogged breast. It's not easy.

On the formula, you're mixing the milk you can get with the formula right? Not just going with straight up formula? The antibiotics they gave you s/b safe for breastfeeding babies so you're ok to continue nursing Ramona.

suitern

FWIW, I did look up Clindamycin on LactMed and it did say you could continue nursing it just may cause Ramona to have an upset stomach.  It did say an alternate antibiotic would be preferred, but clearly you already tried that so your Dr. put you on this one.  I would try to call a lactation consultant to see also what they have to say about it.

laura.noel

I may be the mastitis expert on this board- I've had it something like 6 or 7 times- I've lost count.

Heat is what helped me the most, and frequent nursing. I slept with a heating pad on my chest. 

I usually find the milk is thicker when I have mastitis. You're probably already doing this, but drinking more water may help with that.

It'll be really hard to get rid of any clog if all you're doing is pumping, because it's much less efficient at emptying you. I'd call Ramona's Dr. or an LC, and get yourself on meds you can nurse with. I know our Dr. has a reference book of medications' safeness for BFing.

 That's all I can think of right now, but if I think of anything else, I'll let you know.