Mastitis Relief...Need Help!

hydrangeagirl · May 2014

This is my first time posting on this forum- I thank you in advance for your help. I desperately need help with relief for mastitis which I seem to have developed today. I am two weeks postpartum and have been EBF this past week (the first week was a combo of BF and pumping). Everything my DH has read online says to nurse, nurse, nurse often on the affected breast, no matter the pain level. I have been using a heating pad on the affected breast which has helped a bit. I also pumped on the affected breast but only got 1 oz.

I guess I am looking for any guidance on how often I should BF to relieve the pain, and when the pump should be used. I am also concerned with creating an oversupply issue with feeding often. Any other guidance on how to relieve this pain is appreciated.

TIA

Myaflowers · May 2014

casey78 said:
Ugh.

#1 priority, call your OB and see about an antibiotic ASAP. Don't be afraid about calling after hours. If after hours can't help you, go to urgent care.

You can take Tylenol and Motrin for pain relief. This link includes some other comfort measures: https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/mastitis/

You are early on and establishing your supply. Many babies like to eat as often as every 1-2 hours. I would not worry about oversupply at this point. Most but not all OS I see discussed on here seems to come from pumping in addition to or instead of feeding directly.

This. I've called my OB's after hours line twice for mastitis. They were happy to call in antibiotics for me. The sooner you can start antibiotics, the sooner you will feel better. Nurse as often as you can on that side. Use motrin for pain relief because it will help with the inflammation. Use heat before/during nursing. Hand expressing in the shower will help, too. Massage the lumps as you express. Also, lecithin supplements (1200 mg 3 x day) helps prevent clogged ducts. Hope you feel better soon! I've had mastitis 8 times, and it's awful! PLEASE go ahead and call your OB...don't try to wait until Monday. You don't want to end up with an abscess!

hydrangeagirl · May 2014

Thank you ladies. I did call my OB and he called in an antibiotic and a refill on motrin. I put my boy on the affected breast after about an hour of heat while my DH massaged the clogged areas. I feel so much better already. I pumped afterwards and got about .5oz so think it is drained. I have cold compresses on both breasts right now.

Do you suggest I repeat this every 2 hours or more frequently?

Thanks again for your replies.

Unknown · May 2014

This content has been removed.

hydrangeagirl · May 2014

Thank you @jfresh @myaflowers @SweetC80 for your feedback too. This is all very, very helpful. Perhaps I don't have mastitis and just clogged ducts. I was running a 100.5 fever a couple of hours ago with flu like symptoms. I just took my temperature and it is in the normal range now, though still have body aches.

DH is going to get the lecithin now and will start taking it when he gets back. I will also follow the other recommendations you have provided.

So, should I hold off on taking the antibiotics? I don't want to encourage thrush by using an antibiotic unnecessarily.

Thank you again for your guidance and support!!!

Myaflowers · May 2014

Do you have a red area on your breast? If you have a red area and body aches, I would go ahead and take the antibiotics. My fever has always come and gone with mastitis. The longer I wait to start antibiotics, the worse I end up feeling, and the longer it takes to feel better. I always take probiotics and have never gotten thrush. I put the Gerber probiotics (Gerber Soothe Colic Drops) on my breast before nursing to prevent thrush in DD.

DahliaFlower · May 2014

You may or may not need antibiotics. I actually got through two episodes without antibiotics. You need to hydrate to an extreme. Drink water so that you have to pee all the time. Apply the warm compresses. Nurse and / or pump every 2 hours or so. Take Ibuprofen for pain and swelling. If your fever, chills, body aches don't improve in about 24 hours, get on antibiotics from your OB.

DahliaFlower · May 2014

Myaflowers said:

Do you have a red area on your breast? If you have a red area and body aches, I would go ahead and take the antibiotics. My fever has always come and gone with mastitis. The longer I wait to start antibiotics, the worse I end up feeling, and the longer it takes to feel better. I always take probiotics and have never gotten thrush. I put the Gerber probiotics (Gerber Soothe Colic Drops) on my breast before nursing to prevent thrush in DD.

I am also a big fan of the Gerber drops. The usual antibiotics do not enter the breast milk in large quantities. I have taken both amoxicillin and clindamycin and DS has not had any issues.

Guennie · May 2014

I've had mastitis twice and I didn't get a red area either time, just a really hard breast. Both times I had a fever with flu like symptoms. If you don't take the antibiotics and you get worse it's going to happen really fast and you will REALLY wish you had taken them.

Is your breast still hard after pumping or did it completely go away? I really hope you're doing better and didn't spend your Mother's Day in pain!

hydrangeagirl · May 2014

@Guennie, the clogged duct/mastitis, whatever it was, thankfully has since passed with constant BF, pumping, warm compresses, and massage. I filled the antibiotic rx but did not start it.

I hope your Mother's Day was happy

Guennie · May 2014

hydrangeagirl said:
@Guennie, the clogged duct/mastitis, whatever it was, thankfully has since passed with constant BF, pumping, warm compresses, and massage. I filled the antibiotic rx but did not start it.

I hope your Mother's Day was happy

Good! Glad to hear it!! At least you have the rx should you need it in the future, which hopefully you won't!! Mastitis can start out pretty slow but once it sinks in you know what it is. Happy late Mother's Day!

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