Mastitis - when does it get better?

course11 · November 2014

It has been a very rough 36 hours. Woke up 2 days ago to red, throbbing, warm, swollen breast, with chills and a 100 degree fever. Fairly textbook mastitis symptoms though fever was mild. I've followed the home remedies - nursing often, ice packs, warm showers, ibuprofin, and I started using cabbage and reverse pressure softening today (the last two definitely helping with getting flow going and helping LO latch more easily). Called midwife yesterday who called in a scrip for me, so I also started an antibiotic today, even though I'm not convinced that this is due to infection.

But nursing remains extremely painful, my breast remains red and sore, and I'm discouraged by the whole thing. I never got mastitis with my first child, and I'm scared this isn't actually going to get any better, and my supply is going to go to he!!. Oh yeah - I also only have one breast due to mastectomy so I can't get any relief by switching to the other side.

Any words of encouragement or advice?

shotzie · November 2014

Mastitis sucks. I'm sorry you're dealing with it!

You should feel significantly better after being on the antibiotic for 24 hours. If you don't, I'd call your midwife back.

My supply tanked when I had mastitis, but I just kept nursing, nursing, nursing, and it was back to normal within about a week.

I found great relief in using a heating pad. At one point, it made me letdown spontaneously, so I grabbed DD2 and nursed her and she was able to clear most of the clog. You could also fill a disposable diaper with very warm water and use it as a compress.

I would use cabbage very sparingly as it will decrease your supply.

Try to rest as much as you can, drink lots of water, and nurse, nurse, nurse. You could also try holding LO in different positions to help make sure all the ducts are being "emptied."

I hope you feel better very soon!

course11 · November 2014

Thanks for your suggestions!

So here's my question: LO has started sleeping longer stretches at night, going up to 5 hours between feedings. (I believe that is what started this whole thing - she slept way longer than usual 3 nights ago, plus I unintentionally wore a constricting bra to bed that night.) If I nurse, nurse, nurse her every ~2 hours around the clock, how/when is my body supposed to adjust to her (reduced) actual demand for milk at night?

shotzie · November 2014

I just meant to nurse frequently during this bout of mastitis to help your supply (if it is effected) and clear the clog.

As for the night time stretch, your body will adjust with time. I remember going through that too, and impatiently waiting for my supply to adjust. If you wake up in the middle of the night engorged, you could hand express just until you're comfortable. You're right that you don't want to empty your breast more than LO is feeding since you want your supply to adjust. But when mastitis is involved, I'd focus on resolving that and then when it's better, focus on getting your supply to just meet LO's demand.

If you continue having trouble with clogged ducts, you could take a lecithin supplement. I've seen lots of moms on here benefit from that.

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Mastitis - when does it get better?

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