Avoiding Mastitis...

[*Kimmy*]

My little girl is almost 6 weeks old and I had mastitis during the first week which cleared up really well with antibiotics.. I was told to look out for the signs of it to prevent it from happening again, which I have been doing, but I think I'm on the brink of it again. I have had lots of trouble feeding off one side and LC's, ABA and midwifes have suggested mainly expressing and only doing a couple feeds a day off the cracked/bleeding/damaged nipple. I have done this, but fear I've created a blocked milk duct on the side closest to my arm, and it's agonising to even press my arm against it. I can't put DD over that shoulder either becuase she knees my breast which is really painful. I have no fever or red spot yet, so I have a small window of opportunity I think to stop it developing into fall blown mastitis, but not sure what I can do?? I massage the area when she feeds off it, and will do my best to feed her off it as much as possible to clear the duct, but so far it's getting gradually worse not better... :(

Any tips?? :confused:

[La Que Sabe]

put frozen cabbage leaves on in between feeds.
glamouros i know!!!:laughing:

[Nex]

A heat pack can help dissolve the fat creatibg the blocked duct too. Try a warm heatpack (even a hot facewasher) over the affected bit 10 mins before a feed. Then massage as usual.

[Hollywood]

put frozen cabbage leaves on in between feeds.
glamouros i know!!!:laughing:


Isn't that used for those weaning? I'd go more for heat packs and massaging gently whilst feeding and in the shower with the warm water.

[Shakey]

put frozen cabbage leaves on in between feeds.
glamouros i know!!!:laughing:

cabbage leaves are only really anygood when you are weaning or have a over supply you want to sort out

when you express from the sore breast, put some pressure behind the sore area, and as your expressing kind of milk it (e.g kinda do what you would do to get gunk out of a hose) so gently move your fingers towards your nipple with each pump, after expressing a few times during the day it should dissapare

what ever you do, don't rub the inflamed area, as it can cause the tissue to become more inflamed, and make it worse

also apply a very warm facewasher on it before you express, that will help too, and when your in the shower, manually express doing what I mentioned above

HTH

[forbetoel]

Feed, Feed, Feed, which I know is easier said than done, but just try and feed through the pain while massaging firmly in the direction towards your nipple.

You sound like you are doing a wonderful job already. Masititis is a horrible thing, and very painful...well done for trying to feed through it.

[AM]

I've been a little prone to mastitis at times, so my prevention program goes like this:

I cannot let myself get run down, as it REALLY increases the liklihood of developing it.

I make sure I eat a really good diet, and get as much sleep as possible, sleeping in the day with my kids even if that is possible.

If I get any inking masitis is coming on, I immediately start feeding feeding feeding.

I also will massage any lumps (even though it is agony sometimes) and have found good relief by having a container of really warm water, getting on my hands and knees and dipping my boob into the water and massaging my boob from the outside down to the nipple.

I keep homoeopathic phytolacca on hand ALWAYS to take at the first sign. Also Belladonna can be used if necessary (if you are feverish)

Cabbage leaves can be SO soothing to your boobs, but I don't think they will cure you, just give you a breather from the pain etc. (And cabbage leaves cutting supply is a very debated assertion)

Rest as much as possible now, and don't leave it too long, if it does really get onto you, go to the doc and get the AB's, otherwise it is SO awful.

All the best :hugs: I hope you come right soon.

[Mmm Dessert]

I had mastitis twice with my DS.

I found the best way to get a handle on it was with heat (shower, heat pack or even a hot water bottle) and continuing to feed from that side. If you're having trouble feeding from that side anyway, perhaps you could try a different position?

Oh, and spending the afternoon in bed will work wonders too.

[RedPanda]

I seem to be mastitis-prone too. If you notice a lump forming, feed the baby in a position so that baby's chin is pointed towards the lump. Apparantly the sucking is strongest in that position. Also, as others have said, heat packs before a feed and massage during a feed. If your baby won't drink as much as you need him/her to, use a pump.

You poor thing. I have had mastitis three times now (although I say two because the other time I didn't require antibiotics, just frequent feeding and massage). It's just the pits!