Booby Issues - need advice....

[Chumps]

In my 6 month breastfeeding 'career' - I've had Mastitis twice and blocked ducts several times. Some of those times when I've had the blocked ducts, it's almost been heading towards mastitis, with me having the flu - like symptoms for a day or so, but through a lot of massage, hot showers, etc I've managed to ward it off before it gets too sinister.
Can anyone relate to this? Or am I the only one who experiences these problems so regularly?
Now I am sure it is not due to my baby not latching properly. (Maybe the first case of Mastitis because it was very early on), however now, the problem seems to rise mostly after a night where my bub has slept through & missed a feed. Which he has been doing on & off for some time now. It is not always the same duct that gets blocked either.
I'm quite confused as to how I should get around this. I've read to go braless as much as possible at night, but if I do that, I end up with big 'day 3' boobies. So I wear a bra, which of course becomes so tight by morning, that this is probably the cause of my problems. If I express, (which although relieving), isn't it just encouraging my body to produce more milk? This itself is not good since I'm already a high milk producer. I've read that your body adjusts the milk supply when bub starts to sleep through - but I can't see that working unless he sleeps through consistently, which isn't quite happening at the moment.
What to do, what to do, can anyone help me???:confused:

[sueb31]

Hi, my little man was born 20/12/05.
I had mastitis 3 times, the first I think was maybe due to attachment (I had a caesarean so he was positioned for me), the last 2 I think was just not clearing the infection.

Things that have helped me:
- going to a (private) physio to have ultrasound on the lumps with the second bout, also had a lymphatic drainage massage (gentle massage towards armpits) at the same time. This seemed to really help things clear up.
- I wear Bravado nursing bras - they are a crop-top/sports bra type nursing bra that is made out of cottony stretchy material that stretches as my breasts get bigger during the night. I git the bra in the UK forst but have bought more from the Australian supploer (who posted hem out from Alice Springs!!). They are really comfy and not restricting.

Also, I was warned not to massage the lumps too hard as this can cause more damage.

My case was also complicated by nipple thrush (from the antibiotics) - I had deep heavy pains in my breasts from that too.

My breasts were slow -responders (I reckon!!) - my boy slept through at 3 months but it wasn't until 5 months that I wasn't leaking every night. Now I hardly leak at all so they have eventually responded. In restrospect I think they were slowed by me expressing - but sometimes I just had to, they were so full and I did NOT want mastitis again!!

You have my sympathies, I got a bit tired of people saying 'shouldn't they be better by now??' (like it was something I could do something about).

Anyway I hope that helps, maybe the physio is something to think of next time you get blocked ducts? I am in Brisbane if you want to PM me for the physio details (can't remember where you are).

Sue

[InSaneOne]

if you just express a little during the nights he sleeps through (enough to feel comfortable) you could also freeze the ebm so you have a backup supply for the nights he does wake. if you just do enough to feel comfortable it shouldn't increase your supply by too much.


warm showers help on hard full boobs. i used to express in the shower as it was the easist place for me to let-down unless bubs was feeding. i found that when the hot water hit them they would just squirt all over the place (sorry if tmi)

[bec79]

I'm with B&B here. On the nights bubs sleeps through, get up and express enough to feel comfortable.
Maybe you should call the ABA for advice? Just a suggection.
I hope the situation gets better for you.