Is it Mastitis?

[melbryan]

I have a really sore left nipplie I wince whenever I am feeding but am perservering none the less. I am using Wool fat and airing the area.
I saw the GP yesterday he said to always feed from the left first and drink lots of fluids and have panadol.
Any other hints?? It is painful and I wish it would go, Will it and how long will I have it? My right breast is fine and milk is flowing fine.
I don't want to give up yet my bubby is 3 weeks.
Why did I get it on one and not the other? Please help????
If you had this how long did you perservere feeding for and will it get better.
Thanks for your time.

[DQ]

It maybe sounds more like a cracked nipple. Mastitis is when there is a milk blockage in your breast, usually accompanied by a red welt on your breast and the whole breast is painful, not just your nipple.

Full blown mastitis carries flu like symptoms with it aswell, you just feel awful :crying: Maybe you could get a nipple guard to use to see if it helps any???

[M O P]

I had huge crack, that was really a hole:D . I had lots of pain feeding, after the Dr and CHN saw it they couldn't believe I was still feeding. The Dr told me to treat the wound with Betadine.

[Mischief]

Hey Mel...

Have you seen a lactation consultant? If its your nipple that is sore it sounds more like incorrect attatchment. :(

It took me over 6 weeks to tuffen up. I would cringe before I even attatched Olvier because I knew it was going to feel like a razor blade slicing into me!

Make sure your bubba has the chin tucked in tight to you, that there is as much of your breast as possible in his mouth, and that his tummy is pressed up tight against yours.

I really feel your pain! My nipples have been killing me lately! :(

[indigoin0z]

i cant remember my first signs of mastitis [over 3 yrs ago]..

so i cant help you much,

but i do remember it wasnt just confined to the nipple, it was in my left also & over half of my [G eeee] breast went red & hard, i was sooo sick with fevers etc soooo tired!... lasted over a good week or 2? [some effects lasted a good month tho] ...
the only thing i could do - on suggestion from midi- was have a big container of ice & water & constantly have an ice cloth [i had 2 have 2 cloths for my big bazookers]
i think i had to have meds to help it go, & my milk supply was never the same in that side - tho i always had excess anyway, so wasnt too big a deal...

maybe what you have might be 'cracked nipples'... that does really hurt & can sometimes bleed too?

congrats on your gorgeous bub:)

[the_queen]

1) get attachment and positioning checked by a qualified LC. Or see an ABA counsellor.

2) apply Lansinoh straight after each feed.

3) try feeding in different positions, this will mean baby's sucking will be on a different part of the nipple, allowing the crack to heal.


Mine were attrotiously painful, but I followed these three rules and one day it was just 100% better, and we've not looked back since! Perservere mate, it's so worth it!!

[melbryan]

Thanks girls I really appreciate your guidance and will take on board your advice. I am trying to hang in there even though it is painful. I had a cracked nipple over 1 1/2 weeks ago but thought it had healed as I can't see any cracks.
I am hoping it's only a blocked dust or cracked nipple and it heals soon.
Thanks again,

[Jo_Jo]

Thanks girls I really appreciate your guidance and will take on board your advice. I am trying to hang in there even though it is painful. I had a cracked nipple over 1 1/2 weeks ago but thought it had healed as I can't see any cracks.
I am hoping it's only a blocked dust or cracked nipple and it heals soon.
Thanks again,keep an eye on that left breast as i had those symptoms! and ended up with a huge abcess in my left breast from cracked nipples if you feel there is something not right act on it....ask for a ultra sound and see your lactation consultant or even the midwifery staff at your local hospital......goodluck...jo:thumbsup:

[melbryan]

keep an eye on that left breast as i had those symptoms! and ended up with a huge abcess in my left breast from cracked nipples if you feel there is something not right act on it....ask for a ultra sound and see your lactation consultant or even the midwifery staff at your local hospital......goodluck...jo:thumbsup:

Jo Jo did it look different, could you see a lump?? Were your breasts still soft??
Why does it happen to one breast and not the other???

[mimicj]

Jo Jo did it look different, could you see a lump?? Were your breasts still soft??
Why does it happen to one breast and not the other???

Hi, I've recently had mastitis and I now get a blockage in the same area occasionally. I don't know why it keeps happening, but I seem to be able to clear it when it happens, just by feeding my baby in the football hold and letting her chin massage that area as she's feeding. I had a huge lump in my right breast and when she would feed, the side that wasn't blocked would go soft and then I could even see the lump. I think mastitis usually only happens to one breast because you become so diligent with getting the position right and draining the breasts that you avoid the other getting infected. I also had a slight red rash on the breast that had the lump in it. If you have mastitis you will get flu like symptoms very quickly. Hope this helps! Good luck!:wave:

[melbryan]

I am pretty sure I have a cracked nipple underneath the left nipple, something is coming out onto the breast pad. It is painful to feed but I am still going. Will it get worse. I don't want an absess, no lumps so far.

[Jo_Jo]

Jo Jo did it look different, could you see a lump?? Were your breasts still soft??
Why does it happen to one breast and not the other???well mate i spoke to the lady that did the ultra sound when it happend and it seems to happen more in the left breast as most of us are right handed and tend to favour the right more without even knowing it and yes i could see it.....i tried to massage it put bub on it different ways as the doc thought it was a blocked duct but i knew it was not as i had them before and this felt different so all the time i was trying, this abcess was getting bigger, i felt my breast was sitting awkwardly as well to the other so keep an eye on it as this got me so sick i wont go into it here long story but feel free to pm me.....goodluck...jo:thumbsup: