Have any of you ever had mastitis?

[Megan Turnidge]

ugh. It's made me feel so sick. But I'm noticing a HUGE drop in my supply - even in the unaffected breast. Has anyone else ever had mastitis and noticed a drop while they were sick? And then did your supply go back to normal once you were better?

[Darcy Baldwin]

If you're feeling sick, you need to see your doctor (hopefully you have already). I never noticed a drop, but mine never progressed to full mastitis, just a lot of clogged ducts that it took awhile to unclog.

You might want to pump extra while you're waiting this out - and I mean a lot. It'll help you build flow up, move liquid through all those clogs, and help you feel better. You an get in a warm shower and do a lot of massage, too, to help with the pain.

[Megan Turnidge]

Originally Posted by Darcy Baldwin

If you're feeling sick, you need to see your doctor (hopefully you have already). I never noticed a drop, but mine never progressed to full mastitis, just a lot of clogged ducts that it took awhile to unclog.

You might want to pump extra while you're waiting this out - and I mean a lot. It'll help you build flow up, move liquid through all those clogs, and help you feel better. You an get in a warm shower and do a lot of massage, too, to help with the pain.

Well I felt really sick yesterday adn I thought at first I just had the flu but then noticed a lot of tenderness in one breast... then I got some red streaking on it. By that night I was feeling a lot better. I felt okay today up until around 3 and my fever came back. I'm alright now that i took some ibuprofen. So, since I'd been feeling better, I never called the doctor, but if I'm still sick tomorrow, I'll call the doctor. My breast is a little tender still, but the redness is going away.

[Darcy Baldwin]

Okay - definitely do some massage and pumping to help relieve the clog. If you can, put a baggie of warm water in your bra, at the clog, and it will help with the clog if you can't be in the shower that long. I changed it out really frequently, massaged as much as I could, and pumped/expressed as much as I could to help relieve the clog.

[Megan Turnidge]

Alrighty, thanks Darcy! I've been taking lots of hot baths and just soaking in there... like 3 times a day. lol I've been pumping a lot too but I could try more massage.

[Darcy Baldwin]

I kept the bags in there any time I wasn't nursing or expressing - it really helped!

[eranslow]

I had mastitis my first week with Blake - it was horrid. Thought something was totally wrong with me since I had the nice red spots. (didn't realize what was going on until I called my Dr.) I remember having no appetite. I ended up going on an antibiotic that was okay to take while breastfeeding. I agree with what Darcy said - pump as much as possible! Are you still drinking lots of water? You don't want to get dehydrated. And definitely call your Dr. if the temperature comes back. You want to nip it in the bud as soon as possible. Good luck and I hope you feel better really soon!

[jovi_girl]

Might be an idea to see your doctor. I had it with my son, and needed a round of antibiotics to clear it up. Darcy's advice is great, I did all those things as well. Very helpful.

[nanienamou]

Yep. if it lasts more than 24 hours, you need to see a doctor. The fever can affect your production. I know it affected mine. It went back to normal afterwards. Good luck! I've only had mastitis once, thankfully.

[Heather Roselli]

I got it several times while nursing the twins. Unfortunately the best thing is just pump or nurse as much as you absolutely can and massage the tight/sore areas while nursing.

Cold or frozen cabbage leaves (seriously!) really can take the soreness and tightness away! Hope you feel better soon! Not to eat, but to put in your bra over the sore areas.

[AmyG]

Pour HOT water into a disposable diaper if you have one and keep that on your ladies. It makes the BEST hot compress and did wonders for my clogged ducts. I hope you feel better soon.

[Megan Turnidge]

Thanks for all the tips! I'm feeling SO MUCH BETTER today! No fever just a little soreness left. I'm pretty sure I got the clogs out since I had huge chunks in the milk I expressed... i had to strain it to get all of the clumps out or they'd clog the bottle nipple. In the 8 months with Allie, I never got any clogs or anything, but I seem to be getting them a lot this time around.

[disneyaddict]

I had it twice when I was nursing. I would just add that you should watch it carefully. I did not have any fever or anything, but I felt weak and dizzy one morning. By the time I went to the ER that evening (it was a Saturday), I was septic and ended up in Step Down for a few days and had to go home on IV antibiotics for several weeks.

[glumirk]

Yikes! Glad you are doing better, Megan! I had a clogged duct toward the beginning and woke up in so much pain and having such shakes that we called the hospital (and my pain tolerance was such that it hurt more than unmedicated childbirth less than a week before!) She said without a fever, not to worry about it, but to call if I got a fever. Sleeping on my back, with no bra, helps them go away faster than anything else because otherwise they would just get clogged again the next time I slept (I'm a side sleeper). Luckily the problem is mostly gone, but I still occasionally wake up with one side clogged and engorged. (oh, and hot water makes my engorgement worse, which then makes nursing less efficient. I'm not sure how it affects pumping.)

[scrappurple]

I only had it when Cassie decided one day to stop nursing cold turkey at 8 months. I have never been in so much pain in my life. I wanted my milk to stop producing at that point! So I guess I am no help. Sorry ... I feel your pain.

[mummytothree]

if you find you keep getting clogged ducts check to make sure you nursing bra isn't causing them, if it's to tight it can cause clogs. Also some women who have a high fat content to their milk get clogged ducts a lot, you can take something called Lecithin.

Here is a link from Kellymom and some good information about it!!!!
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/natur...ml#pluggedduct

[Megan Turnidge]

Originally Posted by mummytothree

if you find you keep getting clogged ducts check to make sure you nursing bra isn't causing them, if it's to tight it can cause clogs. Also some women who have a high fat content to their milk get clogged ducts a lot, you can take something called Lecithin.

Here is a link from Kellymom and some good information about it!!!!
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/natur...ml#pluggedduct

My bra is actually a little too loose on me right now... lol And it doesn't have underwire. I have no idea if my milk has high fat content. hmmmmm

Thanks for the info on the lecithin! I'll have to look into that!