any clues on how to carry on with breast feeding through mastitis?

Question

hi, im due to have my 4th baby in july and would really like to breast feed.my only worry is that i have suffered mastitas with all other 3 children making it so painful & impossible to carry on.i even tried the cabbage leaves,it took a little of the swelling away but not enough to let baby feed. expressing was a lot easier but i tend to dry up after a few weeks & while in hospital nurses would not alow me to do this, they advised me to let baby feed but like i said it was much to painful..does anyone have any tips for me please. xxx

i forgot to mention that's it's always with my right breast for some reason..(my right one is slightly larger than my left). i am 4ft 10 inch with 34dd chest so when my milk comes in they are extra extra huge!!!! and very uncomfortable from the start... actually they are very sore now and i still have 5 months to go(i have already gone from a dd to f)

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A HUGE THANX TO EVERYONE WHO HAS ANSWERED SO FAR ESPECIALLY MYSTIC & MOMMY.... THE SITES HAVE SO MUCH INFORMATION THAT I WAS NEVER GIVEN OFF THE MIDWIVES IN THE PAST..WITH MY FIRST CHILD I WAS JUST TOLD TO STOP WHINGING, BUT THE PAIN WAS SO BAD I WOULD OF RATHER OF GONE THROUGH CHILDBIRTH AGAIN.YES IT WAS THAT BAD...LOL, BUT NOT FUNNY AT THE TIME.

Answer 1

Oh you poor love! I know a lady who had mastitis with all four of her babies but did manage to push on and feed them all. She got it recurrently with each one too! Some women are just amazing.

Me on the other hand, have suffered mastitis (non-infected) only once and that was with my fourth child. Boy does it make you feel ill!! I can understand how you would want to avoid feeding. This is the best way to drain your breasts though and that is the best way to overcome mastitis.

Mastitis usually comes as a result of a blocked duct. A blocked duct usually comes as a result of engorgement. Engorgement usually comes as a result of milk coming in, a change in feeding pattern, something pressing on the duct or possibly the baby's feeding position and/or attachment.

Paracetamol will help ease the pain of mastitis.
Rest as much as you can.
Feed as much as you can.
Warm cloths or heat packs on your breasts before and during a feed may help the milk to flow through.
Gentle massage in the area of the blocked duct may help the milk to flow through.
Cold cloths or cold packs on your breasts after a feed may help reduce the swelling.
Express for comfort and/or do one thorough draining as expressing too much may increase your supply and thus compound the problem.
Sometimes expressing a little before a feed reduces the pressure in the breast, allows baby to attach more easily, take off the pressure of the first let down and so baby is not choking or gagging on a fast flow.

If you have a temperature, it means that the mastitis is infected and you should go see the doctor who will give you antibiotics. They are ok to take while you are feeding.

Remember SUPPLY = DEMAND. The more milk is taken out of your breasts, the more your body will make.
LET-DOWN happens when the hormome Oxytocin is released which makes the muscles contract and push the milk towards the nipple ready for baby to take. Prolactin is also released which is the milk producing hormone.
Poor POSITIONING and ATTACHMENT and not FEEDING BABY ACCORDING TO NEED are the causes of most breastfeeding problems.
DETERMINATION, INFORMATION and SUPPORT are the keys to breastfeeding success.

Congrats on the pregnancy and hang in there! You can do it girl :D

Answer 2

Well the #1 thing obviously is prevention:

Firstly pay careful attention to the bras you wear. Personally, I will only wear underwire and I am in the habit of wearing bras to bed. BUT if I wore a bra to bed the first 4 months or so I would end up with a plugged duct, this is step one towards mastisis.

Secondly pay very close attention to your breasts before and after each feeding. Note if any area stays fuller, particularly near the back of the breast, or in some cases the bottom. Massage, compression and different nursing positions can help drain the breast more evenly. Which is what you want. Heat is also useful, you may have to apply a hot cloth before most feeds for the first months, to prevent mastitis

Pay close attention to any minor pain and look for milk blisters. These are signs that you are heading for trouble.

Also nurse, nurse, nurse. Nurse often, do not nurse on a schedule and do NOT sleep train your child. Yes many moms and babies can do well with relatively early long stretches of sleep with no feeding, I doubt you are one of them.


More on Mastitis
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html

Preventing Mastitis:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T022200.asp
PREVENTING MASTITIS
The best way to prevent mastitis is to avoid the situations that set you up for it.

Relieve engorgement promptly. Milk that doesn't flow gets thicker and clogs the ducts, which is a set-up for mastitis.
Breastfeed frequently. Don't restrict the length of feedings.
If you feel your breasts getting full, encourage your baby to nurse. You don't have to wait for baby to tell you he's hungry.
Avoid sleeping on your stomach or so far over on your side that your breasts are compressed against the mattress.
Take care of yourself and get plenty of rest (both of mind and body).
REPEATED EPISODES OF MASTITIS
Problems with recurrent mastitis are usually the result of irregular breastfeeding patterns: missing feedings, giving bottles in place of breastfeedings, or skipping pumping sessions when separated from the baby. Recurrent mastitis may also mean that mother's immune system is generally run down, because of fatigue and stress. Mastitis is a sign that you need to take a closer look at your lifestyle and breastfeeding relationship and make some adjustments.

Answer 3

Plugged ducts often lead to mastitis. If you are having problems with plugged ducts that turn into mastitis, I'd suggest taking lecithin supplements in order to help avoid the problem.

At the first sign that you might be getting mastitis, go to bed and nurse frequently. Vary baby's position so that you can make sure you empty all the milk ducts. Take lots of vitamin C and drink tons of fluids. Take some raw garlic cloves and cut them into pill sized pieces and swallow them. This makes a GREAT natural antibiotic and will help you fight the infection.

Warm, moist heat applied with a compress or hot water bottle will help unplug the ducts and ease swelling. Herbs that work well in a breast compress are anti-inflammatory and reduce swelling (comfrey, chamomile, calendula, lavender), increase lymph circulation and drainage (cleavers, burdock root, yarrow), and draw out infection (slippery elm, marshmallow root). Mullein leaf relieves pain. Pour boiling water over the herbs and steep 10-15 minutes. When cool enough to touch, apply herbs as a poultice, or dip a cotton cloth in the warm infusion, wring it out and wrap around the breast and under the armpit. Keep the poultice on until it cools. Reapply throughout the day. If infection is present, a clean poultice or cloth should be used every time.

Natural treatments for mastitis -
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/natural-treatments.html#mastitis

plugged ducts & mastitis -
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html

recurrent mastitis -
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/recurrent-mastitis.html

lecithin -
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/natural-treatments.html#pluggedduct

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ETA:
If it's always on the same side, you might also look at what you do with that side. Do you carry a heavy purse or diaper bag over that side a lot? Do you wear baby in a sling across that side a lot? Do you favor nursing from the OTHER breast and ignore that one? Or not vary positions on the breast that seems to have problems?

Answer 4

Is it mastitis or a plugged duct? With mastitis you have gotten lots of discomfort close to the swollen section and it would desire to experience warm and reason pink streaks on your breast. you will actual have a severe fever and experience such as you have the flu. A plugged duct will experience somewhat swollen and experience worse in the previous a feeding and somewhat extra acceptable afterwards. you may get a blocked duct from staying engorged and not nursing sufficient or from donning a good bra. you may get mastitis the comparable way and get an infection from cracked nipples. Massaging your breasts whilst taking a heat tub frequently helps the blocked ducts. With mastitis you will prefer a prescription. maximum heavily is to maintain up with the breastfeeding.

Answer 5

I also had mastitis and it was sooo painful (as you know) You really want to breastfeed by the sounds of things.....take the advice of everyone who has answered so far and good luck. I stopped breastfeeding because of this and I do regret it a little

Answer 6

1

Answer 7

i had that with my first one and actually went to the hospital cause i had a high fever with it and they said to just keep nursing, i told them it hurt too bad and they said it would for a bit any way i kept nursing on the side that hurt and it only took a few hours for me to get over it, it hurts but you gotta do what you gotta do

Answer 8

try using a breast pump or getting in touch with the breast feeding society they were great when i had my first and he would not breast feed