I have mastitis and not producing milk in one breast help?

Question

Hello I am producing like 2 or 3 oz from my right breast but probably a few drops on my left breast ever since I got mastitis. I am trying to pump using the medena every two hrs and nothing is coming out will I get milk out soon

Answer 1

Oh, God bless you... I can really feel for you since I've had repeated cases of mastitis (at least ten full-blown cases) myself. Are you on antibiotics yet? The very best thing you can do is to nurse your baby on the infected side, as painful as it may be. When I get mastitis, I hold a stress ball while I nurse and squeeze it while I try to distract myself by holding a conversation or watching television. Nothing can drain a breast like a baby can! Also, take hot showers and try to massage the knots in your infected breast, and if you can get any to come out while you're standing in the shower, just let it come out as much as possible. Mastitis is caused by a clogged milk duct, so the milk builds up and that's what causes the fullness. Sometimes you can avoid antibiotics by nursing as often as possible and hand expressing some milk in the shower, or even by putting cold, rinsed cabbage leaves in the affected side (but not for more than an hour or two as this can dry up your supply), but then there are times when it is out of control and must be treated. You'll know when you need antibiotics when you are running a fever and have flu-like symptoms (usually I get very sore muscles and a headache). When you feel like that, it's best to just call your doctor and get a prescription for an antibiotic. Make sure you continue to nurse as much as possible, rest, get fluids in you, and hand-express in hot showers. The antibiotics will kick in within 24-48 hours and you'll feel like a whole different person in no time at all. But be prepared; if you are taking antibiotics while nursing, it is likely that your baby will get a yeast infection. So if your baby is old enough to eat yogurt, it's good to feed him active-culture yogurt whie you are on the antibiotics, and have some Clotrimazole or Lotrimin ready for the diaper rash that will probably start from the antibiotics.

I really hope you feel better soon and don't forget to nurse that baby! Good luck; feel free to contact me for more info or support if you need to.

Answer 2

Oh boy I feel for you. The only thing I would add is massaging gently on the areas of clogged ducts, and apply some moist heat as you nurse. Also taking a good warm shower and then put baby to breast right after. For a while you want to put baby to that breast first, a little more effort on his part. Don't be too worried about the amount you are expressing or pumping, many women do not get near the amount that way that the baby can get when he nurses.

Answer 3

If you are not getting any milk you have some seriously clogged ducts, I would go to a lactation consultant. Or, and this is going to gross you out I am sure, I almost passed out when someone told me to do it and I am not normally squeemish. If you have a white clump/blister/zit kinda thing coming out of your nipple you need to pop it with a pin and then pull it out.

Also hand expressing or placing direct pressure on the milk ducts (which at this point are probably over full and easy to find) is way better than pumping.

But the BEST is the baby. Always the baby, nurse, nurse NURSE. And point the baby in different directions to help drain all parts of the breast, and massage while the baby drinks to loosen things up.

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

Answer 4

Your ducts may be blocked. Talk to your doctor or someone from the La Leche league.