How to treat Mastitis?

Question

I just came from the Doc and she said I have Mastitis she gave me anibiotics and told me to apply cold compresses as i stop nursing since i also have a Thrush ..but online i keep reading that you should apply warm compresses and keep on nursing ...just wonderring about other moms who had this what did your Doctor tell you and what did you do ?

Answer 1

I just consulted a board certified lactation consultant at my hospital. Cold compresses treat discomfort. Warm compresses increase circulation and help fight the infection. You can alternate if you want to. Apply the compresses for 10-15 minutes at a time. After a warm compress, massage from behind the sore area with a gentle circular motion. Then, nurse your baby. You should be nursing as often as possible on the affected side. Weaning at this point actually puts you at risk for a breast abscess! Check with your pharmacist to make sure the antibiotic your doctor gave you is compatible with breastfeeding. Ampicillin is usually prescribed, and that's fine. If you're not feeling better in two days, call your doctor back for a re-evaluation. And keep doing this until all signs of the infection are gone, or you can get a re-occurrence. Check out www.womens-health.com for some really good info. Good luck.

Answer 2

I had mastitis with my son. I was also given an antibiotic. I had a badly cracked and bleeding nipple so I was advised to discontinue nursing on that side for a few days to heal the nipple. I was able to express enough milk out to keep the engorgement tolerable. I used warm showers where I hand expressed milk and then used warm compresses. I would sit without a bra or shirt on with the warm compresses on my breasts and a bath towel under to catch the milk that did come out. It was a painful and difficult few days, but I kept nursing on the one side and supplemented with a little formula until I could nurse on both sides again. The first few days after I began nursing on the affected side, I limited it to just a couple minutes at a time and built back up to regular nursing on both sides. Having thrush as well may be why you need to stop nursing and use cool compresses. I have not exprienced thrush so I don't know for sure.

Answer 3

Holy crap, you're doctor is an idiot. You want as much heat as possible and you want to pump and nurse more than normal, you need to get that crap out of you. Wet heat is the best, like a warm washcloth, but do it in the shower, the wash cloth wont stay warm long enough. Go in the shower and just let the warm water flow over the affected breast. I had it and I found that sleeping with the affected breast on a heating pad over night, extra pumping and rubbing the area as I pumped... along with taking motrin, helped alot. You dont have to dump out the milk if you dont want to, that is up to you. However.. if your doctor gave you an antibiotic that is not mean to be ingested by the baby then you will have to dump all the milk out. I ended up stopping pumping because I kept getting it and I never took the antibiotics they gave me. I dont suggest you ask your doctor if the antibiotic is safe for the baby, he/she doesnt seem very intelligent. Also, if your nipples are cracked (I'm sure they are), put something on them, like vasoline or better yet a lanolin cream, to keep the from splitting open, since that is how the infection is getting in there in the first place. Keep them very clean.

Answer 4

keep nursing, warm compress, try nursing in a warm bath, or even in the shower! Baby will need to be treated for thrush too, or you will just keep passing it back and forth to each other. Also make sure you only clean your breasts and nipples with water, no soap or anything like that :P It is painful, nut your donig the right thing. Some doctors are not so smart about these things.......

Answer 5

Since you have thrush on your nipples, you definiately need to stop nursing, right away. Have your pediatrician check the baby's mouth to make sure that you haven't passed it along. You would use warm compresses, and express milk if you wished to continue nursing at a later time. Cold compresses if you don't.

Take the antibiotics. They are not only for mastitis, but they are also for the thrush. (thrush is caused by the same type of bacteria that causes vaginal yeast infections.)

Answer 6

My doc actually advised me to use a hot washcloth instead of cold compress... Definitely keep on nursing. Even though it hurts like a "b" it will only compound the problem if your supply builds up. The hot washcloth definitely helped for me. I found the following article, however, on webmd.com. It suggests (like your doc) to use a cold compress. Best of luck - I know mastitis all too well & it SUCKS!

Answer 7

Do NOT stop nursing!!!! That will make it sooooo much worse. those ducts need to be drained as often as possible and your baby needs to eat!

As for thrush, The baby should be treated too and you should both keep nursing through it.

Doctors are not trained in the process of human lactation nearly as well as they should be, which is why i make sure any doctor we see has actually experienced breastfeeding herself!

Answer 8

Doctors don't know much about nursing. You really need a lactation consultant, fast. Keep nursing!

Answer 9

Use the antibiotic. The warm compresses will help realieve the pain.

If you have thrush on your nipple Yes ! Stop nursing the baby, you could the thrush you to your infant.

But express the milk from your breasts as often as you would have been nursing... to keep your milk flow at optimum

Answer 10

Please go to a good gynecologist to ask for a second opinion if you doubt your present one. That is the best thing to do.