Is this mastitis?

Question

I noticed this morning that one breast was a little painful it felt similar to the engourgement feeling but it actually got worse as she nursed.

Now it is very painful and throbing and even my bra touching me makes it worse. When I have let down it hurts so much I feel like crying.

Is this mastits? My baby is 8 weeks old and although I nursed my older two children I never had this issue.

What can I do to help? Warm compress? Thank you,

Answer 1

When you have mastitis, you also get a fever, chills nausea, flu like symptoms. Your breast would be really hard with a lump, and have a tender red area on it. May have red streaks as well. A plugged duct though may have similar symptoms.
Make an appointment to see the doctor, and in the meantime, nurse the baby always on the affected side first, and then pump for 10 minutes to drain it as much as possible. Massage while nursing and pumping, and use hot compresses. I used a hot water bottle, and that really helped me. It hurts to nurse at first, but the more you drain the breast, the faster it'll heal, and you'll feel much better.
You don't have to take antibiotics unless you have the symptoms for more than 24 hours. So make an appointment with the doc for tomorrow, and hopefully you won't need any antibiotics, and you'll be all better by then.

Hang in there, as long as you keep nursing, you'll be okay in no time. :)

my favourite motto with breastfeeding is : "this too shall pass..."

Answer 2

Don't use cold air or water near your breasts- it will dry your milk/lower your milk supply.

If you have a fever- it could be mastisis. Or, it could just be a clogged duct. In either case- warm compress.I take a bath and massage my breast from the top to the nipple. The warm water helps to increase the let down and it helps the pain a lot. Some say a shower- but for me, I wanted to scream from the pain. So, a bath for me works wonders.

Take Motrin, it will help the pain.

Nurse on that side and nurse often. Your baby will help to clear whatever it is. If it is a breast infection, it is still ok to nurse.

If you are running a fever- call your doctor. They will want to see you before they prescribe anything. I called my OB/GYN and had meds for the first one- she was 3 weeks old. The next time, just warm compresses and nursing cleared it up- but it wasn't a mastisis.

Good luck- and rest, rest, rest. Lay down with your baby and nurse and nap- it helps the milk flow better because you are relaxed- this helped clear my clogged duct fast.
Hugs!

Answer 3

Ive had mastitis twice( and a plugged duct once). Once at 3 weeks and once at 3 1/2 months (Just finished my anti-biotics) It sounds like more of a plugged duct then mastitis. Mastitis symptoms increase rapidly. Breast is painful (like you described). Usually their is red area or red streaks. You get flu like symptoms including fever, nausea, chills, fatigue. Usually a plugged duct and mastitis feel a little better the more they nurse cause it takes down some of the swelling. Nurse the baby often and fully on the effected breast. Warm compress helps get circulation to the area and will help get out the clog or the infection and cool compress helps decrease the swelling. Take some advil and watch it carefully. If it gets red or you start feeling sick you need to see a doc ASAP for antibiotics so you dont abcess. If its a plugged duct it will resolve on its own. Also either way take baby to bed with you and relax. Dont do anything else but breastfeed and relax. Your body needs to recoupe.

Answer 4

I have mastitus right now and when you look at the breast is it red in the area that hurts? If you rub it can u feel a lump in the breast or any hard spot and is it hot to the touch? Have you ran a fever or felt sick in any way? These are all symptoms of mastitus but it could simply be a plugged milk duct try using a warm compress and massage while your baby is nursing but if it doesnt clear itself up within 48 hours then it probably is mastitus. Hope this helps

Answer 5

It sounds like a clogged duct (which can turn into mastitis if not drained adequately). If you start to feel flu-like symptoms(nauseous, etc.) that last more then 24 hours... then it's time to call your doctor.

My advice would be to nurse your daughter on that breast first, often (every hour or so), stay hydrated, rest, pump if you still feel it's clogged... empty that breast... completely. Also check your nipple for a clogged duct. Sometimes you'll notice a little clear bubble... if so you need to pop it and clear that area (with very clean tools or fingers... to prevent infection). Hot showers... letting the water run over the breast as you express it. Etc.

You can also call a La Leche League consultant to have them offer advice and help.

Best wishes.

Answer 6

call your doc and they may be able to give you an antibiostic. for now i would use a warn compress and nurse often on that breast if your baby will nurse off of it. i have never had mastitis but i ahve heard it is aweful i have had clogged ducts and those hurt i could only imagine what mastitis feel like0 good luck. it sounds more like thrush.i have heard thrushs is more of a sharp shooting pains ( similar to engorgement)and mastistis is a htrobbing pain

Answer 7

It sounds like it. I nursed my oldest daughter for 15 months and my youngest for 18 months. I had that problem a couple of times. The best thing to do is let the baby nurse it. I hope you get better soon! I know that's painful.

Answer 8

I'm not sure if it's mastitis but it sounds somewhat similar to how I felt when I breastfed. I used to massage my breast, right around the nipple and do hot and cold compresses, whatever felt better. I would call your doctor just to make sure. I used to roll up a washcloth and stuff it in my mouth so I couldn't scream when my daughter latched on. Once she was on, it didn't hurt as much. Good luck!