I canβt believe it. Little B will be 11 months old this week and Iβve come down with mastitis. I thought it was something that only happened in the early days of breastfeeding, but how wrong I was.
This morning I woke up shivering and feverish and aching all over. I naturally assumed I was coming down with a bug, until I moved. Oh. My. Goodness. It was like there was a ball of fire inside one of my boobs, and I realised.
Itβs all my own fault. Last week I worked in-house for a client and didnβt express during the day. Then, the following day, because I had a deadline to meet, instead of either pumping at lunchtime or popping home to feed Little B, I again went all day without expressing or feeding. Big mistake: missed feeds and not emptying the breast properly are key causes of mastitis.
The question is: what’s the best way to treat mastitis? Itβs a nasty business which can turn even nastier, and before the advent of penicillin women died from infection. Iβve always tried to avoid taking anything when breastfeeding β even paracetamol and ibuprofen which they say is ok β so I really donβt want to take antibiotics unless completely necessary.
Iβve had a look online and aside from the obvious – drinking plenty of fluid, a hot compress on the affected boob to keep things flowing and feeding from the affected boob to clear it out – it turns out there are a host of natural remedies including:
1. Get plenty of rest and βsnuggleβ with your baby in bed. They havenβt met Little B.
2. Massage therapy-grade lavender oil onto the affected breast. Harder to come by than you might expect.
3. Eat four to five raw garlic cloves a day. Nice.
The trouble is I feel it is completely necessary to take something I know will stop the spread of infection. My head is pounding, my body is aching, my temperature is soaring and to say my boob is smarting is an understatement. Forget the ring of fire: this is worse.
So, despite the fact it goes against my instincts, Iβve been to the doctor and Iβm now dosed up with paracetamol, ibuprofen and a course of antibiotics.
I just hope Little Bβs poo doesnβt turn blueβ¦
Oh no. Poor you! I had mastitis a couple of times with my first baby. Ouch! I tried all of the online home remedies too, but had to take antibiotics in the end. No regrets. If not treated properly it can keep coming back. No thanks!! I hope you feel better soon.
That’s good to hear about the antibiotics – I think it was the right thing to do x
Oh bless you. I am here cringing and holding my chest in sympathy. I hope you feel better soon. I am amazed you even wrote this post. Be super kind to yourself. Kirsten
If I keep still my head, body & boobs don’t throb so I wrote the post keeping as still as possible!!
I had mastitis at the beginning and sheesh is it painful! I think the La Leche League guide tells you to get the antibiotic prescription but wait a few days before taking them because many cases clear up by themselves…if it doesn’t then take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed. Hope you get well soon and thanks for sharing #fromtheheart
I started the antibiotics straight away – didn’t want to leave it & end up in hospital!x
Ugh. I’m sorry. I breastfed both my kids and was lucky to escape this…hope it clears quickly!
I fed BB for almost two years & now Little B – I thought I’d escaped too!x
I suffered horribly. Breastfeeding in the bath often worked to clear a blockage! #bestandworst
Good tip – haven’t heard that one before!x
sometimes the only answer is antibiotics even though it usually dissipates with regular feeding. It depends on the severity, if untreated you can get really ill and need IV antibiotics or it can be mild and just flush itself through. I had a couple of blocked ducts in the early weeks but have generally been unscathed (fingers crossed). I hope yours clears up soon xx #bestandworst
Mine seems to be flushing itself through – painkillers & antibiotics are def helping…
Oh wow. I too thought it was only in the early days. I’m breastfeeding number 4 now, he’s 13 months, and thankfully I have never experienced this. Good heads up though to know it can still happen. Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope it passes quickly!! #bestandworst
I hope you escape unscathed – I managed to first time round & I fed BB until she was 21 months x
How nasty, I can’t even imagine what mastitis is like but it sounds nasty!! I really hope you are feeling better. Thanks for linking up to the #bestandworst hope to see you again x
I couldn’t either until this week!!
I hope all is good now! It really is a very unique pain. And feeding, wowser. It happened to me after my son was looked after by my mum for the day and then slept through the night! It was such a weird combination of joy and pain π Thanks so much for sharing #fromtheheart
Much better now thank you but still taking the drugs in case!x