Mastitis

I had mastitis in one breast and it is really not pleasant! Phone the GP and explain why you need an appointment as they may get you started on antibiotics. Then have hot showers and massage to help keep the milk moving through, you can use cold compresses in between to ease the pain. You can hand express to soften it a bit too. Mine was so rock hard and my baby couldn’t latch so my health visitor advised I pump to completely empty it. If you can feed through it that’s the best thing to do. Mine is now fine after following all of this (and antibiotics in my case!) Hope it eases, it’s awful!! X

Ibuprofen and ice ! Keep an ice pack in your bra if you can ! They used to recommend paracetamol and heat but changed it to ibuprofen and ice, go to the walk in or drs mastitis can make you feel horrible I felt like I had flu when I had it , hoping it resolves quickly for you !

Apparently cabbage leaves in your bra help. I just kept feeding off my sore boob when I had it with my first baby and it went away on its own but I’d still see a GP or nurse especially if you start to develop flu like symptoms

Thank you guys! How long did you experience symptoms for? Google says it should start to improve within 24/48 hrs. Was this your experience ?

It was 2 or 3 days for me before it cleared up- through a combination of expressing, hot and cold compresses and antibiotics. They will only give antibiotics if really needed, but they won’t want it to escalate to flu like/fever symptoms. So keep an eye on how you’re generally feeling. I went to my health visitor for advice first and they were great- so depending on what your HV is like they might be a place to start. Really feel for you! I was only a week in to breastfeeding and it almost made me give up! X

@Alice I’d say I was really poorly for 3 days and eased up on day 4 x

I had a blocked milk duct which was a painful lump and my breast hurt every time I moved. What worked for me was a hot water bottle, massage, hand expressing in the shower and feeding baby as much as possible. It lasted about 36 hours. When I had mastitis it also came with redness, being hot to touch, fever and chills, feeling unwell, and I needed antibiotics to clear it. Lasted 2-3 days x

@Becca This sounds similar to what I’m experiencing. I haven’t got (luckily) any flu like symptoms, just a really painful breast which hurts when I move. I’m hoping it lasts only a short time like yours did. 🤞

@Alice yeah mine was gone within 2/3 days but I could feel myself getting better so if it doesn’t get better after a day, I’d go to the doctor