Hi R.,
I nursed two kids both for several years but I did not have the issues of mastitas. With my first, I did have problems with my milk supply and I pumped round the clock sounds similar to what you did. My son was 3 months old before he could nurse on his own without me pumping and putting him on an supplemental nursing system (SNS) that I tapped to nipples.
I understand how tiring and demanding this is. I totally congratulate you for being so "hard core" because what you did was what was right for you at the time.
It's the feeling in your heart that will take you to the place you need to go and only you can decide what this is.
Many people were behind me telling me not to be so "hard core" with my first but there was something inside me that would not let this go, the desire I had to do what I thought was the best thing for my baby, which was to breastfeed.
That was what was right for me. I felt so strongly about this that I made it through to the other side of the problem after 3 months of round the clock pumping and using the SNS.
With my second, because I was experienced as a parent I was much more comfortable, and I knew how to nurse, everything went so much smoother.
I really want to encourage you to hook up with a local La Leche League group if there is one in your area. Without the support I got from my local LLL group I would not have made it through with my first.
Here are some links to the LLL website that talk about recurring mastitis and the issues around that.
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/repeatmastitis.html
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/mastitis.html
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/oversupply.html
You are right to be seeing out information ahead of time. I don't mean to be disrespectful but what I have found is that medical Dr's generally do not know much about successful breastfeeding relationships.
Mother to mother support is really beneficial, especially when it is another mother who has had a successful breastfeeding experience. That's what you will get with LLL.
All the best,
E.
http://elyorganics.com/