my baby has oral thrush or mouth sores recently, yesterday i noticed that my left breast is larger than my right breast. it was a bit painful and it has a lump. i researched about it and it says i must be lactation mastitis.. has any of you had this before? should i continue to breastfeed my baby? i will see the doctor tomorrow but i wanna know your experience... thanks moms
thank you moms... it feels good to have supportive moms like you even if we dont know each other personally.. had an appointment with my doctor she said it may be caused by milk accumulation.. probably caused by feeding my DD with my right breast since she sleeps beside me its convenient to feed her on my right breast...thanks again
Yes, I did have mastitis and it is incredibly painful and typically involves a high fever, chills and allover body pain.
Keep pumping.... keep pumping... keep pumping. The worst thing you can do is allow that clogged duct to get worse!
Go to www.kellymom.com and check out the thrush section. Make sure you coat your nipples as well as the baby's mouth of gentian violet... and wipe your nipples with vinegar after each nursing session.
For your clogged ducts, take an as hot as you can stand shower, while massaging from your chest wall towards your nipple. This is a great way to self express and soften the lump. As soon as you leave the shower, do the thrush treatment to you and baby then have her nurse. There is a position that really helps with clogged ducts. Lay baby on the floor on her back, you are above her on your hands and knees. Allow breasts to naturally fall down towards her face and have her nurse from the affected side.
This position allows gravity to help and will pull from different areas of the breast.
I highly recommend you do the gentian violet/vinegar and warm shower/hands and knees nursing position for 3 days BEFORE you take any prescription drugs from Dr... because we all know - you'll be getting some prescriptions from MD about both issues!!
I have had it! Ouch! YES! continue to breastfeed if you don't it will get worse! You need to make sure you are switching postitions while feeding your son and try putting a warm compress on that part or your breast that is painful..And drain that breast...
To avoid mastitis I found that I was wearing nursing bras that i just bought at target and I had not fitted myself properly ie i was wearing a 36 D bra and i went to get fitted and I was a 32F ! wow. Made a huge difference the poorly fitted bras were pressing against the milk ducts and not allowing them to drain properly...
Good luck definitely see doctor!
You have already gotten a lot of great answers. All I would add is if you think you might be over producing milk and not fully emptying each breast this could be the source of your mastitis. This was true in my case and I had mastitis 3 times. I ended up just nursing on one side at a time for each feeding and not offering both in the same feeding and my body finally started to regulate itself much better. Hope you get some relief soon, I know it's not fun! Good luck!
You've gotten some great answers! The only thing I would add is on the bra comment... underwire bras can contribute to plugged ducts. When I had plugged ducts and then developed a fever too, went w/o a bra, applied heat and nursed/pumped to try to minimize the lump (even though it HURTS!!!).
You've gotten great advice! I'd just also recommend the website kellymom for all things breastfeeding. And way to go for nursing! So good for your baby and for your own health!
Keep nursing ALOT!! that helps. Warm towels on the breast, large doses of vitamin C (advice from my doctor was that you can take 1000mg per hour), rest. Reduce sugar in your diet.
Y.,
Congratulations - and great work nursing your baby! That's AWESOME!
yes absolutely continue to feed your baby! nurse nurse nurse is the way to go for both mastitis and plugged ducts.
Contact a La Leche League leader or go through the website for LLL INternational. They can help you - a LOT! You don't have to be a member to get advice.
Dr. Jack Newman has a great website also for breastfeeding.
It sounds more like you have a plugged duct. Mastitis is PAINFUL (not a little painful) and you have a fever with it. A Plugged duct can last a week or more if you don't work at it - then can develop into Mastitis if you're very unlucky.
Massage helps with a p-duct - pressing the breast in a flowing motion in the direction of the nipple, over and around the duct (like the nipple is the center and you are making an imaginary star with your massages toward that center).
To help avoid p=ducts in the future - don't get bumped in the breast - baby head, elbow or otherwise.
Good luck, and great work!
M.
I've had mastitis before (twice, in fact). You can continue to breastfeed - but see your dr asap. It can get really painful, but antiobiotics will clear it up within 24 hours.
Good luck!
Updated
I've had mastitis before (twice, in fact). You can continue to breastfeed - but see your dr asap. It can get really painful, but antiobiotics will clear it up within 24 hours.
Good luck!
Yes, had it - not fun!
You will know you have it because you will feel ill and have a fever. One breast could be larger because of a clogged milk duct....painful but no fever. Keep nursing the babe, drink plenty of fluids, and try to get some rest. Good luck!
