"Silent Mastitis" ?

I don't think you have mastitis because when I had it my breasts felt full but when i tried to pump I got drops. So, if you're still pumping full amounts I think it is something else.

Hi Meagan,
Mastitis is not fun. I have had it with 4 of my 6 babies, once to the point I had to take antibiotics. That is a last resort & one that should be avoided.

My suggestions are getting "milk weed" or cabbage. Boil for a few minutes to soften. Then lay on the infected breast (s), while in a hot bath. The plants draw out the "toxins" also getting baby on the breast is key. trying different positions while nursing, trying to have baby's chin pointing towards the infected area helps baby to be more efficient in "nursing it out". REST,REST,REST. This is most important & believe ma I learned from experience.

Lay down, rest, sleep, eat to heal. Getting up, running errands, etc. can worsen the mastitis. Take care of yourself my dear. G.

Call your OB. If it is mastitis you can get antibiotics and feel better right away! You need to find out, that can get alot worse!

HI! I had major issues with mastitis when my little girl was younger and my mother-in-law (who is a midwife, by the way) told me to take Cayenne. You can buy it in capsules just about anywhere I think. The flu like symptoms are sometimes a sign of mastitis. Good luck! Hope I helped.

I'd definitely get it checked out. I got Mastitis with baby #3. I had not felt well since she had been born, and the doctors kept telling me it was just because I had 3 kids now. I didn't buy it, but couldn't get help, either. When I was finally diagnosed, they gave me some big gun antibiotics. I was amazed. All the symptoms I had been complaining of for several months were cured in about 2 days. I've never heard of silent mastitis, but if it exists, I'm sure that's what I had. I hope you feel better soon!

I had the same thing but I've never heard of that. I felt like I was getting the flu for four weeks and then I decided to stop breast feeding and the symptoms went away as well.

Definately go see the doc... mastitis is a great possibility, among other things. You don't want to pass anything along to the fam. If you go on antibiotics, keep you acidophilis levels high in your diet to compensate, or your baby could get stomach problems from the antibiotics. Good luck, get well :)

Hi M., there is no such thing as silent mastitis. Mastitis is specifically an infection in the breast. Of course you can have a generalized infection (and thus flu-like symptoms), but that has nothing to do with your breasts.

You did imply, though, that you may have redness and tenderness in your breasts when you're full--what exactly do you mean by that? Do you have recurrent plugged ducts? Feel free to email me if you don't hear back from me--I don't check boards often.

Also, I see a suggestion to use cabbage leaves, and I would not employ this strategy unless you have an oversupply issue (which you may) because it will decrease your supply.

G., IBCLC, CD(DONA), CBE

PLEASE, please see your Dr. In rare instances you can actually have an infection and end up septic. My sister ended up ok after passing out in the ER as they were about to send her home. The infection had started to overwhelm her body and if she hadn't been there she would not have made it. I don't want to panic you but you have to be an advocate for your own health, that baby needs you!

Ok, is there any chance that you might be pregnant? If you don't feel any better after this week make an appointment with the doctor.

If it is mastitis, bromelain is a supplement that can be used (it is a pineapple enzyme) and WishGarden Herbs makes a tincture that is sold at Vitamin Cottage that is helpful as well. GOod Luck!

The same thing happened to me! I found out later that there are a couple of things you can do one is to not wear an underwire bra. The wires will 'crimp' (for lack of a better word) your milk duct and cause mastitis. The second is that you may be wearing the wrong size of bra. Are you in Salt Lake area? I would recommend going to Union Station in Sandy. On the South wall of the strip toward 700 East there is a specialty bra shop. They only sell bras. In fact you cannot buy a bra for less than a C cup. You will be amazed at how much better you feel when you get the right size nursing bra. Please don't get one from a maternity store until you get measured appropriately. The girls at the maternity store are cute, but they are not bra experts.

Hi M.,
I have had mastitis twice and boy, it's miserable. I hope you figure out what is going on so you can avoid getting it in the future. The one thing that I did wrong was wear a nursing bra with underwire. I don't know why, but that is what seemed to cause problems for me. I mean if I wore it for just a few hours, I started to feel like I was getting a lump and it was painful. It did take me a good while to figure it out, but if you do have a bra with an underwire, I would try wearing a different one without for a good few weeks to see if that could be the problem.
Good luck girl!

Sorry you're feeling crummy!
The home care for mastitis is lots of on-cue nursing combined with plenty of rest and fluids, which is pretty much home care for flu-like symptoms, too. It is vital to keep milk moving through all your ducts, especially while you're feeling rough so nothing stagnates and allows bacteria to pile up. Lots of nursing and warm showers with gentle massage can help. Try to avoid feeling too full--see if your baby will help you out with that. I hope you can just lay in bed and nurse and rest for a couple days.
"Mastitis" is a catch-all term used to describe any infection that settles in the breast tissue and/or ducts. I have never heard of "silent" mastitis (and I counsel with lots of nursing moms) but the idea of an "almost" or "possibly brewing" infection is entirely possible, especially if you are fighting other symptoms. Plugged ducts and consequent mastitis often start when nursings are delayed too long or mom is trying to put Baby on some kind of arbitrary schedule, so make sure you're not trying to do too much and watch your baby, not the clock.
If this is dragging on, it's reasonable to consult with your midwife or doctor. A round of antibiotics may be necessary if a bacterial infection is confirmed. Remember, too, that ibuprofen is compatible with breastfeeding and is an anti-inflammatory, so you don't have to be completely miserable.
Hang in there!