Mastitis - Folsom,CA

Hi S.,

I too had this when I was breast feeding my twins. My doctor told me that I could still breast feed while on the antibiotics. It did help resolve my problem as well. Keep doing what you are doing and you will be fine.

J. F.

I got a breast infection one week after my daughter was born. My left breast was as hard as a rock and I had a 101 degree fever. I took antibiotics and kept breastfeeding all along without any problems. I didn't pump and dump, but just kept feeding her like normal. My daughter did not experience any side effects at all from the antibiotics.

G. A.

Hi S., I got mastitis when my daughter was 5 weeks old. When I asked if it was okay to keep breast feeding on antibiotics, my doctor said it would actually help me. I can't remember what my medication was called. I felt much better within only a couple of days, though keep taking the medication for the recommended 10 amount of time!

Hope you feel better soon!

I hope you are doing all right!!

I had mastitis too...but I never went to the doctor. And continued breastfeeding. Everything turned out ok.

I suffered from mastitis several times while breastfeeding my daughter. I took antibiotics (DICLOXACILLIN) each time. I continued to breastfeed through each round of antibiotics. In fact, I breastfed until my daughter was 18 months old! She is perfectly and wonderfully healthy. I encourage you to continue! Good luck!

Nurse!!! It is the only thing that will solve it! Do the side that is infected worse first and try to have baby drain it entirely every time! Make sure that antibiotic is the right one-- my guess is that it is, but it won't hurt the baby. There is nothing worse... I had it with my second child. Don't pump and dump, it will just hurt more. Baby can drain it better than any pump and it own't hurt!

i got mastitis four times over a twelve month period with my first child and in my experiences the faster i could get the milk out the sooner i got better. you don't neccissarily have to take the mdication, but it will help it to clear up a lot faster. i recommend taking hot showers, using heat packs on the affected breast, massage the tender areas, and if you don't take the medicine, nursing as often and as long as possible on the infected side. the sooner you can get the milk flowing the better you are going to feel. good luck...it's a rough place to be.

Sorry that you are feeling crummy. I just went through this a few weeks ago. I have a 5 month old. I took keflex,(antibiotic) and nursed a lot. It was super painful to nurse, but within a few days nursing was much better, and so was I. I tied pumping, and found that was not as effective.
Get lots of rest. I was shocked at how horrible I felt and how tired I was.
Best wishes

Hang in there! I had it twice. Once with each baby. The best thing to do is to nurse as often as you can. The natural suck pulls so much more efficiently. My boys were thrilled. We curled up in bed together and I let them go as long and often as possible. Make sure you drink, drink, drink and don't get out of bed! REST. Another great relief was cabbage in the bra. Swear. It's gross but works.

Hi S.~

I've had double mastitis...multiple times. It's so very painful. My OB put me on an antibiotic and I was able to continue nursing throughout. If it's just a clogged duct, then you really can just keep nursing and pumping with a warm, wet compress to get the clog out. However, most often mastitis is caused by a clogged duct and then turns into an infection. If left untreated an abscess can form and is much worse to treat. So, if your doc suggested an antibiotic, for sure take it.

I'd double check with your dr. about the pumping and dumping. Tell her you saw that it's safe to continue nursing and see what she says.

So sorry you're going through this...I feel your pain sista! Hang in there!

hi,
I got mastitis when my son was 2wks old w/ 105 fever...I have never felt so aweful in my life. My doctor advised me to nurse through it. Its painful, but it was over w/in a couple of days.

I had mastitis 4 times with my first child and 5 with my second child and i got a high fever and my breast would turn bright red and hurt everytime i took antibiotics everytime but was told to coninue breastfeeding to help get the infection out and it helped. The more he would nurse even though it was painful it helped get the infection to go away. I was also told that which ever breast has the infectiion is the breast you start the nursing on everytime to insure the breast was being emptyed, then after he ate i would pump to get the last of the milk out. Hope this info helps. Good luck.

Do not stop breastfeeding! The bacteria that causes the infection is not harmful to your baby's stomach. It is only harmful to you and your breast. If you stop breastfeeding, you will be at greater risk for a breast abcess, a much more serious condition. Nurse that baby frequently, massage the area that seems to be the problem. You both should be on probiotics to reduce the chance that you will get yeast on your nipples and the baby will get it in the mouth (thrush).

PS: I am a board certified lactation consultant.

Hi S.,

My name is J. Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM. I am a Lactation Consultant in Sacramento.

Your Dr is correct that you need the antibiotics for your specific situation. However you do NOT need to pump and dump while on anitbiotics that are safe with breastfeeding. Most medications are actually OK to use while BF but most people/hcps will err on the side of caution and say don't nurse. It usually only takes about 5 minutes of research to find out if a medication is safe for nursing... You are welcome to keep my number handy ###-###-#### and call anytime you need info on a medication.

Mastitis is an inflammation in the breast tissue and can get very painful. If not treated properly it can lead to complications like breast abscess. Here is how to treat:

BED REST! You MUST go to bed for at least 24 -48 hours when you first see signs that you are developing mastitis. Why? The rest helps your body fight off the inflammation. If you do not go to bed or at the very least rest as much as absolutely possible (that means no errands, no going to work) you risk the mastitis not resolving properly, or in a timely manner or even getting worse - even while on antibiotics.

Next: NURSE the baby or pump. Keep the breast drained - get the milk out every couple hours - do NOT let it get overly full. There is NO reason to toss the milk. The inflammation is in the breast tissue not the milk ducts.

Ibuprofen - many moms find that when they take ibuprofen it helps reduce the inflammation tremendously. Talk to your Dr about a proper dosage (most moms take 400 - 600 mg every 6 hours or so). Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory...that is why it helps.

Usually the above directions will help resolve mastitis WITHOUT the need for antibiotics. However, if you run a high fever or the mastitis does not resolve within 24-48 hours or gets worse call your Dr immediately and get on antibiotics.

I hope this helps...please, again, feel free to call me anytime. You also have Maternal Expressions in Folsom - they are a great resource also.

Good luck!

Warmly,
J. Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM
www.breastfeedingnetwork.net

Do continue nursing! It will probably be really, really painful so you may need to nurse on your right breast and pump on your left. I had mastitis when my daughter was 6 months old and it was excruciating. I couldn't nurse on the affected breast - too painful. So I pumped on that side and nursed from the other side. Fortunately, the antiobiotics kick in quickly and you should be feeling better within a couple of days. And the antibiotics are supposed to be safe for the nursing baby - esp since a very small amount is present in breast milk. Good luck!

Hello,
I also had Mastitis, and was told to nurse as much as I could, especially on the affected breast (I also took antibiotics). Pumping is not as effective as nursing (at least with my pump :). So I nursed (on pain relievers!), and recovered relatively quickly. On the other hand, your Dr. had a reason for asking you to pump and dump, they probably don't know the long term effects (if there are any) of antibiotics in such young bodies. Also, you probably went to your regular Dr. who is probably not "up" on all of the latest research on the subject, you could try asking your OB. I hope this helps! Good luck, I know that mastitis REALLY hurts!

I know exactly what you're going through, because I've had it several times myself. I heard several things when I went through it: make your baby's chin point toward the blocked side of the breast when feeding (that may take some acrobatics in some cases); pump as much as you can on the side that's blocked; get lots of rest; massage the breast that is infected; take acidophilus, etc.

I was sooooooooo hesitant to try antibiotics. I had kicked it several times without antibiotics- with just rest and lots of pumping and massage on the infected side, but the last time I had it it did not seem to go away and it did not seem to get better. I finally started antibiotics and also took a one-a-day acidophilus and continued breast-feeding throughout. The acidophilus was/is "Nature's Way" brand "Primadophilus Optima"... I was really hesitant because my baby and I had thrush issues when he was littler... but everything was better after I started antibiotics- and baby did just fine. I got my appetite back, and the achy feeling started going away, and energy levels came back. I was able to take care of my little one much better.

So... the moral to that story is get lots of rest- invite someone over to help you with baby during this time, and try those other things I mentioned above... but if that doesn't work, the antibiotics might be your best bet- take some acidophilus with the antibiolics (in between your doses of antibiotics- not right before or right after).
Good luck

Hi, my name Is H.. My son is 6 mos. and I've had mastitis twice. You can and should nurse thru it. The antibiotics are not enough to hurt your baby (even tho he will get a little) and nursing will move the milk out and heal you in a way that pumping will not. With the antibiotics you should feel better in 2 days max. Good Luck.

You should definitely start antibiotics right away AND continue nursing. I'm surprised to hear that your doctor said to pump and dump! Breastmilk is precious! You should pump or feed your baby so to empty your breast. My doctor had suggested that I take probiotics and if concerned with traces of antibiotics getting to breastmilk, give your baby probiotics as well.

I had Mastitis four times when I was nursing my LO and I never had to stop nursing my baby. I was on antibiotics and something for pain (Lord it hurt so bad!!)

Good Luck!

For mastitis, favor the infected breast and nurse frequently. I wouldn't throw away that milk--you've worked too hard to make it! Here's more from La Leche League. http://www.llli.org/FAQ/mastitis.html
Feel better soon!

Hi,

I also had mastitis while breastfeeding and did take antibiotics. I pumped and dumped and used good start formula to supplement with some frozen breast milk. You really have to massage that lump where the duct is clogged or it could happen again. I realized that pumping was easier for me and decided to do that instead of breastfeeding and was able to avoid having mastitis again. Massaging your breast while pumping was also easier. It helps all the milk come out. Hope you'll get better soon!

You got to continue to pump or nurse. Actually nursing is the best way to unclog your milk ducts. If you don't want your baby to drink the breast milk, you should at least pump and massage your breast at the same time. I would follow your doctor advice. If you need a second opinion, you can consult another doctor or midwife. Good luck! Wish you a speedy recovery.

YES - absolutely contine to breastfeed during mastitis. I had mastitis with both children. With the first at one week and the second at 10 weeks. With both I continued nursing through antibiotics. My OB never told me to "pump and dump". Both my kids are fine from having me on antibiotics while nursing.

Mastitis is a clogged milk duct turned infection. That's why breastfeeding helps - it helps clear that duct. I know it hurts - I had to ice my nipples before I latched my daugther on because she was my first child and they already were sore because I was new at it. Since your child is older and probably on solids / cereal, pump and dump might be more of an option for you. For me it just wasn't.

You definitely need to take the antibiotics. I remember when I realized that when history books refer to "milk fever" they are talking about mastitis. We're very lucky we live in this day and age and have anitbiotics to help us through. Women back in the day weren't always so lucky. Hang in there! I know it stinks, but not quitting breastfeeding is the best thing for you and the baby.

I had mastitis with my first DS and was prescribed an antibiotic that was listed as safe with breastfeeding and told to continue nursing. It will not clear if the ducts stay clogged and the baby nursing is the best way to empty the breasts fully.

Hi S., I had the mastitis my self 5 years ago. My obgyn gave my the antibiotics and said it was fine to continue to nursing at the same time. I found the combination of the to really helped relieve my painful breasts. Good Luck,Lelie

So I just had my 5th bought of Mastitis and my son is 10 months old. The best thing to do is keep nursing!!! The baby can get so much more milk out that it helps with the infection. Also, take the antibiotics. The sooner you get it in your system, the sooner you feel better. I had the same flu like symptoms (fever, chills, aches and pains) it took me about 2 days to get better. My husband had to stay home to take care of me and my son. If you already feel horrible, then it should be better with in a couple of days of starting the meds. If you are not feeling better, go back in to see your doctor. The first time I had it, the antibiotics weren't working. Just see how you feel in a couple of days.

Good luck with everything and sorry have have to experience this!
S. D

Hi! I had mastitis my first week back to work when my twin boys were 12 weeks old. It hurt more than childbirth! My doctor told me the same thing (antibiotics and nursing), but to increase pumping/nursing. It was soooo painful, but that was the best thing. I nursed when home, and pumped at work (every 2 to 3 hours). Slowly the lump passed, the pain ceased, and the temp. dropped. Drink lots of water, and massage the tender areas. Heat also seems to loosen it up to help. I remember walking around with a heat pack in my bra! My double E's became even bigger!!! Good luck!

That is what I've always heard was best-to continue nursing. It is important that any antibiotic prescribed is a safe one for a nursing mom & it sounds like that was already taken into consideration. Check the Lalecheleague.com website. Their advice is better than most medical professionals who get very little training in breastfeeding. If I would have listened to medical "professionals" I wouldn't have worked through the issues that I've experienced with my little one who is now 2 & still nursing.

DEFINATELY continue nursing, especially since the antibiotic is listed as safe. One way to help/prevent mastitis is nursing frequently. Good luck!

I have been there! Yuck! You need to nurse through it. It hurts, but that is the best way to get it out! It won't hurt baby at all! Then have someone go out and get you some cabbage to place on your breast. TRUST ME! This will feel cold, but will help relieve the pain. Then have someone get you Propolis. It comes in liquid, but I recommend capsules. 4 of those every four hours will kick the infection quickly. It is a natural antibiotic and will not harm baby.....Please, try this first, antibiotics have so many bad problems....yeast infection (thrush for the baby), just not good. It causes a chain reaction that can cause you to not be able to fully nurse later.
If you have started to take the antibiotics, go get a lot of yogust with the live cultures and some probiotics like acidophilis...this will help fight the yeast build up. Take care, hope everything goes well.....

keep breastfeeding!! the latch of the baby is way different from a pump too. the baby will draw the infection out muich more efficiently than the pump will. mastitis is horrible, hang in there.

Good morning - Did you try all of the home remedies first? I have had this happen to me a few times and I rub the clogged duct (I mean, repeatedly for hours), put a super hot wash cloth on it or take a hot shower and let the water hit it while I rub the clog. Also, try switching positions when you feed your baby - if you normally use the cradle hold, use the football hold or (I know this sounds funny) kneel over your baby and nurse that way. Also, nurse from the clogged side first until the clog remedies. These have all worked for me and I have not had to use any antibiotics. I hope these work for you and then you don't have to worry! If you do use the medicine, I would pump and dump, hopefully you have some milk frozen for this time. And, I know how painful this is! I am sorry for your pain and hope you feel better real quick! Very best, N.

I had the same thing. In fact my area of Mastitis was quite big. it was bigger than an egg on the outer underside of my left breast. They said I should use antibiotics but i did not want to got that route. I was told to take a comb and lightly "comb" the area in a hot shower toward the nipple and this would give even pressure over the area and not damage the ducts. So I did that regularly. The lactation specialists also told me to nurse with the baby's mouth toward the infected area to draw the milk from that area....hope this all makes sense.

One other thing I did not try but know about now since it was recommended while I was quitting nursing was a tincture called POKEY ROOT. You can get it from an Herbalist, Pam Caldwell. I would call her right away if you haven't started antibiotics. Her number is toll free (877) 808-5815 and her website is www.herblore.com. I would suggest trying all of those first before antibiotics. The Pokey root is supposed to nip the mastitis right away.

I had over production of milk supply and so had reoccuring mastitis in the same place but never used antibiotics. It was never as severe as the first time since I new what to do the minute I felt it starting.

good Luck and I hope you are able to get through this without antibiotics if possible.
K. W.

I feel for you! I had the same problem when my 7y.o. was just a few weeks. If you dont have a good electric pump, rent one. Then get in a very warm (as warm as you can stand) shower, with the water streaming straight on your breast. Do this while using the electric pump. You will probably have your hands full, so you may need to have your husband/boyfriend/mother/really-good-girlfriend find the lump(s) and gently massage them out. Above all... keep nursing as much as possible. Your body knows the difference between pump and baby. Also be sure you are drinking enough fluids. You dont need to add dehydration to everything you are going through already. Its been 7 years for me, but I will never forget it. I will also never forget the nurses at the hospital wheeling out a jersey-cow pump and telling me to get in the shower. I sat there on a shower chair, in tears, while my mother rubbed the lumps out.

Absolutely keep breastfeeding. I had a mastitis with my first child and ended up passing out twice, along with having a high fever. Start your antibiotics ASAP - you'll feel tons better and keep nursing. I would also suggest putting warm (as hot as you can stand it) WET towel over the breast with the mastitis when you nurse, this helps the milk to flow better, massage the area that is infected while you are nursing. I have heard that if you stop nursing on that side, the infection/clogged milk duct can get so bad that you have to have surgery...

Hi S.,

I think you should keep nursing. And also be aware of the changes that happened to your breast before it became infected, since it can happen again and the best way to avoid it is to be very careful.

I had mastitis and I learned that I should not stop breastfeeding. I also learned that lots of docs don't understand this, but I checked the World Health Org's website directly, and indeed it is the recommendation. So don't stop breastfeeding!

Hi S.,
DEFINITELY continue nursing. I was developing mastitis and also got a prescription for antibiotics and my doctor said to continue breastfeeding. You are correct in that the condition will worsen if you stop feeding. Have hot showers and massage your breats under the water flow and put a hot pack on your breast before feeding followed by a cold pack after feeding for each feed for at least 2 days. I bought these gel packs especially to go in your bra and I put one in boiling water and the other in the freezer http://www.contourmd.com/Bosom_Buddy_p/bosom%20buddy.htm they saved me! Good luck and keep at it!

I am sorry you have mastitis, I had it twice when I was nursing and it is no fun! I took antibiotics both times and I continued nursing both times. My doctor told me to continue because it will help you clear it up faster, and the little bit of antibiotic your baby will get will only help him/her because they probably have the infection as well.
I hope it clears up soon.
S. R

i also had mastitis (twice!) and am taking those antibiotics as i type. i have continued to breastfeed and everything seems fine (my dr. said it actually helps both of us). good luck - i know how painful it can be...

I have had mastitis twice and 4 different doctors have told me to continue nursing while on the antibiotics.

I've had mastitis twice and both doctors recommended I breastfeed while on antibiotics as it would help resolve it, which it did. Especially if you put a warm compass on and massage the breast toward the nipple 20 min before breastfeeding. Good luck!

No need to pump and dump, there are many antibiotics that are safe for nursing. Here's a list, I bet your medication is on this list. http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/aap-approved-meds.htm...

Do NOT stop nursing! It increases risk of complications per the World Health Organization document Mastitis: Causes and Management, "Without effective removal of milk, non-infectious mastitis was likely to progress to infectious mastitis, and infectious mastitis to the formation of an abscess."

While you are on the antibiotic, take a good strong probiotic to prevent thrush, or you may find yourself taking another prescription to solve that! At any natural foods store, they have a refrigerated section with fresh, active probiotics that are guaranteed to be active.

Kellymom has a list of American Academy of Pediatrics' approved medicines for nursing. Here is the antibiotics page: http://kellymom.com/health/meds/aap-approved-meds.html#An...

I would also advise that your ob sounds like she doesn't know much about breastfeeding as that is the exact opposite of the advice that you should have gotten IMO. More from kellymom here: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html Here's the LLL site: http://www.llli.org/NB/NBbreastproblems.html

One thing to do however is to be concerned about thrush. Since you're getting ABX it's important to take preventative action now. Here's some info on that: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/thrush/preventing-thr...

Best wishes and hope you feel better soon!

If you should ever feel a infection coming on again jump on it right away with hot compresses and hot showers and lots of nursing. I usually get maybe 2 flare ups with each baby and doing these things has kept me from ever having to take antibiotics. Now you know what to look out for for next time. I can't believe how sick it makes you. I am not looking forward to going through this part of breast feeding again.

I agree - keep nursing! The only real guide to breastfeeding and medications is Dr. Hale's guide. He has a website that you can use to check on whatever you're taking.

I've taken Clindamycin, Dicloxacillin, Azithromycin, and Cephalexin all while bfing. And Diflucan. I had a very severe breast infection that took over a month to clear up early on in bfing and my daughter had no ill effects from any of them.

I do suggest giving your little one infant probiotics while you're on abx to protect her gut flora, but other than that, nurse!

I totally understand. It was AWFUL!!!
Start your antibiotics right away. They kick in super fast and you will be feeling better so soon. I was told to pump or nurse, which ever I could tolorate with the pain. I chose nursing, as did not want to deal with the pumping. And I was told the milk is just fine for the baby. Good luck.

I had it too, and I continued to nurse. It was definitely painful, though. Part of my breast was hard as a rock. I did the massage, warm showers and compressions but nothing seemed to work.

Enter my hubby, who has a MUCH stronger suction than any baby. He "latched on" and I squeezed, and he cleared my duct for me! (It took a few tries over the course of an evening.)

S.,
I am so sorry you are going through this. I had the same thing with my 1st child (12 years ago) it was horrible. I remember being told that the best thing was to breast feed as normal and that it wouldn't hurt the baby to suck out the infection from the breast. Even though it hurts, you need to get the infection out and when it happened to me, everything ended up fine and my baby was fine. Just be careful and watch for the signs of the infection coming back. I know it happened to me more than once and as you know, it was so painful.

I had mastitis a few months ago. It was not fun. My doctor prescribed me antibiotics that were listed as safe for breastfeeding and told me to continue breastfeeding because the amount of antibiotics the baby gets is very little. I also pumped if my son did not empty the breast completly(didn't save milk though). While I pumped and nursed I massaged the sore area and put moist heat compresses on it. Baby is healthy. Hope this helps.

L. C.

I have had mastitis several times through my breastfeeding of four children (mostly with my first and third) and the only time I was ever advised not to nurse was when I had an open abcess that would have been in my son's mouth while he nursed and even then my doctor worked with me and a lactation consultant to find a position and something to cover the abscess so he could nurse. Once you recover form this look for the cause of it. Breast infections often happen when we are overwroked and overtired. Start taking a little nap or at least some downtime while the baby naps. Make sure you get to bed early and that you are drinking plenty of fluids and eating regularly and also check that your bras still fit properly. An ill-fitting bra can cause compression of the milk ducts. My prayers are with you a breast infection is no fun but will soon pass.

H.

Hi S.,

I also had mastitis while nursing my 4 week old. I was given a safe antibiotic and was told by the doctor to continue nursing as it would help clear it up. My daughter had no ill effects from this and she is a healthy 4 year old. I think there are some antibiotics that are more safe than others, so I would do some research, such as mayoclinic.com, and look up the prescription your doc gave you and that should give you some peace of mind.
Hang in there! - Kim

I got mastitis when my son was 2 weeks old. My doctor stressed, it was still important to breast feed. She said the antibiotics would not hurt the baby. Although it hurt, breast feeding helped. I also used a heating pad on my breasts before I breastfed.

S.,

I also had mastitis at one point during breastfeeding. I continued to breastfeed, but I did do lots of pumping and dumping in the shower to clear it up. It sounds like you have it worse than I did- I didn't take antibiotics- I just did compresses and lots of showers to encourage natural letdown. If your Dr. says its ok, I would probably do the antibiotics.But I would however contact La Leche League to get advice from them before deciding.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

Molly

I had the same problem. Very hot showers help - massage the lumps out under the shower - it also helps the swelling.
I would pump & dump your milk once you start taking the antibiotics - but if you have some milk saved up - mix it with the formula to help baby's tummy adjust.
My son had to have antibiotics for an ear infection and ever since then, he got a terrible yeast infection in his diaper area that was very painful and difficult to heal.
I would say err on the side of caution - you can go right back to nursing when your meds are done - your son will not forget how things work!!