My Breast Is Swollen and Hot with a Ton of Pain. My Nipple Is White and Crusty..

I put a heating pad on my breast and that helps me to unclog. definitely see the doctor and definitely take antibiotics if they prescribe them because it will make you feel better within a couple of days. You'll be fine!

Hi H.. Definitely mastitis. Glad you're going to the doctor ASAP because I do know a woman who had it badly and was hospitalized. Like everyone said, continue to BF and pump, even though it's terribly painful. And don't let the doctors convince you to stop BF'ing. They very well might tell you it's harmful and it isn't! Make sure whatever antibiotic they give you is safe. Also, you could try nursing your baby from above. Meaning, lay him on the bed and kneel above him at his head. Lower your breast into his mouth and nurse him. The gravity helps. That was a tip I got from a LLL leader. I also made warm compresses out of the leak pads and then put a warm washcloth over it and wore it in my bra until they cooled off. Good luck and I hope it heals up quickly!

You have an infection. Most likely in one of your milk ducts. I had that when I was nursing my oldest daughter. I think she was about 10 months old then and I'd never had any problems. Yes, see the doctor. But know that you don't have to stop breastfeeding. It clears up fairly quickly with treatment. It was the oddest sick/weak/infected feeling I'd ever had.

Best,
D. Stambler
www.betweenparents.org

Call a LLLI leader in the area for help!
http://www.llli.org/Web/California.html

But it sounds like mastitis. Hurts real bad and can get worse. But keep nursing, since it helps you and doesn't hurt baby (the "infected milk" gets digested and won't bother baby, plus all the extra antibodies that are produced will protect baby and even enhance her immunities). Nurse or pump and dump the infected side as much as possible, since that will help draw out the infection and unplugged the ducts. And try all sorts of various positions.

The doctor might want to put you on an antibiotic so it doesn't get worse, but you will be able to continue nurse. Remember to watch to adverse reactions from the antibiotic in baby too - since some medications do cross into the breastmilk.

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/mastitis.html

Should take a couple days if you really work at it. Be prepared to head back to urgent care or ER if your symptoms get worse - and if they do, remember to that you and baby are a "package deal", fight to have baby with you. Hope you get to feeling better soon!

D.

Hey mama, sounds like mastitis to me. I've had it twice. (This is when one or more milk ducts get blocked.) You want to get treated for it asap before it gets any worse. Use warm compresses every two hours for about 10 minutes, then nurse or pump. Massage in a warm shower can also help. It will hurt, but can help start to loosen the blockage. Your doctor will give you antibiotics, which will be safe for breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is one of the best ways to help loosen the blockage. It will usually clear up in a couple of days once you start antibiotics. Just get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, take your meds, compresses, and nurse, nurse, nurse. Hope you're feeling better soon.

You may have mastitis. I got it twice while breastfeeding. I had the same symptoms, fever my breast was hot and red. If it is mastitis the doc will put you on antibiotics and they want you to breastfeed as much as possible and pump as much as possible. It is paoinful but will resolve after you are on the antibitics.you won't have to stop breastfeeding if it is that. Good luck. Hope you feel better soon!

Hello H.. sounds like you might have mastitis. It is very painful, and when I had it, it was accompanied by a fever as well. Talk to your doctor to see if there is anything you can take for it, otherwise, express as much milk as you can (stand). Good luck to you :)

I am so sorry!! It sounds like you have an infection like my mother did when I was a baby. Although, I have never experienced it myself, it sounds exactly like what my mother says she went through when I was a few days old. At that time she had to stop breastfeeding until the infection cleared up. Since your baby is 8 months, I don't think you would have too much problem going back to the breast if you have to sub. a bottle with breastmilk for a while. Maybe aske the doc if you can pump the infected side and discard the milk and still feed baby from the other side? I don't think they will need to hospitalize you for it, just put you on some kind of antibiotics and compresses. I really hope things work out, and you remain calm. Don't over stress yourself because that alone will affect your milk supply. Good luck hon, and I hope all goes well. Huggz.

I had that and yes it hurts. You have mastitis. Antibiotics and a warm compress. Mine was cleared up within days. Hang in there!

Dana has some great advice. I know it hurts-hang in there and continue to nurse. You should also have your hubby come home and take a sick day, you need the extra support :)

If you can get to the drugstore, go to the aisle with facial products. Look for Queen Helena's Mud Mask, it's in a brown and white tube that stands on end. Apply that on nice and thick. It has drawing properties and will start to draw the infection out and give you relief from the pressure. Put on an old t-shirt you don't care about and let it dry. It can dry the skin out so follow up with an oil, olive oil is actually great. Hang in there. This, too shall pass.

Hey girl don't worry. It sounds like mastitis. One of your milk ducts got clogged and it's probably infected. Thats why you have a fever. It happened to me. The dr. gave me antibiotics for about 7 days and they were safe to take while nursing. You don't have to stop nursing they actually reccomend you keep nursing to help unclog the ducts. I was so worried too when it happened to me. So chin up and you'll be fine. Just get as much rest as you can.

Sounds like mastitis, but may only be a severely plugged milk duct. Don't take antibiotics just yet. I've had mastitis several times, and plugged ducts more often than I can count. Plugged ducts can be almost as painful as mastitis, and DON'T require antibiotics! Get in the shower and run warm water over your breasts. Yes, it's going to hurt because they are so swollen and tender, but you can sit in there and work the nipple until the plug comes out. And it's a lot easier to find the little white head plug when your nipples are all soft in the shower. Once you work it out, the milk will literally come spraying out for a few minutes, best to be in shower for that! (Or hanging over the sink.)
As I mentioned above, don't take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary, because usually the infection clears on it's own, and the infection is NOT dangerous to baby, it's not in your milk, it's in your breast tissue if it's an infection. The one time I took antibiotics for mastitis, I ended up much worse than had I not taken them, because they destroyed my natural flora in my digestive system, I got food poisoning at my husband's company Christmas party, got so dehydrated I couldn't make enough milk, and then got a yeast infection to boot! Would much rather have taken tylenol and fought off the infection...

yep you got mestitis. Go get some antibotics and try not to sleep on that side that is infected. Breastfeeding is still fine. I remember I had this and it was horrible. Fill the bath up and submerge your side that has your infected breast. It will help a little.

it's mastitis...nursing is actually good for it...but really painful. it lasts about 1-2 days...i used to soak over a sink so the gravity helped relieve some pressure. there are herbs you can add to the water--i think it's witch hazel...but i forget (so one day you'll forget the pain too!!)