OUCH !! I think I have mastitis. Why cabbage leaves???

[Lukesmum]

Do cabbage leaves really work? What are they supposed to do?

Also Jake wont drink from the mastitis side. He has about 3 sucks and then stops and wont have any more. It is really lumpy and swollen looking around the nipple so I thought maybe he cant attach properly. Is this common? The pain is shocking when he does suck. I have read through previous threads on mastitis and it seems to be the best thing to get him to keep drinking from that side. Havent been to the dr yet. I feel ok apart from a sore lumpy throbbing boob so maybe it is not quite full on mastitis yet.

Just wondering about the cabbage leaves.

[Trillian]

Cold cabbage leaves can ease some of the sensation you feel from being full, but apparently they can have mixed results with milk supply - some stay the same and others notice less milk, but it is individual.

This is also quoted from Barb Glare from another thread:

Use cold packs (you can get specially shaped icepaks, or use a pack of peas wrapped in a handtowel, or you can wet a disposable nappy and freeze it or you can use cold cabbage leaves)

The idea of getting them to feed from the side with mastitis is to help clear the blockages by suckling, ideally with their chin positioned on the lumps as the sucking movement of the chin helps massage the lumps out. I would say (in my very limited knowledge of BF) that he refuses that side as there isn't as much coming out due to the blockages. Do you havea breastpump that you can use to try to express some milk off that breast? or you could jump in the shower and let the warm water do the trick too and also gently massage it in the shower. Or if you can't have a shower, use a cold compress (wet face washer) on it. I hope you can get relief before it does get worse.

Also, check out this thread on helping overcome common BF problems
ABA sugestions for the more common breastfeeding problems.

[Lukesmum]

Thanks Sherie,

Just been in the shower now. Wish I could stay in there all day. Not good for the water shortage though. I have tried pumping but nothing comes out and it really hurts. Do you think I should continue pumping even if nothing is coming out??

I think I might take the cabbage leaf out. I don't want to dry up and the leaf only stays cold for a few minutes.

[Trillian]

You do have to change the leaves once they aren't cold anymore, plus you don't want to smell like cabbage LOL.

You might have missed the last edit I did to my first post about relieving it too, check that out for some more tips.

[Lukesmum]

Thanks Sherie, That's very helpful.

* Ask your medical adviser or pharmacist about pain relief if required (Panadol is safe)

I took neurofen. Is that a no no when breastfeeding. It seems to work a lot better then panadol.

[Trillian]

Nurofen is not usually recommended during BF, but it wont hurt if you've only taken the one dose. I *think* panadeine can be taken too, which is a bit stronger than just normal panadol.

[Lukesmum]

Ok, I wont take anymore. Thanks heaps Sherie for all your help. I'm off to bed with bub for a while.

Thanks!

[Danni]

panadeine is not really recommended either due to the constipation factor for bubs.

It may be a blocked duct rather than mastitis if you dont have the flu like symptoms and the high temperature?

Keep pumping/feeding off that side and apply pressure all around your breasts and stroke them towards the nipple to help unblock and get the milk flowing downwards properly again. Make sure you do this from right underneath your arm pits too

HTH

[CatherineL]

Just thought i'd mention not to think about freezing the cabbage leaves... My friend got frostbite on her nipples!

[Danni]

omg catherine!!

[Lukesmum]

Just wanted to say thanks for all your help yesterday. I dont know that it was full on mastitis because I have managed to get it under control myself (I think). The lumps are gone this morning but I still have the stabbing pains when he drinks. I figure though that its a good sign having no lumps.

Catherine, thanks for the hint not to put the cabbage leaves in the freezer. The frost bite probably took away some of the pain because then she had another pain to think about. hehe. I ditched the cabbage leaves. They only worked for a few minutes.

Danni, I'll stay away from panadeine as well. Thanks for that.

Thanks again for your advice. I think it had worked.

[Olive]

linda are you sure it's not thrush????

[Lukesmum]

Thrush ???I didnt know you could get thrush in your boobs. Are the symtoms the same as mastitis?

[krisp]

I actually used hot compresses rather than cold when I got sore boobs from feeding. The first sign I used to get was red patches and then they would get lumpy and sore. The best thing was a hot face washer or hot shower ad yes try to get your little one to use the sore side it does help!