I think i have Mastitis.. Big lump under arm, red rash on breast...???

[~Stoked~]

I have woken up with a very sore left breast. It feels as though it is bruised and even hurts when i walk! I have a large lump (about the size of a golf ball) under my left arm and a rash over the top of my breast. It doesn't hurt to feed but definately hurts to touch.
I am wondering if it has anything to do with my baby biting me (with two top teeth and two bottom.. OUCH!) however, he did not break the skin. That happened the day before yesterday.
I always seem to have problems with the left breast. I quite often get a cluster of blocked milk ducts along the side of it.

What should i do? Do i need antibiotics or will it resolve on it's own?

Thanks in advance
x

I forgot to say, letdown HURTS!

[Janie]

Ooooh bugger! It's really important to clear that blockage. To do this you need to feed feed feed. Positioning is important, try to have baby's chin pointing to the blockage, ie. if the lump is on the outside of your breast, try the footy hold. Gently massage the lump while baby is feeding, and apply a cold pack to the area after bub has finished. Some mums find that applying heat before a feed is helpful, but the cold afterwards is most important. Until the blockage has cleared, perhaps try getting bub to feed from the affected side first each feed.

At the moment it sounds like a blocked duct, not yet progressed to mastitis, but it could develop very quickly, so keep an eye out. If you start to feel unwell it would be a good idea to consult with a Dr ASAP. Good luck.

[~Stoked~]

Thanks Janie.. The problem is that i already feel unwell! I've had the flu all week and feel disgusting so you can imagine how happy i was to wake up with this new problem to deal with as well! How do you tell the difference between a blocked milk duct and mastitis? Google pretty much says symptoms are the same!

[sloane]

i might be wrong but i thought flu-like symptoms were an indicator of mastitis? could be coincidence but might be good to get to the dr?

[Olive]

i agree if you have flu symptoms, its probably mastitis, id be getting to the Dr hun, do you have a temp?

[~Stoked~]

Thanks so much ladies

Went along to the DR today and apparently I have mastitis AND bronchitis! She prescribed antibiotics but I wasn't too keen on taking them due to a situation when DS was 3 months old (long story!!) but then I started shivering and feeling really awful so I have started taking them, along with lots of vitamin c and probiotics.
Hopefully I'll start feeling better tomorrow!
Thanks once again x

[sloane]

oh boy - that doubly sucks!! but great news you managed to get to the dr & have some medication now. hope you start feeling better soon

[~Stoked~]

Thanks Sloane! x

[Janie]

Oh you poor thing! I hope the ABs kick in soon for you, for both the bronchitis and the mastitis.

For future reference, blocked ducts can remain just that - you will notice a hard area, a lump, and the area may be red and sore. This needs to be cleared, but you will feel otherwise well. But sometimes they can develop into mastitis, which is a bacterial infection (I think?). Most of the time (though not always) mastitis will require AB treatment. BUT it's really important not to leave it at that - very important to keep feeding from the affected side, and to work on clearing any blockages. And rest is very important while recovering from mastitis, and to help prevent a recurrence.

I hope you're feeling better soon, it is a truly awful feeling, like you've been hit by a truck! Fortunately many mothers recover from mastitis as quickly as it came on