I have mastitis and very sore and cracked nipples. Today I bought a breast pump and have just expressed some milk for bubby (who is a week old today).
I really hope that she takes the bottle ok but also returns to the breast - I plan on continuing breastfeeding - just want to give my breasts a break for a couple of feeds.
Has anyone else done this and how did you get on?
Thanks so much for reading.
Sue x
for mastitis feeding through is the best! i know it is soooo painful but it is the best, if you can put bubs chin to the main lump that will help!
take some panadol and lots of deep breaths while feeding.
Keep bfing from the affected breast as much as you can stand. A pump will not clear the ducts as quickly as baby will. If you can't see a LC, phone the ABA on 1800 mum 2 mum for their advice on caring for your nipples and recovering from the mastitis.
I had mastitis fairly often in the first year of my DD's life and we bf for almost four years!
You're not a failure, you're just still finding your way and figuring things out. That's what parenting is all about, so you're doing well (it just doesn't feel like it most of the time)
Have you seen an LC, or called the ABA? You definately need real-life, in-person help with getting breastfeeding right sometimes.
For mastitis the best thing is to get your baby to the breast to clear it. But if you've cracked nipples then that suggests your baby's attachment is not quite right. An LC can probably help you with that.
Also, anti-inflammatories tend to help both the ducts and the pain slightly better than paracetemol. Try putting an icepack on the affected breast after bfing too. It will help reduce the inflammation and pain in the ducts that are infected. Hopefully you'll feel better soon.
I mostly ebm fed my ds for the first 6 weeks or so because he thought that boobs were for sleeping on.
He's now a bit over 2 and still feeding.....
Please get some help with attachment though - lactation consultant, or day-stay or your maternal child health nurse or go back to the hospital or talk to the ABA and head along to a meeting...
Do you have antibiotics for hte mastitis???
Hang in there you're not a failure
I didn't have mastitis, but I had terrible cracked bleeding nipples, and a few blocked ducts.
Like Jennifer13 said I found the anti inflammatories helped with the pain, a warm shower was great, but I had to keep the water off my nipples as it hurt if the stream hit directly on them, but running over was good.
I feel for you I remember the pain it's not nice!!! I was in tears at times but and terrified when DS woke for a feed, it was a feeling of dread, but I pushed through and it's all good now. You're not a failure at all and you're not the only one
In my case the nipples and latch problem were because DS had a sore neck, 2 chiropractic treatments and it was all fixed.
Hun, you are doing a wonderful job of caring for your new little girl
The other posters have given you some wonderful advice already. The cracked nipples could mean that your DD's attachment needs a little tweaking - the ABA or a LC can certainly help with that. This article from the ABA website on Baby Led Attachment - Australian Breastfeeding Association - Baby-led attachment - might be helpful too.
If you would like to PM me with your location in Brisbane, I can give you the contact details of your local ABA group, and also the names of some good LCs that are nearest to you. Mums usually find that the earlier they get some bfing help IRL, the easier it is to get things back on track.
If you need to express for a couple of days to give your nipples a rest, then that is ok to do, although many mums find it harder work. If you want to continue breastfeeding, mums often find it best to feed the EBM (expressed breast milk) with a cup or spoon rather than introducing a bottle, which can interfere with breastfeeding in the early days.
You're not a failure, I also found establishing breastfeeding horribly difficult, I think many mums do.
Have you been to see your GP about the mastitis? It's really important to get on top of it asap and you will probably needs some AB's. Cabbage leaves (just tucked into your bra) are great for relieving the inflamation, and I also found heat packs on the blocked area before feeding then massage prior to and during the feed really helped to clear it. But it took me a good week to get rid of the lump altogether so perserverence is really important
I also had terribly cracked nipples for the first few weeks. I saw a LC a couple of times who told me our attachment was perfect, but I was still getting the cracks. To help stop the cracks from getting infected I would bathe my nipples in a salt water solution. A medicine glass works really well for this because you can put the solution in and then put the cup over your nipple and give them a really good clean iykwim.
In the end I found nipples shields to be a lifesaver. I wouldn't have been able to continue breastfeeding without them. I used them full-time up until about 8 weeks when I gradually started to wean DS from them. I started off just doing one feed a day on each side without it and then built up to two, then every second feed, until he was 12 weeks and we were finally able to say goodbye to them.
I also gave my DS expressed milk in a bottle on occassions. For us it didn't cause any problems with breast refusal, but I do know for some mums it does. Like the others have said bfing really does help to clear a blockage so try and do that if you can, but if every now and then you need a break one bottle every day or so shouldn't do too much harm.
Try not to get too down on yourself. Mastering breastfeeding is no easy feet. Just keep trying and do all you can to get rid of the mastitis and heal your nipples. Good luck x
I may be wrong but i think you need to feed hen u have this as it helps , also when you feed and you feel lumps feed your bub and massgae and push the lumps really hard towards bubs mouth , i had to do this the first week it helped get rid of them
speack to a LC straight away to get help as its still early days
I am so happy that things are settling down for you. Mastitis is soooo painful I know that from experience.
I don't know if it is advised now days but when I had cracked nipples I was told to air them and get some sun to help heal. I would lie on the spare bedroom floor for about 10 minutes and even after they were healed, every now & then I would do this. Just don't do it before a feed
Hang in there, the first couple of weeks are the hardest but once you get the hang of it then it will be the most rewarding thing you can do as a mummy, especially once you get your first milky mouthful smile .
I'm feeling down again about my right nipple, it just doesn't seem to be healing and is really sore and cracked. Yesterday I did every 3rd feed from it but last night when I tried to feed, the pain was so bad that I had to put bubby back on the L breast. I am sure the poor wee thing had almost drained that breast and she didn't get a great nights sleep after feeding.
I'm taking panadol and one nurofen just to get through it - is this ok? I am going to make an appointment to see my GP tomorrow because my R nipple looks really awful - like there is a small hole in it or something.
We even bought some formula today (but I do NOT intend on using it unless I really really really have to) for just maybe one feed per day. DH is actually looking forward to being more a part of the feeding so that will be good for him. I just feel so GUILTY for even having to do this. Surely this should not be this painful?
I did manage to use my breast pump on my R breast though and got a good amount this morning so bubby can have some of that later if things are bad for the R breast. I really don't want my R breast to stop producing milk. I spoke with an ABA counsellor yesterday which was really good but am just at my wits end.
I bought some lansinoh which has totally healed my L breast.
Just don't know what is going on with the R one. Our attachment is really good!
Sorry, just wanted to rant and get that off my chest. It's good to have everyone's support.
More I sooo remember the pain you're having, and I DP out one night to buy formula when I thought I couldn't cope, DS was coming into the 2 week growth spurt, and my nipple looked like someone had tried to cut it off from the bottom, so as to come away from the areola IYKWIM and I had a very hard time trying to feed, but the formula is still in the cupboard unopened. I think knowing it was there was comfort for me to know and took some pressure off.
I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure you can just feed from one breast until your other one heals. Your left will produce more to keep her satisfied. As for the right not producing enough, I would guess if you feed/pump as much as you can the supply will increase again when you're back in the swing of things. But again I'm no expert I'm sure someone else can correct me if I'm wrong and give you some more advice.
Keep hanging in there it is worth it if you can get things all good, but also don't wrack yourself with guilt about buying the formula! You're only human and sometimes things get too much.
Good luck at the doc.
Poor chicky. I have had cracked nipples but not too bad, and i have managed to repair them with lansinoh and putting milk. I did have my toes curling though when my little one started to suck.
I have started doing baby led attachment sometimes, and often she will attach perfectly (better than when i try to help). Not sure if it her positioning (sort of squatting on my lap sitting up) or she just knows better- but couple times over night there was no pain at all on attachment.
Hope things are going better this afternoon for you...
Just wanted to make you aware of another option in case it comes to it. I tried bfing in hospital, but the pain was excruciating (nothing seemed wrong - perhaps thrush - but prob I am just very sensitive). So I have been exclusively expressing for my almost five week old since day 4. There are some down sides - it's expensive to buy all the bottles and a really good breast pump, but it's great that he's still getting my milk. There are also some definite upsides - including that I'm getting pretty decent sleep because DH can do one of the night feeds!
If you want to talk about exclusive expressing feel free to PM me! But I hope bfing is working out for you!
Feel like a failure..... :o(
let us know how you go.
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