Chronic mastitis

Hi all,

Does anyone have any experience of chronic mastitis? Am particularly wondering what your symptoms were.

Thanks

ETA I mean chronic mastitis in the context of breastfeeding. Maybe the more correct term is recurring mastitis?

Surprised, some mums do find that they keep getting mastitis. What are you experiencing?

Sometimes there are contributing factors such as oversupply, being run down (as all new mums are!), tight bra, perhaps the use of a sling that puts pressure on one part of a breast, the way you lie, frequent changing of baby's feeding pattern, maybe some underlying infection or a white spot. The management and tips for preventing more re-occurences probably depends on whether any of these are factors for you. Have you tried the ABA helpline at all?

Yep. More times than I care to remember, with little obvious cause. I had it more with DD1 than I have so far with DD2, only twice in four months so far and only once badly.

I have learnt to recognize the symptoms quickly and get it under control. I take an anti- inflammatory tablet straight away and I also have two homeopathic remedies that my m/w (also a naturopath) recommended.

With DD1 it settled down after 12 mths and I only had one more occurrence. I'm hoping this time it stops earlier!

One very bad case of recurring mastitis I know about was as a result of a posterior tongue tie in the baby. The paediatrician wouldn't snip it because she was feeding adequately, and the mum could use AF if she was that bothered about the pain, so it took almost a year before it got snipped and as soon as it was the mastitis left, never to return. Have you had you little one's tongue checked?

Hi,

Most cases of chronic mastitis can be managed with good information and learning the early signs and symptoms, and I find that when mothers learn to manage it it isn't chronic mastitis any more. Many women worry that the only way they will be able to put an end to it is to wean - this is never the case in my experience. Tell me a bit more about what is happening, how old your baby is etc

Thanks so much ladies. I really appreciate your help.

Ok so a bit more info: Could only express for DS1 due to extreme pain. Possibly could have breastfed him if I'd had the right support at the right time, but the wonderful people I came across were a bit too late to help. So expressed for 11 months. Did try to bf a few times (usually for a few days) but always ended up with the extreme pain and mastitis (4 times, including a couple of nights in hospital).

Early days with DS2 (now about 3.5 months) were also excruciating, but was able to persevere with the help of my home visiting midwives. But the pain has never really gone away. When he attaches it's awful, and usually by the end of a fed it's ok (DS1 was never ok even by the end of feed). Have now had mastitis 4 times. A couple of times I half expected it as I'd had blocked ducts, but the most recent one (a week ago) I woke up with it completely out of the blue. It's always on the same side (although all the probs with DS1 were the other side!), but attachment hurts on both sides. The weird thing this time was the redness had the nipple as its epicentre; it was almost as if the infection was introduced through the nipple. I also randomly had blisters in my throat and sores on my tongue so I wondered if that was related at all. Maybe I'm just really run down?

I have had some bleeding from the ducts about a month ago after mastitis no. 3 as well (GP not worried but I have ultrasound booked just to be certain). The good thing is that I haven't needed antibiotics at all this time - I've felt horrible for a day but got better. Guess I'm good at knowing when I can feed through it, and when it needs the abx.

I'm just a bit sick of all the pain and mastitis. :(

Sounds like you've had a bit going on - and yes probably you are run down! I wonder if you have had hand foot and mouth disease? Would explain the blisters. Unpleasant - but happens in spite of breastfeeding - not because of it!
I wonder how often your little one is feeding in 24 hours?
who have you seen about this? Lactation Consultant?
The basic drill with mastitis is - whenever you feel uncomfortably full - empty the breast (pick up the baby and feed or express until your breasts are soft and comfortable) then use an icepack on your breast after a feed. Take some nurofen or panadol.
Sounds like an all purpose nipple creme like kennacomb might help
Get back to us with more into

Hi Barb,

Thanks for your reply. Yes I think you are right about the hfm disease. I half thought it might be thrush, and that I possibly had nipple thrush, but treatment for oral thrush did nothing so I think HFM is more likely. Weird though because neither DS had it - would have thought I would catch it off them.

He's feeding about 6 times in 24 hours. Feeds are only about 5min per side. I do both sides each time (used to only do 1 but he started needing 2).

Have talked to my dr, aba, but no-one since it has started getting significantly worse. I enquired about an LC today, but was pretty exxy - visit would cost $250 for 2 hours, which is min time. A bit frustrating when a feed only lasts 10 min! Might have to look at LC at the local family health clinic (the gov one).

Do I need a prescription for kennacomb? I was using hydrogel discs today and I think they are starting to help.

Could it be that over time I am getting more and more little bits of invisible damage, to the point where I start getting secondary vasospasm? Then, when I use the breast discs, the damage starts to clear up and things get better again?

Thanks xo

yes you need a script for a kenacombe. i had mastitis 5 times with ds2 and kenacombe put an end to it once and for all for me. never had it again.

How's it all going suprised?

I got it 3 times in 7 weeks I think due to improper latch I gave up BF as I was in so much pain. My 2nd baby I had no problems

Thanks ladies.

Ginger - current theory is that it could be thrush, even though DS has no signs of it. Using treatment gel after feeds and going to dr on Monday!

For something so natural breastfeeding sure is tough!

Hi,

Breastfeeding is easy - but so little is known about it, when mums have problems there are so few who know how to help. How is your baby doing? What have weightgains been like? 6 feeds per day is really on the low end of the scale - most babies feed at least 8-12 or more times per day. On 6 feeds per day your breasts probably get pretty full, and that pre-disposes you to mastitis. If you feed more often your breasts never get so full, and therefore there is less chance of mastitis. How would you feel about feeding a bit more often? Did you get the kennacombe? Generally, the price you have quoted is the upper end of the price range - you cold probably get good help for less. But either way, a consult with an experienced LC is great value. The price you have quoted is about 10 weeks supply of formula if things got so bad you had to stop breastfeeding. problems like this can be solved, allowing you to go on to feed pain free. Hard to see that when you are in the midst of it though - you are really having a tough time

Thanks Barb,

Weight gains have been excellent. Will try to squeeze in some more feeds - good idea. The thrush gel has really helped so I'm guessing that's what the problem was.

Thanks so much for your calming and wise presence here on these boards. You have really helped me through some tough breast feeding times when I was really tempted to give up. Xo

That sounds really promising surprised. I hope it continues to improve.