Bit of a bf boohoo!

Sorry girls, bear with me, I'm going to have a bit of a whinge. suggestions and support always welcome!
I am so over bf at the moment! After all the issues we had with DS1s feeding I was so positive I had done everything I could to make this time a smooth journey. But apparently its not something I can control :( I have been battling from day one to get DS2 to attach properly but for some reason he doesn't want to take much nipple/areola into his mouth and doesnt really open his mouth much to take the boob. Then I got gastro mon/tues so my supply just about disappeared while I was dehydrated. My milk is back now I'm better thank god but my nipples are extra sore after DS2 feeding constantly for 2 days. then this morning I woke up in agony thinking my right nipple is really sore and feeling like I've got a blocked duct. I've been doing the usual massaging and expressing, heat packs etc and as soon as DS2 is settled I will have a shower but in the last 2 hrs I've started getting aches and chills and there's a big red mark on my boob where its sore. I'm assuming it is the start of mastitis? Hooray! Add a tired grumpy toddler and a grumpy unsettled baby and I'm feeling like curling up in a hole and sobbing!
Do you think it is mastitis? Do I need antibiotics? Is there anything I haven't done that can help?

Hun, you have had a rough trot. :hug: Being sick is the last thing you needed right then and now to be feeling cruddy again!

If you do have a blocked duct you can treat it and hopefully beat the mastitis before it takes hold. But it wouldn't hurt to make an appt to see a dr if you don't feel better soon.

In the meantime, take an anti-inflammatory like nurofen for both the pain and the inflammation. It helps with the blockage, not just the symptoms. Hold back on the heat packs, they will make the inflammation worse. If you need to put a warm washer before you feed to help that's fine, but not otherwise. After a bf, use an ice pack. Again, it helps with the blockage and the inflammation, which may help prevent the mastitis.

Don't wear a bra, particularly when you bf him today. Try bfing him in a few different holds/positions, to clear everything. So football hold, lean over him with your bb in his mouth, lying down, whatever you can manage.

Call the ABA and talk to someone.

Is there someone you can call to help take care of DS1 while you're not feeling good?

Hope you feel better soon. :hug:

Hi,

It sounds like you are having a rough time - but it gets better! I think it might well be worth a trip to the Doctor for antibiotics - you sound so low. It gets better from here! Call in reinforcements. You need all the help you can get. Rest (when you get back from the doctor)- get some-one to look after you!

Hugs. My 8 week old DS sounds similar (want latch properly etc.)
Do you have a breast pump? I've found pumping while in the shower (and massaging the lump out) has been keeping me from mastitis.
Definitely see your dr or health nurse.

And take care of yourself. :)

Thanks everyone. Back from the Dr, I have antibiotics to take. DH has come home early but will still need to go tomorrow and Sat morning. The Dr said I should start feeling better pretty quickly. I really hope so!

You poor thing. I've had mastitis 14 times and it's truly horrible.

Make sure you get some inner health plus to take a couple of hours away from the abx each day. Keep up the nurofen and get lots and lots of rest!

Hope you're feeling better very soon. :hug:
Has your little one been looked over for any physiological issues that may affect feeding?

I had mastitis when DD was 3 weeks old, she took a while to 'learn' good attachment (even though I'd BF DS successfully without any issues other than a couple of blocked ducts when my milk came in), but within 24 hours of getting the ABs into me I felt heaps better, the nipple took a lot longer to heal though. I swear by Multi-mums to repair nipples quickly - you can get them at National Pharmacies, a bit pricy but so worth it.

I think I swore every time I attached her for a good 3-4 days after - Hang in there, it definitely gets easier

Feeling a bit better this morning. Boob is still agony but I don't feel like I'm about to die and I've managed to get DH to stay home today so I can rest. Some serious tears last night tho cos Z isn't too keen on feeding from the mastitis side, apparently the milk tastes different?
Surprised, 14 times how the heck did you cope!??
Madb yes he's been checked and has no issues. Just stubborn :banghead:
Mummynaomi awesome I'm going to have to get some of that!

I found the antibiotics and hand expressing helped me a lot. I actually got pus out when I had worked the lump/blockages well. I kept hand expressing til almost nothing came out. I had to get DH to help massaging coz I was exhausted. That really helped. But I can totally understand why my DS didn't want to drink from the mastitis side.

I had the bad luck of finally getting over it on the right, to turn around the following week on the left. Hugs, understand how you feel. I had to get SIL over to help, I felt that crappy.

I have some multi mum compresses you can have to try out. I used them in the early days for my cracked nipples. I found them really soothing. Pm me if interested.

Glad you're feeling a bit better... Lol I coped because every time I thought "oh this will be the last time"... How wrong I was! :)

Williamsmummy, yes I've been getting tiny amounts of puss out. Blerk its just gross! Are the mutlimums like mother mates? Cos DH came home with the mother mates from the chemist lol! They are hydrogel things....
Surprised, yeah I guess you wouldn't believe it was going to happen that many times! Do you know what made you stop getting it back?

No not hydrogel, it has a bioactive gel. With aloe. I can post them to you today if you pm me your address.

How are you doing today AP?
Xo

Williamsmummy that would be awesome thank you so much! I'll pm you now.
Lou I'm doing better today, I'm tired and boobs a little tender still but other than that I'm feeling pretty normal thankfully! Now to remember to keep taking the antibiotics 4x day!