Recurring mastitis?

So roughly a week ago I finished taking antibiotics for mastitis. It was great I got relief with the first pill and the problem seemed gone completely by the end of my course of ab's.
Now, about a week later, my right breast is in excruciating pain again. When bub latches on it hurts bad then after a minute it goes away and I massage the huge lump which also goes away but then returns when my breast is full again (almost always at night as he sleeps for longer at night).

I don't know what to do. Between this stupid problem and haemorrhoids I am really struggling to see the light. So sick of the pain, I just sit around whining and feeling sorry for myself. Doctor isn't helping with answers, she doesn't really seem to know what to say/do except prescribe more ab's.

I just don't understand how I can have a blocked duct since let down is happening and he is feeding fine off the affected breast. I'm lost and getting desperate, I don't know what to do anymore and am starting to freak out a bit. I really want to continue breastfeeding but formula looks so appealing right now :(.

Oh Dot Face :hug: OUCH :( I had what sounds like a similar problem with DD and it was awful, I constantly had blocked ducts and it was agony. Every other day there was a lump, I'd finally work away at it and then within a day or 2 it was back.

I have been advised to lay bub on a bed and kind of feed over the top of them (I could never coordinate anything like that first time around!!) but it is meant to help really clear everything, gravity assisted apparently.

I know someone else will be able to give you more ideas and suggestions. Hang in there, hun. It is so hard right now but it will get easier, it just takes such a lot of time and effort to get it easy, but you will be glad you stuck at it when it does finally get easier :hug:

Oh Dot Face, that sounds terrible. It sounds like you're right on top of massaging and trying to clear that blockage which is great. Does it seem the blockage is recurring in the same spot?

Do you suppose there could be something causing that blocked duct, like a bra, the way bubs is feeding (a misplaced nose or chin can do it), a seat belt, the way you are sleeping? If you can pin point it, it might help stop it recurring, as you can try different things to stop it, like Kim suggested.

Feeding in different positions definitely helps, so give that a try.

As an alternative - you could find a women's physio who could use ultrasound on the lump to see if it can break it down. Seem times some mums need a bit of extra help getting rid of a blockage.

I second the idea of ultrasound. I had reoccuring blocked ducts caused by a bra and I needed two courses of ultrasound with 24 hours and it finally resolved the issue. A lot of physics don't know about it, but my GP told mine the intensity level required etc (or you could google it).

I think at this stage it is the best solution for you. Also make sure bub is fully draining that breast. Maybe express after a feed from that breast just to be sure.

Yep the lump is always in the same spot. Not sure what could be causing it but would make sense that there has to be something I'm doing wrong. My bra isn't tight unless I clip it up which I did at night to hold the breast pad in place otherwise I'd leak into my clothes. But I haven't been clipping it up at night since the pain came back.
I feed him the same way on my left as I do on my right so I'm not sure if it's the positioning as my left is fine. Even the few times my left has gotten engorged (it doesn't produce milk as much as my right) I haven't had a painful lump turn up in it.

I askes my gp last night for an ultrasound referral for my affected breast but she brushed it off saying it should clear itself and that an ultrasound won't do anything. Grr time to change gps. I just moved to my house recently so still getting acquainted with the new area. My doc at my old house gave me an ultrasound referral as soon as I said yes please. She's an hour away from where I live now though :(.

If I drain the affected breast wouldn't it produce more and more milk and make the problem worse?

I think lecithin is supposed to be good for helping to prevent blocked ducts? Can get it from the health food shop

:hug: Try this trick: get your significant other to support your breast by holding the side opposite to where the lump is, and then use your own hand to massage towards the nipple, either while bub is feeding or you gently hand express. That extra bit of pressure from the other side of the breast seems to clear the lumps a little easier. Another tip is to position baby so their bottom jaw is on the side where the lump is. Failing that, ultrasound sounds like it would help too.

Re lack of supportive GP: ring the Breastfeeding Helpline 1800 mum 2 mum (1800 686 268). You will get a supportive voice at the other end with helpful tips and they might be able to give you some ideas on how to access ultrasound treatment.

Finally: if the lump keeps coming back, with or without other mastitis symptoms, you need to follow it up with your GP. A persistent lump is sometimes exactly that: a breast lump, and if that's the case it needs to be checked out thoroughly.

You don't need a referral. Just call a local physio and ask if they have ultrasound, then go and tell them you need it on your boob (then watch their expression lol). They might have to look up intensity levels but mine found it easily on the internet which confirmed my GP recommendation.

My blocked duct was from when I had unclipped my bra and the fabric was still under the breast. I had to literally take my whole bra off to feed for a while until i cleared the blockage.

I second removing the bra for a feed. I found that when I wore the bra it would either still block the breast being fed from, or be too tight on the other breast at let down and cause problems.

Are you in SA? I can recommend a fantastic female physio who specializes in women's health and she treated me for mastitis and blocked ducts.

When i was looking for physio for pregnancy issues, i looked up the Aust Physio Assoc website and they have a 'find a physio' function. You can specify women's health or pre & post natal health, and you might get a physio who is more aware of ultrasound for mastitis.

If you are near Whittlesea, VIC there is a lovely women's physio there.

I'm in Vic, near Broadmeadows so whittlesea isn't too far for me. Could you give me the details hotl?

Ok I'll remove the bra when I feed, I've changed position too so that his chin points towards the lump and while it hasn't stopped the lump from showing up it has stopped the horrible after pains I'd get after the first morning feed.

I called a physio place in malvern that mentioned on their website that they do ultrasound therapy but they were quite expensive ($140 consult and $93 subsequent visits) but if I don't find anything that's cheaper or can be covered by Medicare then I guess that will have to do.

Hi Dot Face

Mrs Samantha Joy Heyfron, APAM, Whittlesea Physiotherapy 77 Church Street Whittlesea VIC 3757 03 97162250

This is the physio i see. You will have to check that she does ultrasound.

I also got 5 free physio visits by getting a referral from the GP. Her appts are also only around $65, so not as expensive as the one you have been quoted.

Hi, how are things going for you now? if you are still breastfeeding, please keep going! Not a good idea to cease breastfeeding when you are in the middle of mastitis - it will make things worse. Two bouts of mastitis is a PITA - but it’s not recurrent mastitis and it doesn’t need to be. In the earlydays your milk supply is driven by high levels of hormones (prolactin) and is not yet sensitive to supply and demand. So, it’s important that you remove milk. The mantra is - whenever your breast feels uncomfortably full - move that milk! Pick your baby up and feed her. If she is really full, express until your breast is soft and comfortable. Ice the breast to reduce swelling. Take some milk anelgaesic such as nurofen (helps reduce inflamation) or panadol. This is common in the early days and won’t last forever - you will go on to feed just fine. Let us know how you are going

Oooookay this has been a long time coming, sorry I didn't reply sooner! Got carried away with baby and moving houses etc.

So, thank the Lord, after taking the advice given on here I found a local lady who did ultrasound therapy (the one in Whittlesea I went to once and she was lovely but too far from home) and the mastitis went away! Despite the pressure I did NOT succumb to formula feeding (so proud of myself seriously, my heart goes out to all the mums who tried breastfeeding but couldn't, I know how tough it is to make the decision to start formula) and we've been going strong since (5 & 1/2 months now)!

Thanks for your concern and advice everyone :).

:leap: Well done, Dot Face, well done!!!!

That's is so good! So happy it's helped you too!