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
Just wanted to say that you are not a failure, your doing a wonderful job and don't you forget that.
Im sorry i can't offer you any advice as i have never been fortunate enough to be able to breastfeed, im hoping to be third time lucky. In the meantime i want to offer you some 's and say your a wonderful Mummy to the most beautiful little girl in the world.
Awwww sweetie, you are not a failure you are doing such a wonderful job, even if it doesnt feel like it at the moment
I never had mastitis but I have had the pain of a gashed nipple, I was sure DD would suck it clean off if I fed her again from it! I ended up expressing from that side for 7 weeks, fed solely off my right side for that time but gave the EBM in a bottle, once every few days. Eventually I was able to get DD back on that side and she had no problems going back to that side. Bit different I know but I think it kinda shows that 'different' approaches can be done.
Hang in there hun, there are 'teething' problems to over come but you sound determined and thats the best thing possible to overcoming these hiccups.
I expressed some milk yesterday and bubby took it straight away from the bottle with daddy! It was amazing and having that one little break from mummys breast made all the difference and really did wonders for my confidence again.
I'm expressing in between feeds now and it is going well. And my breasts are healing nicely - along with taking the panadol and a nurofen to help with the pain of the mastitis I think that we are going to get through this in one piece!!
Sue, that's great news that things are going so much better for you Well done for getting through such a difficult time!
How long have you had the mastitis hun? Usually the anti-biotics knock it off pretty quickly, so if you are still in pain from it after a couple of days you might need different abs, or perhaps there is still a lump that hasn't been cleared. If you want some more information or reassurance, you can call the ABA helpline - 1800 mum 2 mum (1800 686 2 686) any time, 24 hours, 7 days and it's a toll-free call. You don't need to be a member.
All the best with everything hun. Keep up the great work.
Great work hun, hang in there, it will all get easier . Keep that confidence building and remember you are doing something for your little girl that no one else can. So glad just a little break has helped so much 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
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Feel like a failure..... :o(
let us know how you go.
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