NOW I have MASTITIS! UGHHHHH venting...

[NaturalMindedMomma]

I have Mastitis. I had it once earlier on. I got it because the IV Anna had did not allow me to side lie nurse her on my right breast in the hospital and now I am miserable.

I love nursing and all but this is making me angry. I mean COME ON, as it is I am the only person who can console her with my breasts and now this. I am uncomfortable and I will have a hard time getting to my HCP office to get any meds and it is FRIDAY and Monday is a holiday. I am so frustrated. I am hoping I can clear it up by pumping and nursing a lot like I did last time.

Plus she has a horrible diaper rash and nothing is helping the spot that has missing skin. I am ready to cry, seriously.

[wombatclay]

I'm so sorry!

There's a great article about preventing/treating mastitis in Mothering Magazine: "Triumph Over Mastitis." March/April 2007;141

And some nice info here and here (kellymom has a second page with alternative treatments here).

For the rash and sore... my dd2 has elimination problems as well as sensory issues so we've had a lot of practice with managing sore bottoms! Breastmilk on the bum with each diaper change and 5-10 minutes of "bare bottom in a sunbeam" every couple of hours can help. A little A+D ointment can also help, but if it's too sore, there are sprays you can buy at a medical supply pharmacy that are intended for bed sores. Ask, since I don't know if they're ok for newborns, but our fam practice dr ok'd them for dd2 when she was about a year. They soothe and protect raw/sore skin and don't hurt to apply since they're a spray. And for longer term use, Earth Mama Angel Baby makes a calendula "diaper rash soap"... it smells good and is very gentle and since it's "applied" during a bath it may be more comfy for your little one.

Hope you heal quickly and that you both are over the "hump" in terms of staying healthy!

[Koalamom]

Oh mama, I hope you feel better soon.

I am not sure what you are doing for it, but lavendar oil on the sore areas are great, and drinking raw apple cider vinegar helps too. There is some great homeopathy that works well, I think the ones are either phytolocca, bryonia, or belladonna. I am not 100% on these, they were just in the back of my mind, but I can ask my mother who is a homeopath if you are interested. If not that is cool too.

[NaturalMindedMomma]

Originally Posted by bluebirdmama1

Oh mama, I hope you feel better soon.

I am not sure what you are doing for it, but lavendar oil on the sore areas are great, and drinking raw apple cider vinegar helps too. There is some great homeopathy that works well, I think the ones are either phytolocca, bryonia, or belladonna. I am not 100% on these, they were just in the back of my mind, but I can ask my mother who is a homeopath if you are interested. If not that is cool too.

I am interested in the homeopathic remedies over mainstream. Plus the mainstream ones seem to not be working...

I am still sore in the right breast but I feel a little better today. I am going to nurse Anna in a minute and then pump, then warm shower, then pump again...

[VegMomma]

DDC crashing to suggest swallowing some raw, pill-sized pieces of garlic, drinking rosemary tea, and taking extra vit. C. This is advice straight from my naturopath, and it has helped me avoid antibiotics quite a few times. And, obviously, rest, when/ if you can. And hot compresses and all that jazz.

s Mastitis sucks. I really really hope you feel better soon.

[momoftworedheads]

Hope you feel better soon! I agree - garlic, rest, pump whne needed, warm compresses, breast massage and how about getting into bed and just nursing as much as possible?

Good luck mama!

[Care Lee]

I have mastitis right now- I tried the natural remedies but it got worse. Last night my fever was 104.4. Scary. Even though it was Saturday I called the mw on call and she just phoned in a prescription. I haven't taken antibiotics since I was 12, but I have never had a fever that high. Ouch.

[NaturalMindedMomma]

So I tried some natural stuff, but my breast is hurting more and getting harder and I am feeling jumky. I have a fever and I had a RX for ABX from when I thought I had a kidney infection, So I am now taking the Ampicillin. Hopefully it will work. If I am not feeling better by Tues, I will call the Midwives office and ask them for help.

[Coconut Chronicles]

[momoftworedheads]

Hope u are feeling better! how did u make out with the mw's???

Take care!!

[MrsAngelic]

Get some dried marshmallow root from an herb shop. Boil it and make hot poultices to cover your breast, keep on until it cools down and then put another one. Works for me every time and much faster (major improvement in a couple of hours and gone the same day) than antibiotics (these take 3 or 4 days to kick in when I've tried them). Also feed a lot from the sore breast laying down, but with the sore one on top (not the bottom as you would usually if side lying. Seriously, this works! And get lots of rest! Hope you feel better soon.