Red spot = mastitis?

[Qestia]

Does a red patch on your breast always mean mastitis? After a night of not much nursing and a day at work I have two red patches on my r breast near my nipple. Have been warm compress and massaging and nursing. My temp is 98.7. Help!

[maryeb]

Are you achey? Feeling feverish? You can do homeopathics in rounds-phytolacca and belladona. Nurse nurse nurse and/or pump pump pump!

[ewe+lamb]

Well you're doing a good job, but this is something that you're going to have to slow down for and maybe take time off work - at the end of the day you are sick! Stay in bed, nurse your baby, use hot compresses (really hot, as hot as you can stand without burning yourself), position baby's chin at the red areas and get the chin to work at that part of the breast when nursing - this sort of nursing gymnastics is better when you're able to lie down to nurse, just after the hot compresses, hand massage the breast starting at the arm pit working your way down to the nipple with firm but gentle circular movements with the palm of your hand, then do over again with your finger tips. The weekend is just around the corner to take the opportunity to stay in bed and let your partner look after you! Good luck hope it works itself out for you.

[Qestia]

well, it seems less red today and I don't have a fever at all, feel about as fine as I can on 5 hours of sleep (DD has a stuffy nose and did not sleep well at all). The breast is still tender though. I have a ten o'clock meeting. Might go home after that. The thing is, I'm supposed to leave for a conference I'm presenting at on sun and be away from dd for 2 nights, I can't believe this is happening now when we've gone 13 months qith no problems. why now?

[alegna]

No fever means that it's not currently mastitis. It probably is a plugged duct.

-Angela

[rivkah]

Be careful! If you get mastitis, you are not going to be able to function very well. I am sorry that this timing is so bad for you. I'd make sure to get as much rest as possible and to nurse a much as possible. Can you take a day or even an afternoon off work to stay home, lie in bed and nurse?

[Qestia]

The redness is almost entirely gone so I think I beat this thing. Came home from work to concentrae on warm compresses, pumping, and resting... unfortunately for the latter they're taking down a tree across the street and it's very noisy. Two out of three ain't bad though.

Thanks for the advice!