Mastitis

[ExuberantDaffodil]

I'm pretty sure I have mastitis. I've been experiencing symptoms for the past two days. I've been trying to nurse on that side, with my baby's nose pointed to the hot, red streaks in my breast, massage the area, rest, and drink fluids, but it doesn't seem any better. Is there anything else I can try?

I don't have regular insurance, just a health savings account with not enough in it for a doctor's appointment, and I'm out of regular work for the summer, so I don't think I can afford a trip to the doctor.

Is there something I'm missing to help this clear up? How long does mastitis usually last?

[Baby_Cakes]

Get thee some poke root tincture!

Do you have a fever?

Feel better soon!

[GoJoJo]

If you develop a fever and all-over body aches, you are getting worse and not better, so if I were you I would feel confident continuing rest and fluids without meds unless you get those symptoms. But no advice from me can supplant a Dr. visit, obviously!

If it does get worse, do you think you could get your Dr. to call in a perscription for the antibiotic to treat mastitis without having to pay for the visit? I just checked and I think it's dicloxacillin. My Dr. office on-call person did that for me over a weekend...

Oh, and for moving the milk out, I started pumping my affected side in addition to lots of nursing on that side in different positions, like you said. (I really stocked my freezer during mastitis! The problem with that is I noticed a big increase in production in that breast, so I guess proceed with caution if you decide to pump.) Also, one time when the affected area was sort of on the underside of my breast I would get on all fours and pump. It really felt like that was helping move it out. Just something to consider.

[GoJoJo]

Almost forgot - warm moist heat pre-nurse! I got a special heating pad that you nuke for 90 sec. that gives off warm moist heat for 15 min or so. Got it at the drug store...sorry don't have brand. I'm nursing/ napping DD and can't get up to check. Or just hot wet wash cloths=low tech+cheap!

Hope you heal quickly! Take it easy!

[Lineymom]

If you have had fever for 24hrs and not improving I'd say you need abx. I swollow peices of garlic cloves and drink a lot of oj and can usually have it gone by then. If not, I second getting the dr/cnm to call something in. I was on abx like 3-4 times w/ my first and never had to go in.

[ExuberantDaffodil]

I got some homeopathic poke-root, and am already starting to feel a bit better. Thank goodness! Hopefully I'm on the up-swing. mastitis stinks. thanks for all the good advice!

[To-Fu]

More info:

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t022200.asp

[ewe+lamb]

You need to still clear the block itself, I would highly recommend hot compresses, now then when I say hot I really mean as hot as you can stand without burning yourself, then once slightly cooled place baby at the breast with the chin (not the nose) directed to the area which is most affected - or you can rotate around depending how large the area is, nurse a couple of times on the same breast to really try and melt down the thicker milk that is causing the block and hand express off the other breast so that you don't have the same thing happening there too, keep doing this for a couple of days at least, and rest rest rest, mastitis is a sign of over doing things, take some time off and go to bed with the baby - the house work etc will still be there in a couple of days - make life as easy as possible for yourself so that you can get back onto your feet.

You can also massage your breast, start at the upper part of the breast and firmly but gently with the palm of your hand and in circular motions work down towards the nipple, do this all over the breast so that the block and milk is kept moving so that you don't get other blocks in the breast, you can then do this with your fingertips - but only if its not so painful, take hot baths or showers and nurse as often as you possibly can.

Hope that you manage to get rid of this - mastitis is really unpleasant - good luck.