Mastitis?

[Stephenie]

I am pretty sure have Mastitis- my breast is hot and sore, feels engorged even directly after dd nurses. Who do I see for this? We just moved a few months ago so I don't have a midwife or OBGYN here and my first thought is to go to Urgent Care (no family doc either) but I am worried they won't handle it well. So if you've had Mastitis, what kind of doc did you see and was it a good experience? Trying to decide if it's worth waiting to get in somewhere other than Urgent Care. Also, any home remedies that helped you through?

Thanks!

[buckeyedoc]

When I had it with DS#2, it progressed from just a twinge of pain to awful pain and swelling, fever, chills and red streaks across my chest in just a few hours. I saw an OB/Gyn and got antibiotics that made me feel better within about 24 hours. I think a general practitioner or urgent care could handle it. I believe there are lots of antibiotics that are safe when breastfeeding.

[PatioGardener]

nak

this may help

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html

[Stephenie]

Thanks to both of you.

[PatioGardener]

nak

hope you feel better soon!

[Mama Lo]

Probably repeating what you're reading on kellymom but...when I had mastitis I didn't go to the doc. I was able to take care of it on my own, including warm bath, rest with heating pad and nurse often on that side, I also pumped to help because nursing hurt so bad, and also massaging the lump. It was really neat, the next day I watched as i pumped at work, the plug come out into my pump. Sounds gross, but it was really neat

[crystal_buffaloe]

I, too, saw my plug come out with the pump. Gross, but strangely satisfying.

And I also went from feeling hmmmm... am I a little engorged? to full-on 102 temp, shakes, aches, and a red-hot, rock-hard boob in no time. I went to the ER and told them I had mastitis (this was 2am on a Tuesday, I was the only person in the waiting room), and I got two weeks of antibiotics. I wouldn't have reacted the same way if it hadn't come on so strong and so quickly, but even with the round of antibiotics and vigorous home treatment, it took a while to feel better, so I don't know. I was probably over-extending myself, too, and that almost certainly led to not feeling better sooner.

I found submerging the boob in a bowl of hot water to be the most effective in reliving discomfort.

[Ambyrkatt]

Originally Posted by buckeyedoc

When I had it with DS#2, it progressed from just a twinge of pain to awful pain and swelling, fever, chills and red streaks across my chest in just a few hours. I saw an OB/Gyn and got antibiotics that made me feel better within about 24 hours. I think a general practitioner or urgent care could handle it. I believe there are lots of antibiotics that are safe when breastfeeding.

Yep, exactly this. I woke up with the pain and within a few hours, it had progressed to fever, chills, and a red streak. Saw my OB and got antibiotics for it. It didn't seem to affect DS at all.

Probably any urgent care center could help you out.