Mastitis while tandem BF newborn and toddler

[HSaunders]

Hi all,

I have a two week old and a 2.5 year old DD who is still nursing as well. I have been engorged off and on since my milk came in and am developing an infection. My DD is able to relieve the pressure during the day (has actually quit eating solids in favor of bf), but I get painfully engorged every night and have been pumping then. DH gives the newborn one bottle every night so I can get 4 hours of sleep, but this is when the engorgement starts. 

Have lots of ideas for natural remedies from this thread. http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/3610/mastitis

Hubby is exhausted, I am exhausted and sick. Any ideas for how we can work our schedule to work better for everyone?  

[etsdtm99]

Nurse nurse nurse, no bottles, and i would nurse before pumping until the mastitis goes away (i just had it last week, so i know it sucks and you feel like crap)  and since you asked for suggestions - have you considered co-sleeping to get more sleep at night? its really (as illustrated by the mastitis) not the best situation to be sleeping 4 hours and giving baby a bottle at that age since your body obviously doesn't think you should do that (note the engorgement) when you have mastitis you should be doing everything you can to prevent engorgment and most sources recommend nursing at least every 2 hours until you are better... once baby is a bit older you can revisit the idea of hubby taking some night duty but most of the time its more trouble than its worth with a little baby..