help mastitis anybody know how to treat it?

[moon mountain mama]

My sister called me crying and says she has mastitis and she didn't know. She thought that she was just engorged but now she has a fever and a lump and the area around it is red and warm. Anybody know what to do? Besides the obvious treatment of antibiotics and seeing a doctor

[velcromom]

here is a very comprehensive page from kellymom that may help:

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

there's also a page on natural remedies for mastitis if you search for it there.

[jeanine123]

The link to kellymom is great. Also, nurse as much as possible from the infected side. Nursing by baby is much better than pumping. And warm compresses, hot showers, hot baths (scootch down and soak the sore breast if possible) or soak in a hot tub if possible.

[Mama Coltrane]

Someone told me about two homeopathic meds to use:
Phytolacca
Belladonna
I had mastitis twice with DS1 and ended up on antibiotics.
With Ds2 I started getting it again. I remembered the feeling, so I automatically knew it was mastititis. With some hesitation and doubt I tried the homeopathic meds. They totally worked. I have used that concoction twice already and the symptoms of mastititis went away the day I started the pills. It was incredible.

[jessicafairy]

Nurse, nurse, nurse. Express if needed. Anything to keep the milk flowin'!
Ditto on the warm compresses and showers. She might find that it actually works better to lean over into a sink full of warm water though. The she also has gravity at work for her.

If she doesn't feel better soon (a day or so) she should she her doc.

[Trishy]

Phytolacca 30c. Every nursing mother should have this on hand, it works miracles for plugged ducts and mastitis.

[lauradoc]

I agree with the pp's, just wanted to add: haste! Do not wait until am, or until you wake up again, or until you get off work to start these things, start now! I learned this the hard way!

[snowbunny]

My ND gave me Phytolacca when I had mastitis, and it works wonders. I was completely better within 48hrs.

That, breast massage, frequent nursing and warm compresses is what helped me.

[LoveChild421]

I've had mastitis twice and the first time I just saw a Dr. and did antibiotics because I had no idea what to do. The second time I treated it at home with some of the things recommended on Kellymom.com.

This is what helped me the most:

Basin soak. Fill sink or bowl with hot water and submerge breast in water while massaging the plugged area toward the nipple. Some report better results when epsom salts are added to the water -- add a handful of epsom salts per 2 quarts (2 liters) of water. Rinse with fresh water before nursing, as baby may object to the taste.

when I did that for about 2 or 3 minutes all of a sudden milk started spraying out of the plugged duct violently. I also ate some raw garlic (the only way I can get it down is to mince it finely and mix it with a glass of cranberry juice) and extra vitamin C to make sure any infection got taken care of.

[alexsam]

I had recurrent mastitis (I've had about 8 + cases so far- a long story, but I think we're ok now!). My situation is not the norm, but I've had a lot of experience! My recommendations are:

- Nurse on that side as much as possible
- Hot shower/warm soak and gentle massage
- Lots of rest
- Raw garlic, vit. C

If it doesn't go a away or comes back, go to the doctor ASAP. Not all mastitis needs to be treated immediately (or at all) with antibiotics, but it IS important that if it doesn't show improvement, is recurrent, or totally wipes you out (mastitis can be really bad sometimes with very high fevers, etc.) that you see a doctor immediately. Untreated mastitis, at it's very worst, can lead to the emergency room or even surgery. I'm not trying to scare anyone or discourage people from trying less medicinal or homeopathic options first, I just want to inform and encourage people not to underestimate mastitis.

Also, be aware that if you DO see a doctor and he/she perscribes antibiotics, that there are lots that are ok for nursing mothers. And if the pain is unbearable, there are also ok painkillers...

[mom2tig99Nroo03]

one of the bf conferences i attended had jan barger as a speaker, the remedy she told us about was:

30C (dosage of each)

3 pellets of the phytolacca
3 hours later, 3 pellets of the hepar sulfur
3 hours later, 3 pellets of the phytolacca
3 hours later, 3 pellets of the hepar sulfur

That's it. About 9 hours of therapy.