Matitis THREE times in ten weeks??

[LuckyMommaToo]

Ugh. I'm 99% sure that I'm getting mastitis AGAIN. The previous two times I had high fevers (above 102.5), chills, shaking, and flu-like muscle aching. Both times I took a round of Keflex.

So what can I do to prevent? I feed DD on demand. I try to relax, but DS is almost three and doesn't nap, so some days that's easier said than done. And advice?
thanks,
Erin

[melbb]

I don't really have much advice, but wanted to send I had mastitis 3 times within a month once, but I had mild cases that went away without antibiotics (except the first one, but only because I freaked out). Do you get plugged ducts that lead to the mastitis? If so, try taking lecithin. I get mastitis because I get plugged ducts often and lecithin helps prevent them/heal them. If you get engorged at all, try warm compresses before nursing so that if you have any plugs the milk will flow better. The best advice to prevent mastitis is to empty your breasts regularly. I have problems because I EP. Maybe some nursing Moms can give you some better advice.

[Trishy]

Are your shirts or bras very tight? That can cause plugged ducts that lead to mastitis.

You should also try the homeopathic remedy phytolacca in a 30c. You can take 3 pellets 3-4 times a day.

This page should help too:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...-mastitis.html

[USAmma]

I had chronic masitis-- almost once per week with dd2 until I gave up EPing at 7 weeks. It was awful! I had it bad the first time around, too. If it's plugged ducts that are starting it, you can take lecithin and flax seed oil every day to prevent plugs. Works great for styes in the eye too. Mine were from immune weakness and too much milk so the oils didn't help that much, but they have helped other mamas a lot.

Also, make sure you are taking care of yourself. Take Vitamin C, try to get some decent sleep if you can, just destress.

[LoveChild421]

Has it been in the same breast each time? If so you might have a plugged duct that just isn't getting unclogged. Here are some ways to help get the plug out http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html

Do you always nurse in one position? Sometimes changing baby's position around can help drain the different areas of the breast better. I agree with pp about soy lecithin- I have a friend who swears by it for preventing mastitis.

[BelgianSheepDog]

Make sure you're doing basic infection-avoiding things like getting tons of water and taking your vitamin C/eating c-rich foods. If you're not getting enough sleep can you try feeding the baby very well and then handing her off to your husband for a couple hours while you get some uninterrupted rest? Getting three unbroken hours of sleep cured my mastitis both times I had it.

Also, how are your iron levels? I found out recently that being depleted of iron and b vitamins (such as from blood loss after birth) can weaken your immune system--I started getting mastitis all the time when I ran out of my iron supplement and didn't bother refilling it. Oops.

[spughy]

I had mastitis twice in a month and started drinking diluted unsweetened cranberry juice constantly and pumping every day to clean out the affected boob at least once every 24 hours. (Mine was caused by low supply on one side; DD refused to clean it out well because the flow was too slow.) But if your DC is 3 you probably don't want to pump because it'll increase your supply.

[LuckyMommaToo]

Thanks so much -- I think I fought it off (mostly b/c I let the toddler watch too much TV, but oh well). I will get some lecithin to ward off future bouts, though. I try to make sure she drains a side completely before we switch, but sometimes she nurses for a couple minutes, then decides she's done -- I wonder if that's why I'm having recurring problems. (It's been in alternating sides.) When DS was this age, he'd nurse always and forever, but she just won't.

Thanks for the support and advice.
-Erin

[mother nurture]

I needed this thread this morning!! I think I am about to get my third infection in about a month and a half. My culprit is sleeping on my stomach: Last time I couldn't ward it off w/ phytolacca and had to get antibiotics Hopefully this time the phytolacca will work. I will def. have to get some lecithin, flax seed oil, and try sleeping on my back. Thanks, mamas.

[treemom2]

I had a lot of trouble nursing with DS in the beginning. First I have an overactive letdown so DS would cough and choke while nursing. Then it seemed like I was always having clogged ducts and mastitis. I asked my midwife about it and she said I wasn't drinking enough water. She also said I really needed to massage my breasts while nursing to make sure I wasn't getting clogged ducts. Both of these things really helped me. Good luck and do make sure to check out Kellymom.com it is an awesome website!!