LCs, LLL leaders, etc, please help!

[josybear]

hi
ds is 9 mos old and i've had mastitis badly 5 times now, every time in the same spot. each time i've had a huge fever and incredible pain. i've eaten garlic, nursed on that side, slept and taken baths until it went away (usually 3- 4 days) but it keeps happening again.
any idea what's causing this? i'm really sick of it!

[lactivist]

Could it be a positional thing like your bra pressing in the same spot? You might want to consider taking lecithin to help keep any plugs from happening and turning into mastitis. I would also make sure that the offending breast gets emptied completely at least once day. If your baby doesn't nurse well on that side it could account for recurrent mastitis. Were you ever injured in that spot on your breast? I am just tossing out some different things that come to mind when I hear of the same spot recurring over and over. I hope you find some relief. Homepathic Belladonna can be useful for mastitis but check with a homeopath as I am not one.
Wendi

[zjande]

Something that I discovered after suffering through clogged ducts & 2 horrible bouts of mastitis, was the way I was holding my shirt when I nursed, especially at night. You may not even do this but I'll throw it out there:

I was sleeping in long t'shirts & a nursing bra at night & breastfeeding on my side. I was lying on the bunched up part of my shirt & the side of my nursing bra for hours (& this pushed on the side of my boob). I was also wearing tightish shirts during the day sometimes so that when I lifted my shirt to nurse, I'd have this tight bunch of shirt in my armpit area. And also, I was using breast pads & Lansinoh. All in one day, during my last bout of mastitis, I stopped doing all these things. Now I only sleep in thin tank tops & don't use the pads or Lansinoh. My mastitis healed & hasn't come back yet (although I did just recently get another clogged duct when my ds had a cold & wasn't nursing as much).

Are you wearing baggy-ish shirts? Have you tried finding a totally different style nursing bra, or going without one altogether?

I hope you can get to bottom of this, mastitis sucks sooooo bad!

[tash11]

I dont know if this is an option for you but could you sleep topless? if you are worried about leaking you could put a towl or large pf under you (thats what I do, although I dont leak much anymore). and try not to sleep on your cheast.

try massaging that spot once a day or so. especilly during/right before bfing or pumping.

I also second trying a diffrent bra for when you do have to wear one.

[~Megan~]

I had mastitis like that and I was told it was never actually going away completely but just going into remission and then as soon as I got weak again it would return.

Perhaps you should continue doing the things you do to get rid of it for longer so you can completely get rid of it.

[doula mary]

Yes,
Check your bra, your purse strap or even your seat belt.

You may not be getting rid of the infection completely.

Do castor oil packs, Astragulus, Echinacea, and Vit C

Drink LOTS of fluids and rest

Mary

[MilkbarMom]

I had mastitis return in the same spot too

It was from leaning over the bathtub to bathe my older daughter, and I was crushing my breast each time. As soon as I realized that, and made a point not to lean "against" them on the tub, it never happened again.

[mommy_milky]

I didn't get mastitis as frequently as you, but I did get tons of plugged ducts! To add to the things all the other mamas have said; I also massaged frequently. Under the hot water in the shower I'd work on my plugged duct area every day. I really feel your pain; mastitis is terrible!

[Fiercemama]

Be careful with this. Unresolved mastitis can lead to breast abscess. That's what happened to me. Mastistis makes you feel like you've been hit by a truck.... but an abscess is worse. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...t-abscess.html

All the stuff in the PP about supporting your immune system are definately helpful. Rest for sure!!!!

Do some detective work, and figure out if there is a cause to why you keep getting plugged in this one place. I know a very good local LC who "specializes" in manually getting rid of persistent plugged ducts, perhaps you can find someone with a similar skill in your area. I believe that some may also use ultrasounds to help clear them - I think Dr. Jack Newman talks about this in his book, perhaps on his website.

You might want to investigate having the lump aspirated. It may be filled with pus (abscess) or milk (milk cyst). At least then you'd know what you're dealing with.

[Little Bear's Mama]

www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/repeatmastitis.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...-mastitis.html

HTH!

[Panserbjorne]

Homeopathic phytolacca when you feel it starting (before full blown mastitis) castor oil packs and DEFINITLEY lecithin-in the granulated form, not the pills.

[Maggi315]

sounds like everyone has given you great ideas. I love castor oil packs, using one today. I too have chronic mastitis and have had problems with that breast since the last time I nursed. I finally have broken down and started antibiotics because I think that I am never getting rid of it and it is running me down. The baby and I are taking meds for yeast and I do feel much better.

Did someone suggest kellymom.com? I think that's it, there's lots of information on there.

One of my theories (this is only my theory from working with lots of moms) is that when you have a bad case or two of mastitis, scarrinng can occur. This can back up the milk, cause tenderness and make that area more prone to infections in the future.

I take lots of lecithin and vitamin C plus lots of B vitamins. I have tried various homeopathy with limited success.

Somewhere I read that ultrasound therapy can help. So can lympathic drainage massage. Or maybe accupuncture. I am going to try that next.

Good luck, I know how frustrating it is. And I am a LC and LLL and midwife!!! What's up with that? Obviously my body isn't impressed with my wonderful vast knowledge or many initials after my name

[wenat]

Originally Posted by Maggi315

One of my theories (this is only my theory from working with lots of moms) is that when you have a bad case or two of mastitis, scarrinng can occur. This can back up the milk, cause tenderness and make that area more prone to infections in the future.

I take lots of lecithin and vitamin C plus lots of B vitamins. I have tried various homeopathy with limited success.

I'll second that. I had 4-5 episodes of near-mastitis (got fever, took to bed and drank TONS of water) while BF'ing my first son. It seems like it never really healed, and kept on coming back. I did find that the lecithin helped.

With DS2, I was more careful about not pumping too much in the beginning (I had massive oversupply with DS1), and haven't had any clogged ducts yet, and it's been almost a year. I guess the breast had time to heal while I was pregnant with DS2.

[njeb]

In my years as a LLL leader, one of the biggest reasons I saw for recurring mastitis was wearing a too-small or too-tight nursing bra. Be sure that you are properly fitted before wearing them.
How are you doing? Hope you are feeling better.

[SabbathD]

I had 4 cases of mastitis before my first baby was even born. Clogged milk ducts all the time, and now that the baby is here I have recurrent mastitis.

One of the women who worked at the birthing center where I gave birth is also a LC, and she just recently went to a conference where BF was discussed, and after some of the advice that she gave me, my cases of mastitis have decreased quite a bit.

Two things that are new lines of thought as far as treating a current inflammation of masitis are these: use only cold compresses, and drain the breast completely after every feeding, even if that means pumping. I guess it has been shown that hot compresses can actually extend the infections. And as far as draining the side with the infection, your body will naturally suck some of your breast milk back up inside when you stop feeding if you don't drain your breast. Since the body is chock full of germs, it can actually further the infection. So, when I have mastitis, and I only have ever had it one side ever, I drain that side with a breast pump if my DC doesn't at every feeding. Between that, rest, liquids, tylenol, cold compresses, and lecithin, I can usually get through a mastitis infection pretty quickly. Different positions help, massaging the mass drains mine really quickly, point the babies chin (if you can) into the mass so the baby is helping to massage it with their chin.

However, since you have had it so many times, I agree with PP to look into some of your daily patterns, and maybe try switching off of underwire bras completely. I can get away with wearing an underwire for a day or two, but after that I usually start to see the beginnings of an infection.

Edited to add - would highly recommend probiotics while going through mastitis as well as about 1500 mg of vitamin c a day. Will help with healing process. ESPECIALLY probiotics if you are prescribed a antibiotic. And if you do get an antibiotic, finish it. So essential.

[Panserbjorne]

Warm compresses are only probelmatic because they increase blood flow and may exacerbate inflammation. Castor oil is anti-inflammatory which would allow you all the benefits of heat while protecting against further inflammation.

[GooeyRN]

I get mastitis frequently, and plugged ducts all the time. If you wear a sling or use a carrier check to make sure it well fitted. I just got over a plugged duct from wearing a snuggli carrier on my back. It has thin straps that I had pulled too tight across the upper part of my chest. Try to lighten the load in your purse and/or diaper bag. Good luck. I know it isn't any fun having mastitis. :