is this mastitis?

[earthmama369]

My left breast has been non-specifically sore all day, mostly along the outside and underside. Looking down at it I didn't notice anything unusual, but when I lifted it and looked at the underside in a mirror, there's a series of red blotches on the underside right where it's most sore. It isn't a solid "red streak," but the blotches are basically in a straight line.

???

[Mama Dragon]

Sounds like it. Get some hot packs on it and hot shower before it gets worse. I hope it doesn't!!

[earthmama369]

Crap. I had a feeling. Thank you!

[guestmama9924]

yes, sounds like mastitis. Get on it before it becomes an infection. ice/cool packs, ibuprofen, cabbage leaves and lot and lots of milk removal (baby or pump or both!) and yes, go to bed.

[sarahmck]

I would say that it sounds like plugged ducts, which, if left untreated, would probably lead to mastitis. I have had tons of plugged ducts, but I have always been able to resolve them within about 48 hours, and therefore have never gotten mastitis.

For me, the most effective thing is to use an extremely (painfully) hot washcloth on the lumps for about 5 minutes and then get DD to nurse tons. Sometimes it's hard to get her to do it long enough, so I always make sure to make use of times when she's sleepy so that she'll hang around long enough to really suck out the bad stuff. I use boiling water on the washcloth, and then hold it with a rubber glove. It cools down quickly, so I just keep trying to touch it to my boob until I am able to bear it. Hot water from the tap isn't hot enough.

Drink tons of water and rest. I find that I get plugged ducts most frequently when our regular routine has been disrupted and my DD nurses less as a result. It often happens when we have houseguests and are out of the house all day showing them around. So I have to be extra vigilant in those situations to make sure that I make time to nurse, even if DD isn't asking.

Also, since your blockages are on the bottom of your breast, I would make sure to lie down a decent bit to remove the force of gravity on the breast.

[guestmama9924]

mastitis means inflamation. Mastits does not always mean infection. red streaks with inflamation is by definition, mastitis. Mastitis can become an infection though.

[liseux]

I just had mastitis this week and solved it with natural remedies. I highly recommend : http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...ml#antibiotics

You don`t need antibiotics, but if its both breasts and you have a high fever you might. Since its only in one breast, you have the kind that just sounds like a bad plugged duct, so you can fight it at home. I was feeling sick like the flu with one super sore breast and got it to go away, I swallowed raw garlic like pills, did the moist heat, hot showers directed at sore boobie, and plenty of laying down & nursing. Mastitis and plugs are our body`s way of saying slow down. I hope you feel better!

[earthmama369]

Thank you, thank you, everyone.

Woke up this morning feeling like I got run over by a train, breast still splotchy, red, and sore. Not surprising given the list of things that can cause mastitis that I found on kellymom -- I think I've hit most of them in the past few days! Wore a too small bra for a day between laundry loads, both kiddos are teething and that's thrown both latches and nursing patterns off kilter, have chronic oversupply, been super busy and not eating as well or staying hydrated as much as normal . . . My bad.

Staying in bed this morning, drinking lots of water, doing hot compresses and cold packs, nursing as much as the kiddos will tolerate (dd thinks she's hit the jackpot!). Hot shower and a garlicky lunch coming up as soon as MIL gets here. DH took one look at me this morning and gave her a call.

Thank you again for the advice; it's reeeeally appreciated.

[GooeyRN]

I hope you feel better soon. Mastitis SUCKS!!! Take care of yourself. :

[lenore80]

I've found that the best hot compress is a disposable diaper. It stays warm for a very long time, just pour some warm water on it.

Mastitis is terrible.

[earthmama369]

update

The redness and swelling on my breast has gone down after a LOT of tandem nursing and hot compresses, thanks be.

Of course, the "flu" feeling that came with it hasn't left yet -- it's morphed into a sinus head cold. Lovely.

But I guess if I had to choose between the two, I'll take the cold!

Thanks again, everyone, for your information and support. This was a craptacular weekend all the way around and you all really helped me get on top of the mastitis, which in turn made it easier to deal with everything else (like finding out my 14-year-old SIL is 4 months pregnant).