mastitis with nearly-done nursling

[yentroc]

DD (23 months) recently gave up her morning nurse, now we nurse a little before naps on the days that I don't work and a little bit before bed at night. I say a little bit because she really doesn't nurse long (hasn't for the past few months) and just turns over and goes to sleep.

This morning I woke up with what I suspect is mastitis... very painful right breast, red lines, achy, chills the whole bit, just no fever.

I have a call in to our ND, but just wondering if anyone had the same experience... normally I would just nurse and nurse on that side but since we seem to be slowing down nursing (both dd and I) I don't really want to nurse more and send mixed messages, since I'm happy with the slow natural weaning that has been taking place.

Anyone BTDT? I'm doing cabbage leaves, ibuprofin, echinacea, vit c, etc. I feel so crappy! I don't know what else to do!

Thanks.

[micamama]

I have BTDT!!

With my first dd I actually got full-blown mastitis after ignoring a suspicious bruised feeling in one breast for about 3-4 days. She was about 15 months old and had dropped her last night feeding. I went to the community clinic and got antibiotics, I think, I can't remember now. I just remember that the fever and everything hit me like a ton of bricks and I was fine one minute and curled up in bed with a high fever the next and the pain in my breast became unbearable. I kept nursing as much as possible until the duct came unplugged (painful, too) and everything else just got better quickly after that.

With my second dd, I recognized the bruised feeling almost immediately and I wasn't about to take antibiotics while nursing this child, especially as she was only 4 months old or so. I don't know why I got a plugged duct...I may have just forgotten and nursed the same side too many times in a row by accident. Anyway, I did everything I could to get her to unplug the duct for an entire day and nothing and the pain was getting worse. She fell asleep for her long night stretch. I tried using my breast pump, but it was not strong enough. I was so panicked that I would wake up with mastitis the next morning and I shared this with dh and he offered to help (this is a little embarrassing but I feel that it's a valuable tip nevertheless). He managed to do what dd#2 couldn't and got that duct unplugged! I was a little embarrassed, but very relieved! So, if you're desperate and dh is open to it, I strongly recommend that route!