Do I have an Abcess?

[jimmer73]

I have mastitis again and am concerned that my boob is still hard. It's been 3 days now.

How do I know when an abcess is forming or formed?

I've started a course of antibiotics but my boob is still hard. DS is nursing but as usual likes to keep changing boobs several times at each session. So I am unable to be sure whether or not he is fully emptying the affected boob.

Edit

Title should read "Do I have an Abcess" Sorry

[studentmama]

I don't know if you have an abcess, but when I would get mastitis, my breast would get really hard(and I never had an abcess). Basically what was going on is that I had plugged ducts. What helped most was warm compresses, massaging them, hand expressing in the shower, warm showers. Check out http://www.kellymom.com for more info on what you can do to help with the mastitis. Good luck mama, feel better soon!

[veganone]

I ended up with an ultrasound to check for abcess - they said to watch for a defined, hard area within the breast. Not the whole breast. Sounds like you aren't draining well - I had that happen with my right breast with mastitis (no abcess - whew). Taking soy lecithin supplements (3X day) helped a lot (see Kellymom). After starting those I'd say the hardness went away within a week.

You could also try pumping after nursing - just be gentle with compressions. I overstimluated mine and got things more inflamed by trying to drain it...