Mastitis
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Mastitis
March 2009
Hi,
I developed mastitis when my son was 2.5 weeks (I didn't take
antibiotics) and now at 5 weeks postpartum I have developed
another infection requiring antibiotics. This second incident
occurred on the same breast and in the same location as the first
infection.
I have heard that acupuncture has really helped some people to
both cure and prevent mastitis. Does anyone have experience using
acupuncture for this purpose? What are the pros and cons? Can
anyone recommend an acupuncturist who is experienced in treating
mastitis?
Thanks
Sonya
I have a 5-week old & also developed a breast infection at 2.5
weeks. I am a recently licensed acupuncturist, and received an
acupuncture treatment for my infection from my mentor, Robert
Zeiger. He also gave me some powdered Chinese herbal medicine
that I took over the next few days. I think the acupuncture
helped clear up the infection. It is also very important to rest
as much as possible, drink lots of fluids, use warm compresses on
the infected area & keep nursing from the infected breast.
Acupuncture & herbs can be useful in clearing the infection, as
well as in strengthening your body to help fight the infection.
I'd
highly recommend my teacher, Dr. Zeiger. He's at Telegraph &
Ashby, (510) 843-7397. He has lots of experience with pregnancy,
pediatrics & postpartum, etc. & he loves children. I also trust
his judgment on the question of whether biomedical intervention
is in order or not. Feel free to email me if you have more
questions. All the best!
Stephanie
I had mastitis when my daughter was three weeks old as well,
horrible. Here's what worked for me, I took lecithin every day
and fish oil, ask a lactation consultant how much to take. Then I
went to a chiropractic office and had some very deep heating
ultra sound done on the area of infection, this broke up the
build up and blockage and eventually after three of these
treatments it was gone. The ultrasound treatment is painful
because deep heat and pressure is applied to the area but it
works. Dr. Agi Ban is the chiropractor I saw and she is great:
http://www.ashbychiro.com/about-ban.php
The mastitis didn't come back and I was able to breastfeed my
daughter until she was 2 years 8 months.
Sarah
I feel for you. I too experienced bouts of clogged ducts & hard
spots, including one bout of mastitis. I can't advise you about
acupuncture but wanted to pass along what worked wonders for me.
Grated raw potato on the affected breast. Lie down on a ''chuk''
(waterproof pad) and heap the grated raw potato on. That got me
laughing so much I'm sure part of the healing was in that alone.
Leave it in place 20-30 minutes. The treatment was very
effective; my fever and acheyness abated and the hard spot
softened. Some women also use chopped cabbage in the same way or
even tuck a whole cabbage leaf inside their bra. Strange but
true. Hard spots/clogged ducts are a strong signal to slow down,
rest more and call on whatever support you have. Let others take
care of you. All the best to you.
food as medicine
A while back I had the same problem of repeated mastitis. After
trying various methods, I finally found Leah Mazel who helped me
using acupuncture and herbs. Since then, she has also really
helped me with other health problems. I feel she is a natural
healer. She is in Berkeley. Call her at 510-548-5676 or go to
her website at www.holisticchinesemedicine.com.
Feeling Great
It is an old Russian way to treat breast infections -
Go to organic store , buy white cabbage , take the leaf, wash it
and put it in your bra over night , you can leave it for day too,
but change the leaf every 24 hours.Sounds funny, but it is really
working ! It can take 4 days , but I promise you that you will
feel better next day already.
Oxana
I had a really, really hard time brestfeeding the first time ..
extreme pain, chapping, undiagnosed thrush and then a cellulitis staph
infection. All this went on for about 7-8 weeks - then got better thanks
to my acupunturist - and I went on to nurse my child for a year. My
Acupunturist's name is Melanie Linebaugh
(510-526-3620) is located in Berkeley. She is knowledgable, experienced
(12+ years) and friendly. She has helped me before, during & after my
pregnancies, with muscle tension and relaxation. I also no longer take
prescribed migraine medicine because of her treatments.
Jen D
July 2008
I breastfeed my first child for a year and a half without a
single problem. However, with my second baby (now 5 months)
I've had mastitis 3 times now, and multiple clogged ducts.
I've met with a lactation consultant, and we are evidently
breast feeding correctly. Her only idea is that my milk is
really thick and therefore I easily get clogged ducts. I've
been taking lecithin, which seemed to help, until I got my
third bout of mastitis last week. Each time I get mastitis, I
get horrible fevers, and feel like I have the flu. I always
try to clear my clogged ducts before they lead to infection,
but once I get really sick, I have to take antibiotics. I've
taken antibiotics three times now, and really want to continue
breastfeeding, but I'm worried about the health effects of
taking so many antibiotics. My OB says that b/c I've had
repeat infections, I'll most likely continue getting them and
just need to decide how much more I can take (which seemed like
horrible and not very helpful advice). Has anyone ever been
through a similar situation? How did you weigh the benefits of
breastfeeding your baby vs the health impact of taking multiple
antibiotic treatments? Does anyone have any other tips for
avoiding mastitis, besides taking lecithin? I've stopped doing
any strenuous exercise (no more sports bra), have a non-
underwire bra, don't sleep on my stomach, etc. Thanks for the
advice!
love breastfeeding but hate antibiotics
I feel your pain, mom. I had *35*, yes 35 cases of full blown mastitis. I had thick
milk, my kids were fat, I lost tons of weight due to the fat going out of my body into
milk..no amount of antibiotics could stop the recurring infections. I tried everything
(had the kids at home, and was really motivated). Nothing worked. The only thing
I'd say to you is, watch out for sepsis. I got it twice, and it could have killed me.
Get a prescription to start taking at any signs of sepsis ( ask your doc or look on
the net, basically it's uncontrollable shaking, pallor, vomiting, low blood pressure,
fever, etc.
I breastfed through it all, being young at the time and fairly ''militant''. I don't
regret
it, but I feel like I risked a lot and suffered maybe more than I should have.
Best of luck to you.
I have 3 children, each 3-4 years apart, and ended up either nursing or being
pregnant for a 12 year steady period. During that time I had repeat mastitis--
probably more than a dozen times, with symptoms just as you described. Awful. Got
the same advice--there's probably something about my specific anatomy, and this
will keep happening. I used antibiotics the first several times but finally got so that I
could anticipate when these infections were coming, and could head them off.
Here's what I'd do: a) leave work immediately and go home and rest; b) take a warm
bath; c) while in the tub, use a hair brush to stroke the area (to increase circulation)
and work to express some milk; d) when I got out, put a cabbage leaf in my bra (on
the side of the infected breast)...don't laugh..; e) rest some more. My systemic
symptoms would typically be gone the next a.m., though the sore area would take
some days to pass. I got so I could detect the clogged duct earlier and earlier (a hint
of body ache would send me searching to find a localized sore spot). The sooner I
stopped and did this series of treatments, the quicker the infection passed. I never
controlled variables, so don't know what combination of treatments worked--I like
to think it had everything to with the cabbage ; ). My midwife (in addition to
mentioning the cabbage and hair brush) also told me to salt my food more heavily.
As a full-time working mother, being able to breast-feed my kids for several years
each was important to me, and worth every discomfort that came about with the
bouts with mastitis.
been there
Hi there,
I also have had repeat mastitis (3 times and multiple clogged
ducts) and I can 't believe your OB gave you that advice! After
approx. 6 months I stopped having problems and now my baby is
almost 11 months and I haven't had a clogged duct or mastitis
since. A few things that helped me in addition to what you are
already doing- I took ''more milk plus'' a liquid herbal supplement
available at the Foodmill (and I'm sure other natural food
stores), drank mother's milk tea, and when I felt a clogged duct
forming I would take the homeopathic remedy phytolacca decandra
and that helped it clear and not turn into mastitis. Another
thing I haven't tried but have read about is drinking apple cider
vinegar- many women swear by it. Good luck and definitely stick
it out with the breast feeding since I'm sure it will get better!!
Sarah
I had tons of blocked ducts and realized the fevers were not all
mastitis. I also took tons of antibiotics to the point where the
pharmacist asked why I was there very other week. After 3 bouts
of antibiotics, which also meant a few hours of sweating or
freezing then sleeping in bed, I asked around. A receptionist at
a maternity ward gave me the best advice, which lactation
consultants did not tell me. take a sweat sock and fill it half
way with rice. Put it in the microwave for 30-40 seconds and
put it on your breast where the blockd usually occur. DO this
just before you begin breastfeeding or on the opposite breast
that the baby is on. It helps to loosen the milk. If you can,
also massage that area of the breast by pushing down andn
rubbing the breast toward the nipple while the baby is nursing.
You should also pump after the baby nursing to make sure
you 'drain the breast' even though it never really drains.
Massage while pumping. I couldn't produce enough to satisfy my
son but my milk was a great appetizer while we mixed the
formula. I made the choice to keep breastfeeding even though he
was only get about 1/2 oz from each breast but the cudding was
great for both of us. This started for me at 3 weeks and
I 'fed' him until about 1 year.
Didn't give up
Wow, I was in your exact situation. Had few such problems with my
first child, then had about FIVE bouts with mastitis with #2 -
the last when she was 14 months or so! Needless to say, it was
traumatic, especially taking all those antibiotics. But (despite
the last bout) it did get much better.
Here's my advice: drink LOTS AND LOTS of water. It helps ''thin''
your milk and keeps your body functioning well. Second, sleep
more. Exhaustion plays a HUGE role. Third, if you feel a blockage
coming on, soak your breast in epsom salts with very warm water
(a large cereal bowl works!) then try to pump or nurse about an
hour later. Fourth, do the lecithin and avoid fatty/greasy foods.
Fifth, get probiotics for yourself and your baby. They're good
for your system, especially if you are taking antibiotics (you
have to time them so you're not just wiping them out with the
meds). Sixth, tickle your baby's toes and rotate his/her position
so you're draining all the ducts properly.
It's tough when it seems like it keeps happening, but you will
get it under control, and it's so worth it.
--good luck!
I too have suffered through many bouts of mastitis. When I see
red spots on my breast I make sure I pump a few times between
feedings so the breast fully drains. I am not a medical
professional, but from what I understand it is not that your milk
is too thick it is that the milk stays in the breast and clogs
the ducts. Lecithin helps to make it run smoother so it doesn't
clog. My midwife put me in contact with Pam Caldwell, an
herbalist, who has the great website www.herblore.com. I ordered
her poke root and take it when I feel mastitis coming on. I
think it has prevented a few cases. Keep breastfeeding though
because even though there may be antibiotics in your breast milk,
you will still be passing on good nutrition and other benefits.
Shannon
I also had repeat mastitis with my second baby after having no problems with the
first. I know that once you have an infection you are more likely to get another one,
but one thing to consider - with me, the infection turned out to be one of those
nasty MRSAs going around. The only reason I found out is that I had had one on my
leg several months before, and I insisted on being tested for it. Turns out, while the
antibiotics I was taking were suppressing the infection, they weren't strong enough
to kill it off completely so it kept coming back. I had to have IV antibiotics and a
round of very strong oral antibiotics, which meant I had to pump and dump for a
while, but once it was done I was able to breastfeed for several more months
without any problems.
Also, when you take antibiotics you should take probiotics to help replace the good
bacteria for both you and your baby. You can get them at a health food store.
Jarrow also makes a baby probiotic that you can mix in with a bottle.
Infection free
i've struggled with mastitis. i had it 3 days after my natural
homebirth, had fevers of 103 every other day at 3am for 6 days, &
chose not to take antibiotics because i'd already gone through so
much to ensure a drugfree birth (in spite of being GBS+).
instead, i took whole garlic & echinacea to assist the fever in
clearing the infection & homeopathics to clear the ducts
(phytolacca, byronia, etc) along w/hot compresses with fenugreek
or poultice of ginger & sake followed by cold or cabbage leaf
compresses. i took probiotics & reprod system-supporting
nutritional supplements to support my internal ecology. if you're
on antibiotics, you should take probiotics to restore your &
baby's good intestinal bacteria and prevent thrush. from a
holistic perspective, fever is a natural reaction that helps to
clear out infections & takes its course over 7 days and shouldn't
be suppressed; from a TCM perspective, 2-3am is the body's time
for restoration and fevers commonly spike at that time.
kellymom.com is a great breastfeeding resource with suggestions
on holistic treatments. homeopathic is obtained at most natural
food/health stores and even yogurt has some active probiotic
cultures.
since you're careful about other common causes of mastitis,
something to consider is that having bacteria in itself is
normal, more importantly, why is your body reacting as an
infection? is it stress, not enough rest, lowered immune system,
allergies, nutrition, etc that are exacerbating your body's
immunological defenses? for myself i realized it was my
hyperactive immune system (i've multiple chemical sensitivities)
going into red alert after unintentional exposure to chemicals
during the birth (nonoxynl-9 in the hibiclens, topical
anesthetic), fatigue & not bundling up after the birth & exposing
my back & chest to air. knowing what triggers an immunological
reaction is the key to prevention.
continuing breastfeeding is an intensely personal decision.
antibiotics can set up a vicious self-fulfilling cycle though, so
try to take steps to restore your body & baby's balance with
probiotics, holistic medicine, acupunture. if its any
consolation, moms who have overcome mastitis are the most
committed breastfeeders because we have struggled so intensely.
my doula & lact. cons. Samsarah Morgan holds hours at Tea &
Tumble in Oakland. she was a great, reassuring resource and fully
supported my natural approach to recovery.
lpn
Boy, do I know your pain! We just had our 3rd baby and I also
had mastitis 3 times in the past 3 months. I ended up in the
emergency room once. I was so upset that I had to take
antibiotics, but I truly had no choice. But this is how I have
been able to prevent it: We have a holistic doctor that we work
with. Unfortunately, he isn't in the Bay Area, but he can and
will treat someone long distance. His name is Tom Skrenes and
his office phone number is 714.669.8845. He put me on an herbal
program and that stopped me from getting these breast
infections. I had to take the herbs four times a day, but it
worked like a charm!
joj
Well, I've been told I hit some sort of record at having 8 bouts
of mastitis over the 2-1/2 years that I breastfed my son. I
didn't have to take antibiotics all those times, although I did
take mroe than my fair share. It's been some years now, but
let's see what I can remember that helped. First off, good about
the giving up sports bras and also underwire bras. I had to give
up any that gave any sort of shape at all and wear only 100%
cotton nursing bras that were in fact a little loose. Also,
when showering, give your nipples a little twist to keep the
ducts from plugging up. Let your nipples dry naturally, and
expose them to a few minutes of sun every few days. My ob/gyn
told me that she'd heard that drinking a cup of water with a
tablespoon of apple cider vinegar helped to ward off mastitis,
and while it was hard to do, it really did cut down on the bouts.
She also told me to drink lots and lots of extra water at the
very first sign of a bout. Both things helped considerably.
Also, get extra rest when there is any indication of a bout
coming on. And nurse, nurse, nurse.
good luck to you
i experienced a very similar situation, except that i figured out
how to treat mastitis by the time i had my second baby. w/ the
first, i got it at least seven times (!!! i stopped counting!) i
would get fever, etc. and always had to take antibiotics. my
advice is to keep nursing (i love it!), but get lots of
rest/monitor your stress b/c i would get it when i was run-down.
then, at the first sign of infection (chills, light fever,
soreness or redness)i take a homeopathic called phytolacca
decandra 30, available in health food stores. i swear by it. i
haven't had to take antibiotics since. it's safe and recommended
by midwives to help keep the milk from getting plugged up. it
works like a miracle for me. good luck!
grace
Maybe you should find another OB but Please don't stop breastfeeding. I had
multiple times between the 3-6month period with my first child when I got plugged
ducts that led sometimes to fever/flu like symptoms. I recommend focusing on the
clearing the clogged ducts by nursing lots, especially on the effected side. stand in
the hot shower and manually express the milk --push on the painful area to try to
clear the duct, use a breastpump in the middle of the night when the baby is
sleeping. have the baby nurse with chin pointing to the painful part. Nurse standing
on hands and knees with breast hanging. Don't use a bra at all. I did not end up
ever using the antibiotics because the fever cleared on the 2nd day. letting the
infection build up can be dangerous so I don't recommend waiting long with a fever.
Also rest is really important. I wouldn't recommend stopping your exercise--just
don't use a jogbra. These troubles will likely pass when your milk supply is more
regular and the teething is less intense.
molly
Only you can answer that question. But let me relay what I did
to help with repeated Mastitis. Every week, yes every week from
November to May I would get a severe plugged duct - random side
and random location - that would start the inflamation and fever
symptoms. I developed a few tricks to ward off infection before
it got too strong. I lost track how many bouts I had. But
besides tracking what I ate I:
* Took Lecithin
* Reduced dairy foods
* Took ''Mastitis'' herbal drops from Wishgarden - This is the
stuff the really worked - I took it at the maximum dosages. It
significantly reduces the pain, inflamation so I could avoid a
full blown case and the antibiotics.
* First sign of a plugged duct - used a heated rice bag on
the spot while massaging the area too.
* I sometimes dipped the breast into a bowl of hot water or
take a hot shower to ease the plug.
But for me what drove me to continue was that I had Crohns
Disease in the family, I was determined to nurse at least 6
months because the research showed a direct correlation between
the risk of Crohns and length of nursing (the longer the baby
was nursed the lower the risk - the highest risk was in babies
with no breastmilk). So I ended up nursing, repeated Mastitis
and all, for 14mo. Having watched my father die from a long
drawn out painful Crohns as a young girl, I just figured my
discomfort for only a ''few more weeks'' would be worth it if I
could avoid that for my baby. Every few more weeks, I hung
on ''a few more weeks'' that is how I made it.
Glad it is over, but glad I did it
I was also continually plagued with plugged ducts while nursing
both my babies. Left untreated, my plugged ducts would turn into
mastitis (high fevers, antibiotics, etc.). However, I learned to
successfully detect and treat plugged ducts and clear them, so
after that I never had mastitis again.
Here's what I did. After work each day, I would check my breasts
for lumps. I found that if I caught them early, they were easy
to clear. I would take a warm shower and massage the lumps with
gradually increasing force, pushing them toward the nipple.
Usually this would work; however, if they were particularly
difficult to clear, I would ask my husband to push on the
stubborn spot while I was nursing. Sometimes it took a bit of
force to clear the clog, but it always worked eventually. The
combination of pushing on the plug while the baby was sucking was
very effective. (If the baby wasn't hungry -- a rare occasion in
our household! -- a breast pump worked almost as well.)
I also had a friend who used a wide-toothed comb in the direction
of the nipple to work out the clogs. And I also found that it
helped, if possible, to take some time to de-stress. Life is
difficult with a new baby, and it's important to take time to
take care of yourself. We went in the hole financially for a few
years while our kids were young, to take the best care of both
our children and ourselves (e.g. babysitters, housecleaners), and
I don't regret it. When they get older, they won't be quite as
expensive!
I'm glad I breastfed my healthy children
May 2007
I came down with mastitis 1 week after my baby was worn. My OB prescribed
antibiotics which cleared the infection and referred me to a breast
surgeon, who aspirated one of the 4 lumps. He found a milky fluid, but no
bacteria. I was told to keep nursing, using warm compresses, and massage
the lumps, and my body would take care of the plugged ducts. It hasn't
worked. now, 4 weeks later, I have mastitis again, with the same flu-
like symptoms. To make matters worse, one of the lumps has increased to
2'' in diamater, and has become red and tender. Once again I'm prescribed
antibiotics. the OB thinks it's galactocele, which is a cyst filled with
thick milk caused by a plugged duct, since aspiration showed a milky
fluid. Has anyone had this before who actually got better? How were you
treated and who treated you? I'm looking for names of doctors in the East
Bay who will do something about getting rid of my lumps. I love
breastfeeding my baby and don't want to give it up, since she's not 6
weeks old yet. But the lumps are making me very discouraged and
depressed.
I unfortunately don't have the name of a good ob/gyn here for
your problem, but suggest you check out ''The Nursing Mother's Companion'' which
had a lot of advice and info. If things
are high stress you might just get mastitis often; but there are
ways to keep it down and to catch it before it actually becomes
full blown. I did get it a lot but managed to nurse
my child until he was almost 2 (at which point I was the one
who stopped it, not mastitis). The first 6-8 weeks
are the hardest, so it should get a lot easier, good luck!
anon
I had mastitis a week after my baby was born in Nov 2006, then a few months later
again. Both times I had very painful lumps, red, swolen, and large. That was, of
course, on top of the worst flu-like symptoms I could have ever imagined. On the
recc of my midwife, Jerri Zukoski, I saw Dr. Rudd in Berkeley. He saw me
immediately, and gave me a very thorough exam. Prescribed antibiotics, and I felt
better whitin 3 days. The lump took much longer to go away, and to give you an
idea of how hot they were - my skin was peeling on the spot of the lumps after
they subsided, just like your skin would peel after a bad, blistery sunburn. The
bad news is - once you have had one mastitis, you are more prone to have more, but
the good news is - they tend to be less likely as the months go on.
Have your baby continue to nurse on the affected side, but be aware that milk
production can decrease during an infection. Keep up with the hot compresses, and
make sure you go the full course of the antibiotics you were prescribed.
Good luck!
anon
Mastitis is the worst, I'm so sorry to hear about yours. I've had it 3 times
already and my daughter is only 3 months. I haven't had lumps to the severity of
what you're having, but maybe some of what I've done will help. The last bout of
mastitis I developed very hard, swollen lumps. I was determined not to have any
more medical intervention, so I did some things that seemed to have really worked.
The first is I increased my intake of fluids tremendously. To a ridiculous
amount. Sounds simple, but I truly believe it has helped. Yes, I have to pee all
the time but it's just like being pregnant again! Secondly, I do the warm
compress and massage that lump. I've heard you want to avoid strenuous massage,
but it really goes down after I spend some good time massaging it during a
feeding. And I'm diligent about the warm compress. All these things are hard to
do when you have a new baby screaming for her food, I know.
Best of luck. I do think that the best thing you can do is keep your baby on your
breast and flush those lumps out with fluid intake. I've heard great things about
lecitin supplements, too. LeLeche might have some good advice, too. Good luck
and good health!! Elizabeth
I am sorry to hear about your unpleasant introduction to
breastfeeding; I got mastitis the same day my milk came in, and
the complications from there seemed neverending. I don't have
experience with your specific situation (surgery, recurrent
mastitis, etc.), but maybe my experience will be useful somehow.
I had recurrent plugged ducts (painful 2'' lumps every week or so
for several months); each one took about 3 days of warm
compresses to relieve it. But this phase did pass, and I was
ultimately able to breastfeed for 2 years. If you can make it
through the first few months, the ''plumbing'' settles down and
works better at that point. Do you have a good lactation
consultant? I found that OBs and surgeons didn't understand very
much about lactation at all. If you don't like the first one,
keep trying . . . it can be hard to find a match. LC's will tell
you that almost every mom can work through breastfeeding
problems. Then, if it turns out you are one of the ones who
can't, or the process is becoming detrimental to your
relationship with your baby, at least you'll know you tried your
best. I know this is a difficult time and I wish you the best.
ekc
I sorry that I can't recommend a doctor but I want to extend my sympathy. I too
suffered from mastitis 4 times in the first two or three months of nursing,
starting a week after giving birth. Every time I ended antibiotics, a new
infection seemed to develop. My theory is that at the beginning I was producing a
lot more milk that my baby needed. If this could be your problem, nursing from
only one breast at a feeding could help moderate supply. Also, you could try
applying cabbage leaves to relieve engorgement.
The good news is that eventually my body coordinated with his needs and and my son
nursed for about a year; he weaned gradually and my body had no problems adjusting
as he dropped feedings. I hope you are feeling better soon!
anon
Just last month I had horrible clogged ducts. They hurt so much I had trouble
sleeping, I couldn't carry my baby on that side, was in a lot of pain even just
moving my arm. I could feel a lump about an inch across and nothing I did was
helping, and I tried pretty much everything -- warm compresses and showers,
massage, extra nursing and pumping, etc. After about 10 days of this (and when I
was starting to get red patches on my breast), I called Janaki Costello who is a
*fabulous* lactation consultant (525-1155) who gave me some additional suggestions
which really helped. She told me to get epsom salt and soak my breast for 10
minutes in water as hot as I could stand. She suggested cold compresses and
gentle massage over and in front of the clog and to reduce the amount I was
pumping (I have problems with over-production and all the pumping I was doing was
making it worse). Within two days, things started feeling better and within a
week, it was fine.
Your situation because it is different than mine so she'll probably have different
suggestions for you. Call her, she's great! She knows tons about breast feeding,
is really nice, and isn't afraid to tell you when she doesn't know something.
good luck with the nursing
A friend had frequent bouts of mastitis: an additional recommendation was for her
to cut back on saturated (solid) fats primarily found in animal fats, and to include
more liquid fats (unsaturated), like plant fats. I think she also took a lecithin
supplement. This along with everything else that has been recommended seemed to
help tremendously.
j
Weaning after recurring mastitis
July 2003
Since my 8 1/2 month old was born, I have had severe
mastitis six times (requiring antibiotics) and mild mastitis
three times (cured with home remedies). I am now
researching how to wean and am curious if any one else
has had this experience. What has the weaning process
been like and has the mastitis come back once you have
weaned (As Dr. Jack Newman suggests can happen)? I've
been told the weaning process should take two weeks or
more, is this normal?
Thanks.
weaning mother
I too had recurring mastitis -- I've had it about 6 times, 3 with
antibiotics. I don't know about weaning, but I have not had
mastitis in about a month. I think I kept getting it b/c I had
cracked nipples, and bacteria kept getting in. There are many
things that can help prevent mastitis if you are interested in
still breastfeeding. I got some very helplful info from La Leche
League. Stay very hydrated, nurse on both sides often, don't wear
anything that presses against the breast, ie some slings, try
taking lecithin, an herbal supplement and use lanolin with every
feeding to heal nipples.
Rinat
Do you really want to wean? Have you talked with a lactation
consultant? Can you find another way to help with the
mastitis? I had many bouts of mastitis, like you, five or six
that required antibiotics and several more that I warded off
by drinking extra water and seeing an acupuncturist. I really
did not want to wean early (nor did my son), and so I kept at
it using a combination of prevention techniques (hot
showers, massage, acupuncture, lots and lots of water,
having my son drain my breasts when he nursed). I also
stopped pumping and feeding breast milk with a bottle.
That cut down on my production, so that I was really only
producing as much as my son drank. As my son got older,
he gradually weaned himself, which was the easiest for me.
I just produced less and less each day, so that when he
stopped, I did not feel discomfort at all. If you really do want
to wean, I suggest you get The Nursing Mother's Guide to
Weaning, ignore all suggestions that you continue (even
mine), set up a plan for yourself, and just do it. You and your
baby will both be okay.
Been there.
This regards your mastitis problem. It is much more severe than I
experienced, however, I had mastitis when beginning the nursing
of my son. My doctor gave me several different antibiotics to try
and stop the increasing infection and high fevers. Nothing was
working and I was in tears nursing. I finally went to an
accupunturist/homeopathist here in Berkeley. She gave me both a
one time homeopathy remedy and an intensified accupunture
treatment. I stayed there an hour with the needles and then went
home. By the time I was home my fever had gone down significantly
and by night time the inflammation was decreasing significantly.
Two days and I was over it completely. I was never more impressed
with an alternative treatment and immediately told my
gynecologist and doctor about it. They also were very impressed
and relieved to know they needn't worry any more. I hope this is
helpful.
First of all, I'm sorry for your troubles. I too had repeated
mastitis requiring antibiotics, and more plugged ducts that I
can remember. Here is a perspective on continuing to breastfeed
instead of weaning, to avoid problems, strange as that may
sound. I found that when my daughter was between 8 and 10 months
old, eating more and more solids and nursing less, the plugged
ducts pretty much stopped, or I was able to avoid them by not
wearing bras too tight, or sleeping on my stomach, a dose of
motrin etc. Here's the good part - I finally started to enjoy
breastfeeding! Since I nursed my daughter until 2, when she was
down to once/day, it didn't cause any problems once I quit.
Also, if it helps - I had no plugged ducts with my second child -
a combination of experience and a avid nurser!
I also had recurring mastitis with my first child. I found
stress, lack of sleep, and infrequent nursing contributed to the
formation of plugged ducts, which if I couldn't clear within a
day or so, led to mastitis requiring antibiotics. I developed a
number of techniques to clear the plugged ducts, the best one
involving allowing the baby to nurse (or putting on the breast
pump) while I or my husband did VERY deep massage on the plug.
It was rather painful but better than the mastitis! I would
check my breasts for plugs every day, and I learned to tell when
my body was feeling a little funny, almost like the way you feel
when you need to urinate, and check for a plug. Then I would
work on it as long as necessary to clear it.
I think sudden weaning would have made things much worse. I let
her wean naturally, and my milk supply gradually lessened on its
own. As that happened, I developed fewer plugged ducts.
In the meantime, I had a second child (while the older one was
still nursing once every day or two). When my milk came back
in, the plugged ducts started to develop again. However, this
time, I found that tandem nursing could reliably be counted on
to clear the plugs, and I never got mastitis with the second
child!
Good luck!
suffered from mastitis
this page was last updated: Jun 21, 2009
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