It’s been a week since my last post, but not for lack of anything to post about. I actually have a ton of things to catch up on, but we’ve been SO.BUSY. Posts coming your way include a recap of Nora’s birthday—a day we tried very hard to make VERY special—as well as a recap of a bonus trip to the Poconos this past weekend. Oh, and I also have maternity pics (FINALLY!) and newborn/family pics to share with you all. Hopefully I’ll have some time this week to do so, but we’re having Nora’s birthday party this Saturday, and I have lots of projects and prep to do for that… on top of taking care of a newborn. Life is hustling and bustling, for sure.
We drove home from the Poconos yesterday, and on the way back, I started noticing that I was feeling a bit achy. Nothing completely out of the ordinary, though. I chalked it up to the five hours in the car (we had to take an alternate route back because of some road work and it sucked), plus the fact that it was raining for a good portion of the ride. Rain + me + the car = not a good mix. I thought I just had a tension headache.
We went to bed last night—it felt glorious to be back in our own bed!—and all seemed OK. Vivienne woke me up at 1:30 a.m. to eat, and I fell back to sleep with her at the breast, waking up about 50 minutes later. I popped her back into her pack ‘n’ play and laid back down. It was then that I realized that every joint in my body was KILLING me. As I tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable, I soon came down with really bad chills as well. I wondered what the heck was going on and whined as much to Michael. He brought me some ibuprofen and I huddled under our covers, rocking my body back and forth. I eventually passed out again and woke up this morning feeling OK… but certainly not great. But I also didn’t seem to really have any other symptoms, so aside from spending the morning on the couch, I didn’t think too much of it.
After showering around 11 a.m., I noticed I still felt pretty achy, so took another dose of ibuprofen.
I just so happened to have my six-week postpartum appointment with my OB this afternoon, so off I went after lunch. When she was examining me, she said, “Hmm, your breast looks kind of red over here.” And then it suddenly all came together. I said, “It’s funny you say that, because I was up in the middle of the night last night with body aches and chills.” She called for a nurse to come take my temperature, and it was 99.1 degrees. Low-grade fever, but I had taken a dose of ibuprofen (a fever reducer!) less than two hours before.
Mastitis.
I never had mastitis—or any problems, really—in the 13 months I breastfed Nora, so this is new territory for me. I felt lucky to have caught it early, thanks to my OB appointment, so I was able to start antibiotics before I progressed to feeling like complete death. But when I went to pick up my prescription at the pharmacy, the (female) pharmacist began telling me about her personal experiences with mastitis and DAMN. She also told me about the side effects—how the meds can make my milk taste funny, therefore causing Vivienne to not want to eat from me (lovely), and also how my supply might tank (even more awesome).
And don’t even get me started on the whole you-have-to-take-the-antibiotic-on-an-empty-stomach-FOUR-TIMES-per-day thing. As if my life isn’t complicated enough right now. I can barely remember and/or make time to eat most days, and now I have to remember to take an antibiotic AND time it correctly, too. First world problems, I know.
Anyway, I’ve got a dose of antibiotics under my belt now and I’m still feeling like garbage. But I hope that I’m on the mend, and quickly. I’ve got a three-year-old girl’s princess party to prepare for!
Any experiences with mastitis? How long did it take you to feel better? Did you have any problems with your baby rejecting your milk because of the taste? Problems with plummeting supply? And if so, how long did it take for your supply to go back to “normal”? Anything else I should know?
16 Responses to Mastitis!
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About
I'm Heather. I'm 33 and have been married to Michael for seven years. Together, we have two beautiful little girls we love more than anything, and a miniature dachshund who drives us crazy. I'm a full-time working mom who has very little time for my own "stuff" these days, like home improvement, cooking/baking, cake decorating, and photography. Despite the team not making the playoffs since 1999, I'm STILL a Buffalo Bills fan, which I think speaks to my loyalty AND sense of humor. I can't wait to pick up the pace with travel again some day... you know, when we're done being ruled by tiny fists. Welcome to my blog.
I had mastitis twice with my first. The first round was pretty bad, my milk supply definitely dipped. I went from feeling fine to within an hour spiking a 102 fever and feeling like death. Round 2 was awful. I got the antibiotics quickly that time around, but couldn’t shake the fever. Unfortunately, the high fever for several days with that round effectively killed my milk supply. I was really disappointed because I had hoped to breast feed longer, but I didn’t really have much of a choice. Hopefully though you won’t have any lasting effects or end up getting it again. Definitely make sure you take care of yourself and get plenty of rest – feel better soon!!!
Yikes, Lori! How old was your baby?
The first time I got it she was about 2 months old; the second time she was about 4 month. Thankfully between my freezer supply and still being able to pump 1 to 2 bottles a day for a month or so after, I was able to get her to about 6 months on a combo of breast milk and formula. Baby #2 is due at the end of January. I am praying that I don’t have the same experience. I do know that this time I won’t freak out quite as badly if I have to switch to formula for something totally out of my control.
I had mastitis twice (sucky). I believe I took an antibiotic one of those times. I don’t think I had supply issues either time. Gwen never rejected my milk either. Get as much rest as you can, and nurse lots.
Have you felt around the red patch to see if there is a clog in there (feel around for a spot that feels like a lump or extra bruised feeling)? If so, working to get it out can go really far in helping you feel better. Massage, feeding with her chin pointed towards the clog, warm compresses before feeds.
Good luck and feel better!
I actually don’t feel any lumps/clogs, and my doc said she didn’t, either! Strange. But there is definitely an area that is more sore than the rest so I can try to pay that more attention just in case.
I had mastitis once when I was 2 weeks postpartum. In my case it was also caught pretty quickly. My daughter never rejected my milk, but I did have a dip in supply in the affected breast. Despite doing everything I could, my supply always remained double on the side that didn’t have the mastitis. In hindsight I think that my daughter preferred the right side and nursed more effectively on it, which could be why I ended up with the mastitis on the left side in the first place. I still was able to provide all breast milk in her first year and we nursed until she was 20 months old, even with the supply dip. I second the warm compresses!
My biggest problem was that about a week to 10 days after finishing up the antibiotic, my stomach was just completely torn up from the antibiotics. That ended up being almost worse than the mastitis.
Funny-I never had it with Avery either but had it twice with Cassandra. The first time was a week after having her. I was on pain meds from the delivery for like a week and when I went off, I felt like garbage. Since I had a VBAC I was paranoid that it was an infection from my C-section scar so I went in…turned out it was mastitis! I had it again probably 6mos later but never used the antibiotic because I think I was almost over it when I caught it-I think it was a real mild case. I got a lot of clogged ducts with Cass and had to make sure I kept massaging them otherwise it would lead to mastitis. I never noticed a supply change and she nursed the whole time so it must have not changed anything for her!
I’m currently exclusively breastfeeding my 5 and 1/2 month old daughter. I have gotten couple of clogged ducts (right at my return to work) but no mastitis [yet].
Just wanted to recommend that you definitely take a probiotic. Culturelle is a good OTC brand you can get most anywhere. That will help with any GI discomfort from the antibiotic and hopefully boost your immunity, making you less susceptible to a yeast infection.
Hope you feel better!
I had mastitis too. It came about days before I was due back at work. The first day was awful. Mine mimicked the flu pretty closely. I took antibiotics for it as well. I pumped at work and nursed at home. My son’s eating habits didn’t change and I never lost my supply. I was drinking a lot of water and pumped on average 17oz at work. (I had a lot of milk until around 7 months.) I think mine lasted a few weeks? I tried to nurse a lot through it. Best thing for it. Good luck! Hope you get better soon!
I got matistis once with Sophia. Of course it was the first weekend drill for Tim since she was born. I felt like death all weekend. I’ve had it at least twice with Jack and I’m having so many issues with clogged ducts it’s ridiculous. I haven’t taken any antibiotics for any of the cases, just lots of nursing/pumping, moist heat treatment, ibuprofen, and hydration…all at the instruction of my doctors.
I hope you feel better and this is your only taste of it.
I had mastitis twice with my third baby after never having had it with my first two. I had forgotten about that antibiotic. Awful! It gave me heartburn and a terrible taste in my throat. The good news is I didn’t notice any problems with supply and had no trouble getting my baby to nurse. It took about 24 hours or so to start feeling better. In the meantime, long hot showers were the best thing to make me and the sore breast feel better. I hope you feel better soon.
I’m one of those unlucky people who have had mastitis numerous times. I have a friend at work who is the same way! For her she feels a painful lump first, but for me I always get the achy feeling first. It’s awful! Here are my two tips!
1) Take a probiotic – the antibiotics will kill all the beneficial bacteria, which can lead to thrush (which is also awful). You can buy one called Florajen from Walmart or any pharmacy. There are lots of other brands too, make sure they are refrigerated.
2) If you do become one of the unlucky few who get it repeatedly, look into a homeopathic remedy called phytolacca. I’m not that “crunchy” of a person, but after I had it for like the 4th time in my little guy’s first year, my midwife suggested it. You pop a couple sugar pills when you feel the first symptoms come on. It has worked every time for me! Even if it’s just a placebo effect, I think it’s totally worth it.
Good luck! Hope you never get it again!
I started taking a probiotic capsule today. Thanks to all who mentioned it. But Maggie, why do I need to refrigerate it? It was stored out on the shelf at the grocery store?
My daughter just turned 9 months. A few weeks ago I was trying to get her to sleep and in a flash I felt like crap. Gave up with her going to bed and took her in the living room and started shaking so bad I couldn’t hold my phone. I spiked a fever in seconds that was 102. I cannot disc rube how HORRIBLE I felt. Husband came home early and I was in the doc the next morning. Confirmed nasties it and got the antibiotics. The 4 hours in an empty stomach was near impossible.
I took a probiotic and so did my daughter. They need to be refrigerated bc they are a live barer is. If they were on a shelf they probably aren’t viable anymore.
It took me about a week to really feel great. Nurse her on the infected side first. It doesn’t matter which way her chin/nose is pointing. They’ve recently found that’s not true with unclogging a duct if you have one. Lots of water and rest if you can. I really hope you’re better soon.
So I have the new iOS 7 upgrade and it won’t let me correct misspelled words once I type it. … Sorry for the stupid typos above. I was saying “mastitis” not nasties, bacteria – not barer. Ridiculous not disc rub lol
I had mastitis twice. I got it on the last day in the hospital. I was pumping like crazy to get my milk to come in and I even told the nurse I feel like I am coming down with the flu. Her suggestion was to get a mask to cover my face while I held the baby (WHAT??? Mind you she seemed like she was just out of nursing school but still). Then the nurses shift switched and the new nurse was great and really helped me with having a plan on feeding my daughter, but still didn’t catch on to mastitis. She thought the redness I had on both breasts was an allergic reaction to the lanolin cream they give you. I also had a C-section, so I chalked all the aches and pains up to you know, having major surgery.
When I went to my follow up OB/GYN appointment, she took one look at me and said “Oh sweety, you have mastitis!” I was put on antibiotics. I was pumping and breastfeeding and noticed a MAJOR dip in supply. To the point where I called the Similac Feeding line to have them give me suggestions to keep it going. I talked to them for 2 hours! I took Fenugreek, pumped like a mad woman after I BF her and just tried to rest and drink a lot of fluids. A few weeks after I felt better, I got hit with 2 kidney stones, but that’s another story!
I was relieved to see my supply return once the antibiotics stopped. Milk Makers cookies also helped a lot and were yummy.
The second time I had it was when I was weaning my daughter. She was about 15 months old and didn’t want to BF anymore, just wanted a cup. I noticed I got a “lump” in my left breast. Freaked me out so much I went to the dr. She said it was probably a clogged duct and to massage it out. I did that and yeah it was a clog. The next morning I knew I had mastitis again when I couldn’t even get out of bed!