[Funwith3]

Some background... I breast fed DD1 for 9 months. I stopped because she started biting and I felt so nervous about the next bite that I felt I was pulling her off prematurely. So she went to formula. I breast fed DD2 until she was 16 months old. A great BF experience.

Now, DD3 is 5 and a half months old and I'm having a LOT of trouble, but feeling very guilty for considering weaning her at what I consider to be too early.

It started with the cracked, bleeding nipples which hung around for 6 weeks. I dealt with that. I have had mastitis three times with DD3. In addition, I've had very painful blocked milk ducts on two other occasions. I currently have my third and by far most horrifically painful bout of mastitis. That's three lots of antibiotics is 5 and a half months. This third time, the pain is so unbearable that I am literally screaming and crying whilst trying to feed her. I'm feeling very light headed and nauseous just from the pain. Yesterday I couldn't get my head off the shower floor because of the pain and the dizziness it was causing. My entire boob looks like its been out in the sun for 3 hours with no sunscreen on. I can't bear the thought of going through this again. So I'm considering weaning her. I was aiming to feed her for 12 months and I'm disappointed that I can't push through. I have a very high pain threshold but I cannot go through this again.

Does anyone have any suggestions, words of encouragement, advice? Push through? Stop now? What should I do. I feel like I'm losing so many days because of feeling unwell and it's not fair on my other two daughters that I'm unwell and in pain (so very short tempered and grumpy with them) but then again, BF is very important to me and I don't want to be one of those people who said "it was all too hard and it hurt so much".

This post has been edited by Funwith3: 10/11/2012, 08:40 PM

[beaglebaby]

Have you seen a doctor? It sounds like the infection is severe and you might need to go back, my doctor said if I wasn't much better within 12hours of starting the ABs that I'd need to be admitted for IV antibiotics. A physio can also do ultrasound on the affected area which breaks up the blockage and reduces the swelling.

hugs, I hope you get through this. With your history of mastitis I'm not sure that stopping abruptly is a good idea if you decide to stop feeding do it very gradually.

[Suz01]

Listen to your body, and don't push on. I know how painful blocked ducts can be, I had an abscess that popped after DD waved her little hand too close to the build up. It was horrific. I pushed through only to lose my milk very shortly after. Sometimes its just not working and to push on like you have is amazing. Good on you.

[SplashingRainbow...]

I think I'd be seeking some more immediate medical attention. When that's resolve you can consider where to. If your body int responding to the ABs I'd be heading down to the hospital if at all possible.

In relation to keeping on going - I just want to reassure you there is no need torture yourself.
You've given your dd3 a wonderful start to life. She will be starting solids soon (if not already) and taking in a range of foods.
It is most likely she will do well on formula and solids when ready. You can keep going if you want but you haven't failed of you need to stop. I would suggest weaning with some assistance from a LC or midwife given your history. You'd hate to re-trigger mastitis.

[~Sorceress~]

Breastfeeding my third child was my hardest ever because of mastitis and thrush . But once I made to to the six month mark, changed my diet and started getting some energy back it all got SO much better : ).

I found I needed to take a lot of vitamin C as SOON as I felt myself getting any sort of signs of an infection, but I had also let myself run down so taking Floradix twice daily and starting a low carb diet (with almost NO sugar) made a huge difference.

I've since read that taking a really good probiotic can do a lot to help prevent mastitis recurrence - perhaps try that?

And if you're worried about the infection getting worse, see a doctor because that sounds really really miserable .

Well done on making it this far through that many tough spells already . I hope that for you, as it was for me, this is the start of your breastfeeding turn-around!

[Escapin]

If I were you I'd be going straight to the doctor or emergency department, what you are describing is simply ridiculous to be putting up with.

Not wanting to guilt you into acting, but seriously, what if you pass out in the shower while you're home alone with the kids?

And yes, I'm all for breastfeeding but there ARE limits.

[unicycle]

you have brought back memories. which leads me to ask:
are you on the antibiotics again? have you had/ do you have secondary mastitis?
has your doctor recommended cabbage leaves? mine cited a study and he gave me the recommended time to keep the leaves on according to the stury's results. he said to put them in the freezer.
can you get to a doctor this weekend to review you medication?
can you bear to put the baby on the breast more often and are you massaging towards the nipple?
and to answer your question: i went though a lot to continue breastfeeding, but that was a choice i made, not one i would make for others.
look after yourself

[bluedragon]

Firstly I think you need to seek further medical treatment/advice to help you get over the mastitis, even though it is painful I wouldn't quit feeding cold turkey in this case as draining the breast will help with the mastitis, stoping may make it worse.

I would also seek further advise once you are feeling better. Have you had a lactation consultant review you and your baby? It's sounds to me as there may be an underlying attachment or other issue that has been causing the cracked nipples and also not draining the breast enough which may be causing the blocked ducts and mastitis. I could be wrong but that's the first thing that popped into my head reading your story.

Gook luck OP, I hope you feel better soon!

[antigone_]

I just want to give you a big hug That sounds absolutely horrific Please seek urgent medical attention lovie xx

[Dylan's Mummy]

Do you know what is causing you to get the blocked ducts and mastitis? i had blocked ducts (on one side only) twice and I think that one was caused when bub dropped a night feed and possibly the other when I took bub to a friends and used expressed milk for a feed which caused me to be quite full and engorged before the next feed and from memory bub may only have fed from one side for the next feed which caused the problem in the other side. The second time I was starting to feel unwell so perhaps was on the verge of it turning to mastitis. After a few days I managed to massage to blockage away along with the help if heat pack and anti-inflamatories. Did bub drop a feed or miss some feeds around the times you have had blocked ducts or mastitis.

I found that hand expressing was not painful but breast feeding was. Is that something you could consider while you get well.

It is up to you but try not to feel bad if you decide to switch to formula, you seem to have gone through a bit already and it has been almost 6 months. It just depends on how much pain you are prepared to put up with especially if breast feeding is not the close, enjoyable bonding experience it should be. You need to be able to enjoy your baby.