[stardust81]

I have woken up this morning feeling terrible and am wondering if this could be a bout of mastitis. I developed a sore breast last night and when I woke up I had a headache, am achey all over and have a temperature of about 38.5 (this goes down with panadol but rises again). The breast isn't all that sore, but I am having a lot of trouble getting my 11 month old DS to feed from either side this afternoon, and when I tried pumping (which is usually no problem I couldn't get more than a few drops. I am a bit concerned if it is a blocked duct I won't be able to free it as I am not getting any milk out!

Does this sound like mastitis? I won't be able to get to a doctor until tomorrow morning hopefully if I can get in (will be alone at home with my two boys tonight so not really an option to go to the ED). Will this be too long? If it is mastitis is it likely to get much worse? Is there anything I can do to help get DS to feed - I am hoping overnight he will be sleepy and just take the feed and since he is currently feeding 3 times a night hopefully this will help!

After two years of breastfeeding (spread over DS1 and DS2) I am a little surprised to be getting it for the first time now (hence why I am questioning it!), I thought this was generally associated with the earlier days of breastfeeding!

[Manicmum]

You can get mastitis anytime, even when not bf. My Mum (70) had it recently. Usually you have a sore breast/armpit though.

[Rosiebubs]

Sounds exactly like mastitis to me, you poor thing.

I'd go straight to the ED or 24 hour medical centre. Otherwise you could be in hospital before morning on IV.

Good luck!

[fibilly]

In my experience my breast was quite lumpy and very hard. If you have any lumps, call the ABA hotline and they can help. I got mastitis when my twins were about 8 months when they dropped from 6 to 5 feeds, so I think it can happen any time. BTW it can make you seriously ill so if you suspect mastitis, perhaps check whether anyone can watch your kids just in case you need to go to the ED

[jdevine]

I had a really sore lumpy breast, it was agony to get DD on and I ended up hand expressing in shower to get some relief before heading to my GP. Good suggestion above to call ABA hotline they may be able to talk through your symptoms better

[stardust81]

Thanks for the replies. I should clarify. The breast is sore, it is just not excruciating. I am having trouble holding DS2 if he is leaning on it though and it feels warm and like it is bruised. There is also a big red patch on the underneath of the breast covering about 1/3rd of the breast. My temp has come down slightly and I am feeling marginally better, so I am going to see how it goes for a little while. Hopefully it settles down on it's own!

[dollibaby]

I can say that it's not blocked ducts because while the lumps will be sore, they do not have a bruised appearance. I once had blocked ducts that got infected which made me unable to even hold my baby but after a day or two of expressing, they unblocked.

[pitterpatter3]

You poor thing! I have had lots of expereince with mastitis and reoccuring mastitis. First bout I ever had was when DS1 was 10 months old and then had it for 2 months and cycles after cycle of antibiotics!
I have done everything to try to get rid of it and get my milk flowing again! Out of everything I tried I found putting a heat pack as HOT as you can handle on your boob for a little while followed immediantly by an icepack. Continue to alternate. Dedicate doing this for a day and you should be able to get rid of it. Also feed your baby leaning over the top of them and make sure theY are STARVING to help suck the blockage out!