Breast Hurting After Mastitus

Sounds like it could be a yeast infection. I am guessing that you took an antibiotic for the mastitis which is necessary but can cause an overgrowth of yeast. I'd call you mid-wife.

You didn't say if the nipples were sore on the outside or the inside...I Googled 'sore breasts mastitus' and a ton of info came up...that would be my suggestion since only you know where the pain is coming from:)

Good luck!
P.

If you had antibiotics for the mastitis, it could definitely be yeast. Yeast is often burning pain in the nipples. You can try probiotics or plain yogurt on your nipples, but the only thing that worked for me when I had yeast while breastfeeding was Gentian Violet. It's a purple liquid behind the counter at many pharmacies (I got mine at Target--you have to ask for it though). You paint it on your nipples and let it dry and that's it. It usually works with one use, although you may have to repeat once or twice. The only problem though is that it turns EVERYTHING purple, so you have to be careful!

i had a horrible time w/ clogged milk ducts and tremendous pain in my breasts...massage, hot showers and compresses help, along w/ pumping. if he's hungry enough he'll take a bottle...i had to pump all the time or i would get huge painfull lumps. try differnt nipples on the bottles. and clean ur breasts and pump each time, cause unclean stuff can cause infections...good luck.
p.s. try acidophilus in case its yeast

H.,

So glad you found the source of the problem. I'm sorry you've gone through this. Boy, did we fight thrush! You may already know this, but just in case, EVERYTHING that that breast milk has touched must be washed in HOT water, bleached or sanitized or disinfected in some way. And then the washing machine needs to be run with a bleach cycle, or if there's a natural disinfectant you prefer, then that.

It is really hard to get rid of the yeast. Change cotton breast pads after every time the milk touches it. You get the idea.

Here's to you feeling better, and quickly! Good luck.

A.

Many times pain in your nipples is a sign of a yeast infection. It can happen to you even when your baby doesn't have thrush. Check with your doctor- treating it is easy- you just rub a little Monistat 7 on your nipple after nursing. If it is a yeast infection the pain will go away fairly soon after beginning treatment.

hi! I had mastitis 2x's and was so upset( and sick) I took a z-pack(zithromax) the second time. Warm crushed ginger compresses and cabbage leaves are helpful. It sucks that somthing so healthy i.e. breastfeeding, can be so painful but it is not harmful to the baby and does get better w/ nursing...my daughter was 3 when she weaned, Good luck!

I've had something like that - but I was able to catch it before it got very painful. I remember being pretty upset until I read up on it, then I realized how mild my case was and I just felt grateful that it wasn't worse.

Kellymom has information about what pain relievers are safe to take and whether (or when) to consider antibiotics. (Obviously, meaning when to talk to your doctor.) They listed Ibuprofen (e.g. Motrin) first, since it would help with the imflammation and offer pain relief. Acetaminophen (tylenol) was 2nd choice, since it would just cut the pain in this instance.

The most important thing they said over and over was to continue nursing. They also recommended warm compresses, especially right before nursing, warm showers, lots of fluids and rest, and getting someone else to help around the house. (Doctor's orders!)

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html#usu...

(There's tons of info on that website about everything you can possibly imagine relating to breastfeeding, plus many things on infant sleep, attachment paretning, etc.

Hope you feel better soon.

It does sound like thrush (yeast). You can try an over the counter anti-fungal after breast feeding. Your LO might have it as well and might need to be treated to help, but in my case just treating me worked (and quickly) and DD never had issues with thrush.

I had mastitus when my baby boy was 1.5 months old. We were doing great with breatfeeding and then one morning I woke up and my left breast was so sore. The later the morning got the worse the pain got. My temperature went through the roof. I immediately started reading the books and figured out that I needed to call my midwife. She told me that it was mastitus and called in a prescription of antibiotics to clear up the infection. It lasted about 2 more days of soreness once I started the medicine. I continued to breastfeed, it hurt at first but afterwards I felt way better. Warm wash cloths and showers seem to help. I didn't wear a bra. It sucked but it did go away a few days later. I think they tell you to try and keep getting the milk out to relieve yourself, if the pump hurts try breatfeeding. Its totally safe, the milk is not affected and the baby won't catch anything. I promise.
Hang in there it will be over soon. Sorry :(

Greetings!

I feel your pain, mastitis is absolutely no joke.

Homeopathic Belladonna has provided relief and suspended mastitis for many mommas.
Raw cabbage leaf applied to the area until it begins to warm up (with your body heat)can provide comfort.

Applying a warm compress or letting the warm to hot water from the shower run over breast as you gently massage toward the nipple. Don't forget...BREATHE and relax as much as possible (easy to say for me,I know, but it really helps).

Also, the obvious but often difficult to manage into a busy mommas schedule is plenty of water and rest. These will help discourage the infection from returning.

Congratulations on your home birth momma!

Peace

H.-
Congratulations on the home birth- that is fantastic! I just wanted to say that you should be careful if you decide to use the Gerber gel pads that were mentioned in another post. If it isn't a yeast infection (which it kind of sounds like it might be) then those will harbor yeast and create a yeast infection. If it is yeast, gentian violet was the only thing that worked for me. I just treated myself, not my baby- he got treated when he nursed. Be careful, EVERYTHING turns purple (it's kind of shocking...)
Good luck!

The cabbage leaves do work! My DH aunt told me about it when I was pregnant and I didn't believe her. It wasn't until my breasts were tender it hurt to wear a bra that I finally broke down and tried it. To my surprise with in hours they were feeling better and in less than 24 hours I was back to normal.

I haven't had mastitus, but I did post a question a while back about burning nipple pain. One suggestion I got that I had read about before was to put raw cabbage leaves in your bra. I know it sounds crazy, but it evidently works! Luckily my nipples quit burning, so I didn't try it out, but I'm having my baby tonight and if I have any pain with breastfeeding, I will give it a try! Other than that and warm compresses, the doctors and everyone really didn't have anything that could help.

Hi H.!
I didn't breast feed but once the milk came in my breasts were so engorged & very painful! As you've heard, cabbage leaves. My sis in law who has 3 kids & did breastfeed suggested it. I had a sleeping bra & put the leaves in before going to bed. The next morning, all was better. No more pain & no more "cartoon" boobs! Try it, you'll be suprised at how fast & effective it is. Good luck & congrats on your new baby.
S.

I can't give you advice, but just comment.
This was way long ago, but I still remember the pain and all that I went through, but decided to let my breasts dry up and put my baby on the bottle. The stress was less for both of us.
I was young at the time and it was years ago so I really had no great advice from anyone and opted to quit. I never felt guilty about it, just wanted to make sure our stress level was better for both of us.
My baby is now 44 and she did natural birth 4 times and also breastfed all of them. To each his own since it's a very personal thing. I have a very close bonding with my daughter even without her being breast fed.

congrats on your midwife/homebirth! It is amazing how different a birth can be when you have control and comfort isn't it? I would try boobtubes. A friend passed some to me, and while I haven't had Mastitus, the boobtubes are supposed to help. Also, maybe try to lanolize your nipples? good luck to you!

Hello H.,

I had this problem too! It's soooo terribley painful and I am really sympathizing with you! I produced a lot of milk at one time and had a bad habbit of letting myself become engorged all the time causing the clogged ducts. What worked for me, was to pump or feed VERY regularly, every 1.5 - 2 hours. Sometimes I would sit and sob as my baby breastfed because my nipples hurt so intensely. Try keeping Lansinoh Cracked Nipple Cream (lanolin) on all the time. Also, Gerber makes gel patches to soothe the soreness. You can get these items at Babies R' Us and in some drug stores. It won't last if you take care of yourself - just remember you're giving your baby the very best and it's so worth it!

~J.

Hi H.,
I cannot say that I had mastitis, but i was very engorged at one point when away for the weekend. I would simply suggest taking advil and when you are in the shower with rather hot water on your breast, gently massage, always from the chest wall outward, to extract the milk and unclog any ducts. I did this when my breasts were rock solid without the baby in sight and it helped tremendously. I loved breastfeeding so stick with is if you are able. Take care,
M.

Hey, H.! It's S.!!

Did you get any antibotics for it? That was the only way mine started to fell better a few days after I started the antibotics. Other than that, I kept wearing a bra all the time. The constant pressure seemed to help too. Do you have any white spots, in the top of your nipples?? I got a plugged duct in the nipple on that same side I had it one too not too long afterwards and that hurt like heck!!

Good luck dear!! How you getting the tatas feeling better soon!!

S.

Watch out for the cabbage leaves--they work by hindering supply, so you could cause problems for yourself that way.

Could be thrush, from the abx. Add in probiotics and lots of yogurt, and if it isn't better in a couple of days (I know, seems like forever) go back and have the doc or midwife check it out.

Congratulations on your baby!

Could be yeast or could be the end of the infection. Take some immune boosters like vit c or selenium. Also if yeast, you can put plain (none with sugar)yogurt right on your nipples. Lettme hang loose and free as much as possible, too.

A side note on cabbage leaves, I've only heard of this as a treatment for engorgement. The leaves have properties that do help reduce milk supply and can effect it in a negative way if used too much.

And Congrats on your homebirth, I had one last May. It's an amazing experience.