Mastitis, ouch! The good news is that Charlotte is finally sleeping through again (Thank you Lucie for the pep talk), the bad news is that I became very engorged when Charlotte didn't wake up for a feed & didn't express & ended up getting mastitis, ouch!
I first noticed a hard lump in my breast which I assumed was because of the engorgement but it became more & more painful as the days went by. I eventually popped to the doctors & a quick examination confirmed that I did have mastitis. The doctor prescribed a breastfeeding friendly antibiotic & advised me to continue feeding through the pain, which has luckily helped. I must admit I didn't expect to get mastitis 9 months into breast feeding but apparently it's quite common if your baby starts suddenly sleeping through.
I have found hot & cold compresses really soothing & someone recommended sleeping in Savoy cabbage leaves but I've been quite exhausted & haven't quite made it to the shops to get one yet. It's always advisable to see your doctor if you suspect you have mastitis or notice any lumps in your breast. I found some great information on the baby centre about mastitis which is well worth reading.
What is mastitis?
Mastitis is an inflammation in your breast tissues. The inflammation may quickly become an infection, which means that bacteria grow in the inflamed tissues. You may notice that areas of your breasts are:
red
hard
sore
hot
swollen
You may also feel a lump, called a blocked duct, though it isn’t caused by an actual blockage. It's the build-up of milk in your breast that causes the tissue to become inflamed.
If you have a blocked duct, the hard area on your breast will probably feel wedge-shaped because the duct, and its nearby ductules and alveoli, will have become inflamed.
You may also have flu-like symptoms, such as:
chills
a headache
a temperature of more than 38.5 degrees C
exhaustion
About one in 10 breastfeeding mums get mastitis, and some bottle-feeding mums do, too.
Having mastitis can be a miserable experience, but with the right approach, it can be cleared up quickly. It's usually only in one breast, but it's possible to have it in both breasts at the same time. Unfortunately, you can get mastitis more than once.
To read more about mastitis click this link: The baby centre
If you have any tips you would like to share I'd love to hear them! Thank you in advance, Michelle X