Home » Pick Your Crowd » Breastfeeding Crowd » MASTITIS

Hello, guest
|

Name: Angela

[ Original Post ]

Hello... I need some advice!! I just quit breastfedding yesterday and my boobs are really sore. I tried breastfeeding my first child and when I was letting my milk dry up I got mastitis. I am so afriad of getting it agian!! Is there anything I can do to prevent that painful infection. And is it normal to hurt so bad? I am in a lot of pain!! ↓

Name: sonia | Date: Apr 3rd, 2006 5:19 PM

Dry up slowly by decreasing the feedings over a period of many months. instead of going cold turkey. ↑

Name: Casey mom of 4 | Date: Apr 6th, 2006 3:32 AM

Stop nursing one feeding a day and use hot/cold compresses inbetween feedings, as well as tight wraps around your chest. dont just stop cold turkey that will cause more pain than it is worth. ↑

Name: gew | Date: Apr 11th, 2006 4:37 AM

i agree with the people above, and yes it is normal for it to be sore, and chapped good luck ↑

Name: 3 time nursing mom | Date: Apr 12th, 2006 8:53 AM

Angela,
Mastitis really sucks!
I ended up losing days from work from those horrible achy flu like symptoms. It's amazing how it makes your whole body feel so lousy.

Because my kids were weaned on their timetable, and not mine, I cannot advise on mastitis that happens due to weaning, for mastitis never happens from weaning naturally.

However when I worked 50 hours a week while nursing one of my older ones, I would get mastitis every few months, and it really did suck. So I certainly empathize with you on this and understand.

I agree with the others, that it is best to wean gradually, this prevents mastitis. But if it is already a done deal, and you are no longer nursing, then I advise that you express a little amount of milk to relieve the pressure every once in a while, and jack up your dose of Ibuprofen to 600 mg. But only if your Little One is no longer drinking your milk, the medication may not be a good idea for him/her. You may find warm baths comforting, or standing in a warm shower for a bit of time, followed up with a cold pack.

I wish you well.

~Do I dare use this post to promote my belief that it is in both our child's and our best interest to let them wean gradually on their own when they are ready? ~ ; ) ↑

Name: Stephanie | Date: Apr 12th, 2006 3:53 PM

I quit breastfeeding cold turkey and yes it was a lot of pain...whatever you do...DO NOT USE ANYTHING HOT TO RELIEVE THE PAIN because that will cause the milk to express by itself...no hot shower no hot compresses! I know this sounds kind of funny but you should use COLD cabbage leaves in your bra every 2 hours for 30 minutes at a time. TRUST ME IT WORKS! Something to do with the enzymes in the cabbage helps dry up your milk. GOOD LUCK and hope this helps! ↑