Clogged Milk Ducts and Mastitis Remedy??

[ItsJana]

After having DS I pretty much boob issues right away, during my hospital stay the constant feeding (and most likely poor latch) led to a cut in my right nipple. It was painful to breastfeed on that side so I started using a pump until the cut healed. The cut never fully healed, but once is stopped bleeding I did go back to breastfeeding from that side. The right boob had issues with clogged ducts on and off for about 3 weeks before I developed a fever, the fever went away for 2 days and then came back with severe pain in that breast. I went to the doctor and although she couldn't say forsure that I had mastitis she put my on antibiotics. My boob didn't have a red or pink "rash" appearance but it was hard and kind of lumpy. I finished those antibiotics yesterday and saw my doctor that morning. I still had a very hard golf ball size lump in my breast and the doctor sent me to the hospital for an emergency ultra sound to see if I developed an abscess. During the ultra sound the tech had to get the doctor because she couldn't get a good picture. The doctor there said I had a very big infection and that it was too thick and stiff to drain. If it doesn't get better I will have to have it cut out or risk an abscess and get it cut out. I'm so scared. I've tried almost everything, hot showers then pumping, hot water bottle, pumping every 3 hours for 30 minutes, massage, getting lots of rest and drinking lots of water. NO matter what I do the hard lump is still there, I've heard a little bit about taking lecithin, but my doctor can't give me any information on it good or bad because it's a holistic treatment and she's not educated in that area. Has anyone who has taken lecithin give me some information on what it does to help or any other ideas that can help me, this has been going on for so long and I'm really emotionally at the end of my rope.

 

[JenX]

I take lecithin every day to keep things flowing well. If I do get a clogged duct, I up the dosage to help clear it. I'm not sure if it could help clear what you have, since that sounds very bad, but it won't hurt anything to try. Once you get it taken care of, it would be a good idea to take lecithin to keep the problem from recurring.

Basically, lecithin is like an emulsifier, or anti-stick agent. You'll see it among the ingredients of lots of commercial baked goods because they use it to keep things from sticking. It is believed that it keep the milk fats from globbing together and creating a clog, or that it helps break one up.

Lecithin comes from different sources, the most common one is probably soy lecithin. I take sunflower lecithin, though. There's a good page on it at the KellyMom.com site.

 

[ItsJana]

Thank you, that was very helpful. I took a look at the kellymom website and am going to follow their recommended dosage.

 

[ItsJana]

This is For anyone who has this problem as bad as I do and can't find more answers. I had to go to the hospital today, I was in severe pain, not just in one spot of my breast but the whole area. The fever I had before never came back, but the pain came on so hard and fast. In the end I was given IV antibiotics which I have a minor reaction to (so far). I have to go back tomorrow for another round of iV antibiotics and there is no guarantee it will work. Because I trusted my family doctor and waited to see what would happen I am suffering more and for longer than I really should be.

 

[Amber100]

The only thing I found that worked was to put a rely hot flannel on the lumpy area then get a normal hair comb then comb really firmly from outside towards the nipple where the lump is then immediately pump/feed. I had mastitis 3 times & ended up in hospital where a breast surgeon gave me that advice & it really worked. Hope you feel better soon