Really upset, having a horrible time

[brandonsgirl]

Ive been breast feeding since LO was born and havent really had any problems, infact we had a really good start. The only problem we really had was sore nipples but that was bareable. But now i had mastitus in both breasts and its extremely painfull to have LO on the breast.
Im on antibiotics for the mastitus and they are helping thankfully so im able to express breast milk and have to feed LO via bottle. Ive been expressing since sunday morning and now am finding that i dont have much milk to express. I had loads in the beginning and now i can only do about 1 or 2 ounces at a time. I dont think thats much at all and im worried i wil have to go onto formula for him. Which i really dont want to do. Dont get me wrong there isnt anything wrong with FF babies but for me im so passionate about BF that i dont want to have to give it up. And if i cant even have LO latch on i would much rather express breast milk then have him on formula.
I guess this was just a rant post but i had to get it off my chest. Escuse the pun lol.

 

[booflebump]

Oh hun, mastitis is really horrible. Do you express when baby is in the room? Looking at bubs will help your letdown which means you might get more out when you express? Is it too painful to put baby to the breast? Letting him suckle a little will help with milkflow too. Having a warm bath before you express, placing hot flannels on your breasts before expressing, and increasing your fluid intake are all things you could try as well. You are doing a great job and should be proud of yourself for perservering xxx

 

[MsEmski]

I really feel for you- it's so painful. Make sure you rest as much as possible, drink loads & loads of fluids. I've had it bad four times- in three of then I was expressing & noticed a really marked decline in the amount of milk I got from the affected boob.

Hot flannels, hot baths, leaning over the sink with your boobs dangling in hot water all help immensly. I massaged the wedge from the point furthest from the nipple inwards too whilst expressing.

Have you been given antibiotics? Take them, take paractemol for the pain too.

Big hugs & get better soon.

 

[brandonsgirl]

Thanks guys, yeah im on antibiotics. Cant remember what they are called though but they are like a pink or orange pill. And i have to take paracetmol with them all the time because apparently i had a bad fever with it or something. The milk got into my bloodstream bad and so i was shaking immensly. It was horrible, i couldnt even hold my own baby. Thankfully the shaking has passed. But i have to take the antibiotics 4 times daily and paracetamol each time with them. Im like a walking pharmacy lol.
Im in london all day tomorrow to get LO registered with the American embassy and im really worried about what im going to do about feeding LO. I cant stock up on expressed milk because i just dont have enough. Urgh im paniking too much im sure.

 

[_Vicky_]

horrible horrible I feel for you - all the above really and please please please if you get lumps DONT get fobbed off. I had a lump and was fobbed off with anti biotics and ended up in hospital last thurs under general anaesthetic having two abscesses drained BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[ChuggaBump]

you poor thing i know exactly what its like as i had it when lo was about 6 weeks and i had fever too. it was excrutiating to feed lo and i used to sit and sob the whole time and have to bite my top but it was so worth it cos afterwards i would feel so much better... if you really can't bear it (which is totally understasndable) then try expressing in the bath (wiith lo in the room too or even in the bath with you if someone else can hold lo for you)

big hugs, it's horrid

xx