Mastitis, a most unwelcome guest

Between 2 and 3 AM this morning, I awoke with writhing, excruciating pain in my right breast. Started from the nipple all the way to the edge of the breast. Felt really full or swollen. No matter which way I laid on the bed, on either side or on my back, the pain was unbearable.

I've done Victoria many a favor, so I decided this time was her turn. I woke her up and nursed her. From various breast issues in the past, when I nursed Isabella, I knew that I needed to nurse Victoria on the afflicted side, even though that would increase the intolerable pain in the short run. Holy crap-ole-la. I wanted to grit my teeth, punch something or someone, kick the crap out of something, the pain was so piercingly intolerable.

Even after Victoria nursed on that side, the right side was still very puffy. Nothing touching the breast brought on unimaginable pain, but putting a bra on over it made the pain that much worse. After laying in bed with the pain not subsiding, I got up to pump. I needed to get the milk out of my breasts. CRAP. That REALLY hurt. Plus, I got very little milk out of the affected side.

I couldn't remember what I was supposed to do to numb the pain, so I tried ice. That made it hurt even more. Dude, the breast hurt with gentle contact. Heck, it hurt no matter what.

My attempts to go back to sleep took at least an hour to two hours. Couldn't really find a non-painful position and wanted to scream. I knew rest was crucial to recover, whatever I might have.

....

Fast forward to this morning. Woke up nearly in tears. This sort of shooting pain in the breast makes me want to DIE. I knew the reality was/is that I most likely have mastitis. I've had it once before, when we visited family in Ohio, and I was nursing Isabella. That time, I had the same shooting pain with some flu symptoms with it - fever, chills, dizzy, fatigue. It couldn't be anything else. I didn't just have a clogged duct; I was certain of that. If I had a clogged duct, I could not tell where, since the breast was so swollen.

We've been living in Colorado only since July of last year. I don't have an obstetrician, yet. So, I called my lactation consultant in Texas, my last obstetrician in Texas, and one of my pediatrician friends. And, I did some research on the internet. A nurse at my ob's office said that I don't have to have a fever to have mastitis. I read that i could take Ibuprofin or Tylenol to help with the inflammation and pain. Applying a WARM (not cold - silly, tired me) compress would help a lot.

The awesome lactation consultant, Martha, that saw me through the really trying initial breastfeeding months with Isabella, called me back not long after I left a message with her. She suggested using warm compresses, taking a hot shower (running the warm to hot water on the breast), soaking the breast in a basin of warm to hot water - while gently massaging the breast. Using Ibuprofin for inflammation and pain, she also recommended. She said that mastitis always starts with a clogged duct. Couldn't find the red line or the source of the clogged duct until after I applied warm compress for awhile.

What else helps? Taking the baby to the breast more frequently, starting on the afflicted side. Must get the milk out of the breast. So, I am nursing Victoria more frequently and am pumping afterwards. I've been pumping once or twice a day to provide breastmilk for another baby, but today I am trying to pump after almost every nursing session.

I read that if the problem doesn't clear up in 24 to 48 hours (who the heck can cope with such excruciating and relentless pain PLUS nurse for more than a day?!) to see a doctor. Antibiotics might be necessary to treat the infection, before it turns into an abscess. Great. Well, it's Friday, so the soonest I'll be able to see a doc is Monday. Let's hope rest, frequent nursing and pumping, consistently applying warm compresses and massaging the breast will make the mastitis clear up. Oh yes, and drink plenty of fluids, which I already do for nursing purposes and for living in the mile-high city.