Fuck.

[rivka]

I have mastitis.

I thought mastitis was something that happened very early in the course of a breastfeeding relationship, so when I didn't get massively, massively ill in the first few weeks with Colin the way I did with Alex, I foolishly thought I was home free.

Ha.

It started yesterday afternoon with a sore, aching breast and the feeling that I was waaaay overdue to pump at work when, in actuality, I had just pumped. I came home and tried to nurse Colin a lot on that side. I took a long hot shower at bedtime and tried to use massage, but honestly it didn't feel a lot like the plugged duct I had before (i.e., noticeable lump, very localized, easily fixed).

Today my breast feels awful, like it's full of ground glass, and I also ache all over and have nausea and chills. I keep trying to nurse and nurse Colin but I still feel horribly engorged. And then this afternoon I noticed a bright red patch on my breast, like a 2x2-inch sunburn. That's mastitis.

The good news is that after a brief phone consult my midwife called in an antibiotic and Michael has gone to pick it up. It hurts like hell to nurse, and I feel sick all over.

I can't believe how quickly this came on and how lousy I feel.

Comments

[anthologie.livejournal.com]

Sympathy. I had mastitis that wouldn't go away from my daugher's 3rd to 9th week - three courses of antibiotics, lactation consultants, ultrasound treatments, castor oil packs, soaking my breast in epsom salts, getting up round the clock, pumping, nursing, letting my partner nurse on me. We did everything. Finally it went away. It's freaky how fast it comes on. Good thing the antibiotics are on their way. You'll be feeling better soon.