Need some kinda urgent advice - Stopped bf - in lots and lots of pain

[SillySallySong]

Hi All,
Hope I'm posting in the right place. After feeding my very hungry boy for 14 mths I decided to stop last weekend - he had taken to biting and pinching and was still feeding every 1.5 hours over night and 2.5 hrs in the day - refusing to eat most of his solids and seeming very unhappy most the time. I was getting myself into a complete state by working about what he was/wasn't eating and being so tired and was no longer enjoying it but dreading each feed! Stopping worked wonders for him, after a night or two of being irritated when DH was the only one there responding to cries with a beaker he is only waking once a night and eating a much better diet in the day and seems much happier. My supply was obviously still very high with his constant feeding te first few days were agony (I expressed tiny amounts off) then by thursday it seem to settle, I could go running etc, until today when both breasts are so painful I daren't touch them!! I have taken Co-codomol and ibroprofen. I tried expressing and its just too painful and nothing seems to come out. The tops part of the breast is soft but on both sides the undersides are solid and hot. Tried a hot shower as well but that didn't help. Is this normal and if so when can I expect it settle. Any advice?

[stargirl1701]

Phone NHS24. It may be mastitis and you will need ABs. Rest, fluids, etc. Get well soon

[SillySallySong]

Thanks stargirl I did wonder about mastitus but there is no redness and it is both sides?

[stargirl1701]

The solid and hot don't sound good. The redness may start later.

I'm not sure but I don't think just stopping is advised. It might be worth phoning a bf helpline too.

[Tambajam]

You could also ring the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212.

Sounds like blocked ducts at the very least. Try taking the pain killers, apply hot compresses, massage with electric toothbrush and attempt expressing again. Try hand expression to see if that hurts any less.

That's also the advice for mastitis. Mastitis presents with a temperature but your meds will mask a temperature. Red areas on breasts, pain and feeling generally ropey sounds like mastitis. You may need ABs before a GP surgery opens on Monday so may need to call an out-of-hours service.

When not trying to pump, try cool compresses for comfort.

[Tambajam]

If you're not currently red, mastitis could be imminent so try hard to get them a bit softer.

Sage (eating dried and fresh) can help when you are weaning.

Advice is to gradually reduce feeding but it's a bit late for that info now. Hope you manage to clear it.

[tiktok]

Oooooh sally :( :( not good.

First off try to express gently GENTLY by hand. Try doing it in the bath. Lean forward and let your breast drip if poss. Minimal handling.

If this doesn't work you will need to ask your baby to help. The worry is you get mastitis or worse an abscess.

If things are not better in a few hours you will need to call out of hours doc or go to a and e.

Hope the bath or baby trick works.

[SillySallySong]

Thanks all, we did try slowing down (every advice method going) but he just wouldn't and if anything was getting more and more demanding. He was eating less and less solids and demanding more and more milk. I reached breaking point with pain from biting and being so, so tired. Was a bit of a crisis point situation which though I don't regret stopping wish it could have been a bit more of a positive end to an otherwise lovely positive bf relationship. Thank you for your advice. Will keep and eye and will try and express. I'm worried by the thought of an abscess as can't put my right arm down to my side now without pain. Will call NHS

[HilariousInHindsight]

Could be a blocked duct.

I've had mastitis and blocked duct.

Does any of this sound familiar here?

A blocked duct can turn into mastitis but mastitis isn't always caused by a duct getting blocked.

I'd go to your GP and see. You might need antibiotics.

I'd use a hot compress and maybe try a bit of hand expressing. Also breast compression might be relaxing (might want breast pads or such as milk will likely leak).

I do feel for you.

[Superworm]

You poor thing, mastitis is awful.

The hot bath and gentle hand expressing have worked for me in the past. If you cannot get the milk moving through expressing, I would breastfeed to prevent an abscess tbh. That was always my big fear with mastitis.

May be ring out of hours and get a prescription for antibiotics just in case.

[Superworm]

How are things op?

[SillySallySong]

Thank you,saw Dr this morn, given my anti-biotics but worried I've developed an abscess on one side. I have to go back tomorrow to se if anti-bitics taking affect. Thank you for asking :-)

[Tambajam]

Crossing fingers.

[Superworm]

How you doing op? Hope the antibiotics did the trick