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Help - Breast inflammation
Clisby Williams wrote in message ... Cathy wrote: Hi all, I don't want to call this mastitis, but that is what it will become if left. From past experience I know that the only way to clear this up is to get DD on to it. But what do I do if she would rather lie there and cry than feed off that breast? I also know that I can't use a pump (that makes it worse), and I have been trying to hand express, but get next to nothing. Any suggestions as to how to get DD to feed off that side? It has been 3 feedings now, and she is really not keen, but will feed off the other side just fine. (And yes, I am using cold compresses, antiinflammitories, and generally taking it easy!). I should add that DD is teething too, and she is really doing nasty things to my nipples with her gums and current teeth. Ouch. Any thoughts greatly appreciated. Cathy Will she feed from that side during the night, when she's sleepy? I had recurring problems with plugged ducts until my son was about 6 months old (when I say recurring, I mean I was averaging an episode of plugged ducts every other week), and I often had to wake up my sleeping son to nurse because of it. Clisby I tried her last night when she was fairly sleepy, and after a half hearted suckle, she wanted the other side. I didn't realise at that stage what the problem was. Since my last post, I have fed DD again - she took the affected side, but didn't suckle strongly enough to clear the blockage - the bottom of the breast is now nice and flaccid, but the top is still very full. She doesn't have a very strong suckle (never has, never will I suspect) . Last time I got a blockage, the only reason she cleared it was because she went to sleep on the breast, got woken up very suddenly, yelled, and then clamped down! I sort of tried the same thing last feed, but she was just dozing instead of being dead to the world, and didn't mind waking. Oh well - I'll try expressing by hand (I can't get a lot, but I suppose some is better than none), and hope for the best. (I should also say that I also tried a friend's son who is a great feeder, but he knew I wasn't mum!!). Thanks, Cathy |
#2
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Help - Breast inflammation
G'day
Cathy wrote: I don't want to call this mastitis, but that is what it will become if left. well it could be mastitis - google for my posting in March called "Inflammatory mastitis". yes, I am using cold compresses, antiinflammitories, and generally taking it easy!). More more more of the above. I've just been through this twice more in the last two months. Ice packs. Lots of ibuprofen. Lie down and take it easy. Warm compresses to help let down before feeding. VERY GENTLE massage. And if it doesn't clear up after 36 hours, get thee to a doc and get some antibiotics. DrRuth Mum to Joshua Eamon (Nov 15th, 2001) http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~drruth/joshua/ |
#3
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Help - Breast inflammation
Just to update, DD obviously decided she was really hungry. I gave her the
affected breast again (5th time in a row! - I'm off to pump the other one now), and after a few half hearted sucks, I thought she was going to quit. But then she decided to nurse properly, and the greedy guts went at it for 30 mins (she is usually done in about 10 these days). So phew! Again, thanks for the help. Cathy |
#4
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Help - Breast inflammation
"Cathy" wrote
Hi all, I don't want to call this mastitis, but that is what it will become if left. From past experience I know that the only way to clear this up is to get DD on to it. But what do I do if she would rather lie there and cry than feed off that breast? I also know that I can't use a pump (that makes it worse), and I have been trying to hand express, but get next to nothing. Any suggestions as to how to get DD to feed off that side? It has been 3 feedings now, and she is really not keen, but will feed off the other side just fine. (And yes, I am using cold compresses, antiinflammitories, and generally taking it easy!). I should add that DD is teething too, and she is really doing nasty things to my nipples with her gums and current teeth. Ouch. According to the LC who leads my bf'ing group, hot compresses are the way to go. According to her, the heat opens the ducts so that the plug is more likely to be removed during nursing. Although cold feels better, she says that hot will help unplug the duct. (Personally, I put a washcloth in a ziplock and put it in the microwave for a few seconds. It's reusable, inexpensive and doesn't require a trip to the store.) -- Melissa (in Los Angeles) Mum to Elizabeth 4/13/03 |
#5
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Questions was Help - Breast inflammation (long!)
G'day
Cathy wrote: I googled that last time I had this problem, and it is saved on my computer. Thanks - I believe it got me through these last 2 episodes. I'm so glad. It was so different to the information I had read every where else, and it really made sense for me and worked, so I try to let everyone know about it. What is the difference between a plugged duct and inflammatory mastitis? The last 2 times I have had 'something!', I have had about 1/3 to 1/2 of my breast feel very hard, and the nipple has been very sore while feeding. I thought a plugged duct was more localised (i.e. there would only be a very small sore spot). Well from my limited experience of this (I've had "something" about half a dozen times), the first few times were relieved by lots of feeding, massage, and warm compresses (yes before I knew about inflammatory mastitis). So I presume they were plugged ducts of some form or another. The first times I had inflammatory mastitis was the time I wrote about it in march. I massaged too much. I used to much heat. I made it much worse. The last two times I had it I "knew" what I was doing. In each case ibuprofen, cold compresses and rest, warm and gentle massage when feeding, feeding feeding and feeding, didn't make it better, so a call to my doc and a course of antibiotics and all was better. In all cases I do get 1/3 to 1/2 of my breast start off feeling full and a little tender which then progresses to having areas I can feel are getting swollen hard and tender, which then become red and hot and incredibly painful to touch. Once the surface skin of the breast actually peeled off after the infection was gone. I've never had a single small sore spot. And I've never expressed out any lumps or gunky stuff like some people report. So maybe I have never had a plugged duct. When DD has cleared the problem (see, I seem to think there was a blockage!), I have been left with a really tender nipple. Normally I can see the 'hole' where the milk comes out, but after an episode like this, it seems to be blocked (with dried pus/milk/fatty deposits?). There also seems to be like an emptied blister on the edge of the nipple. I looked up bleb, as I have seen people mention these, but to me, that doesn't seem to what I have. Could it be a friction blister? It is never there any other time. If so, what should I do about it? I've not experienced this. Never had nipple pain associated with this. Never had a bleb. The friction blisters I had in the first few weeks of BF were nasty big blood blisters. And now to the nitty gritty - can a poor latch ever be corrected? DD has never been brilliant at latching. It wasn't her fault - she didn't have a lot to work with. I had almost non-existant nipples, which she has managed to pull out over time. One is now not bad, but the other (the breast that keeps getting blocked or whatever) is really misshapen, and I have noticed that it is often white - sometimes this is hours after a feed. DD is really strong, and often I can't position her properly. But I have also noticed that when she first latches, she is not too good at getting on, but if I take her off after a short time, she sort of sucks the nipple in (instead of really opening her mouth wide) - and this actually feels better. Is it worth contacting an LC after this length of time? (The one I worked with initially has left, so I'd have to find someone else, which could be a pain as I think there are only 2 others in my city). Some one else should cover this. The whiteness hours after a feed sounds like something others have talked about as Reynauds (?I think) or vasospasm (Sorry it's late and I maybe misremembering). I would think it's never too late to try and correct a latch. And finally, is there anything I can do to ease the nipple pain after an episode like this? I shouldn't expect it to happen again, but if it does, I want to know how to fix it fast! The first 2 times I had infective mastitis, the 3rd time I'm not sure what it was, and the last 2 times I have had the symptoms described above. I would really like to try and get to the bottom of what causes it, as I would like to feed DD for as long as possible, and I also want to be prepared for no. 2 (whenever that might be!). The thing that helped my nipple pain at the start of my BF career (LOL) was Soothies. Apparently there's something else called Maternimates too. They are small gel peds that you keep in the freezer and place on your nips after feeding. Incredibly soothing after the initial cold yelp. Thanks for getting this far (if you have). You're welcome. Time to sleep DrRuth |
#6
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Nipple pain: was Questions was Help - Breast inflammation (long!)
Ruth Shear wrote: G'day Changing the subject in an attempt to lure people who know about vasospasm like Dawn... Ah, I'm a sucker for a good luring..... Lemme see if I can figure out what you want to know from me..... Cathy wrote: When DD has cleared the problem (see, I seem to think there was a blockage!), I have been left with a really tender nipple. Normally I can see the 'hole' where the milk comes out, but after an episode like this, it seems to be blocked (with dried pus/milk/fatty deposits?). There also seems to be like an emptied blister on the edge of the nipple. I looked up bleb, as I have seen people mention these, but to me, that doesn't seem to what I have. Could it be a friction blister? It is never there any other time. If so, what should I do about it? And now to the nitty gritty - can a poor latch ever be corrected? DD has never been brilliant at latching. It wasn't her fault - she didn't have a lot to work with. I had almost non-existant nipples, which she has managed to pull out over time. One is now not bad, but the other (the breast that keeps getting blocked or whatever) is really misshapen, and I have noticed that it is often white - sometimes this is hours after a feed. Guessing this is where I step in.... If the nipple is white, it's probably blanched, or "out of blood", and that's VERY painful...perhaps the nipple is hard and white? If so, try warm compress or try rolling and squeezing behind the nipple, to press the blood back into the constricted vessels, just like you'd squeese your finger to push blood out of a pinprick. DD is really strong, and often I can't position her properly. But I have also noticed that when she first latches, she is not too good at getting on, but if I take her off after a short time, she sort of sucks the nipple in (instead of really opening her mouth wide) - and this actually feels better. It COULD be that when she opens wide, she's getting the nipple in far enough to compress it....and triggering the vasospasm. Does your nipple come out shaped like a nipple or is it flattened like a lipstick or a tent? Does the whiteness start after a feed? If you have inverted nipples, I suppose latching to draw it out and then relatching might indeed work better since her second latch would be on a nipple and not on the inversion, if you know what I mean. Some one else should cover this. The whiteness hours after a feed sounds like something others have talked about as Reynauds (?I think) or vasospasm I was told mine was vasospasm, which is triggered by an irritation, and if early bfding doesn't count as irritating to nipples.....I don't know what does... ;-) I also had a LOT of nipple pain if I got the slightest bit chilly when I was pregnant. And finally, is there anything I can do to ease the nipple pain after an episode like this? I shouldn't expect it to happen again, but if it does, I want to know how to fix it fast! The first 2 times I had infective mastitis, the 3rd time I'm not sure what it was, and the last 2 times I have had the symptoms described above. I would really like to try and get to the bottom of what causes it, as I would like to feed DD for as long as possible, and I also want to be prepared for no. 2 (whenever that might be!). I'm going to have to look back and double check your symptoms, but if it doesn't happen every time, I don't know that it's vasospasm, because that happened EVERY time I nursed and got worse thru the night. The thing that helped my nipple pain at the start of my BF career (LOL) was Soothies. Apparently there's something else called Maternimates too. They are small gel peds that you keep in the freezer and place on your nips after feeding. Incredibly soothing after the initial cold yelp. NOT if you have vasospasm. Cold would be excruciating. Think of how your nipples feel on a chilly day, then multiply the feeling a thousand times......... :-O warm/hot washcloths expand the seized up blood vessels and relieve vasospasm. |
#7
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Questions was Help - Breast inflammation (long!)
Ruth Shear wrote in message news G'day Cathy wrote: I googled that last time I had this problem, and it is saved on my computer. Thanks - I believe it got me through these last 2 episodes. I'm so glad. It was so different to the information I had read every where else, and it really made sense for me and worked, so I try to let everyone know about it. Snip In all cases I do get 1/3 to 1/2 of my breast start off feeling full and a little tender which then progresses to having areas I can feel are getting swollen hard and tender, which then become red and hot and incredibly painful to touch. Once the surface skin of the breast actually peeled off after the infection was gone. I've never had a single small sore spot. And I've never expressed out any lumps or gunky stuff like some people report. So maybe I have never had a plugged duct. Ouch! I can't imagine skin peeling off the breast. I have never expressed any gunk either, but then when I have an 'episode', I generally get so swollen that I can't express. When DD has cleared the problem (see, I seem to think there was a blockage!), I have been left with a really tender nipple. Normally I can see the 'hole' where the milk comes out, but after an episode like this, it seems to be blocked (with dried pus/milk/fatty deposits?). There also seems to be like an emptied blister on the edge of the nipple. I looked up bleb, as I have seen people mention these, but to me, that doesn't seem to what I have. Could it be a friction blister? It is never there any other time. If so, what should I do about it? I've not experienced this. Never had nipple pain associated with this. Never had a bleb. The friction blisters I had in the first few weeks of BF were nasty big blood blisters. Nope, mine doesn't sound like a friction blister then! I investigated the area before a feeding today (I usually do it after a feeding), and I got a wee bit of something out - didn't look like pus, but it could have been. And now to the nitty gritty - can a poor latch ever be corrected? DD has never been brilliant at latching. It wasn't her fault - she didn't have a lot to work with. I had almost non-existant nipples, which she has managed to pull out over time. One is now not bad, but the other (the breast that keeps getting blocked or whatever) is really misshapen, and I have noticed that it is often white - sometimes this is hours after a feed. DD is really strong, and often I can't position her properly. But I have also noticed that when she first latches, she is not too good at getting on, but if I take her off after a short time, she sort of sucks the nipple in (instead of really opening her mouth wide) - and this actually feels better. Is it worth contacting an LC after this length of time? (The one I worked with initially has left, so I'd have to find someone else, which could be a pain as I think there are only 2 others in my city). Some one else should cover this. The whiteness hours after a feed sounds like something others have talked about as Reynauds (?I think) or vasospasm (Sorry it's late and I maybe misremembering). I would think it's never too late to try and correct a latch. I looked up vasospasm/Reynauds, and although it sort of sounds right, I don't think it is what I have. I suspect it is just blanching due to a poor latch. I was quite surprised after the last feed, as I checked the nipple, and it was shaped just right! And finally, is there anything I can do to ease the nipple pain after an episode like this? I shouldn't expect it to happen again, but if it does, I want to know how to fix it fast! The first 2 times I had infective mastitis, the 3rd time I'm not sure what it was, and the last 2 times I have had the symptoms described above. I would really like to try and get to the bottom of what causes it, as I would like to feed DD for as long as possible, and I also want to be prepared for no. 2 (whenever that might be!). The thing that helped my nipple pain at the start of my BF career (LOL) was Soothies. Apparently there's something else called Maternimates too. They are small gel peds that you keep in the freezer and place on your nips after feeding. Incredibly soothing after the initial cold yelp. Darn, I have never seen anything like Soothies. I'll have to have a look (I am not in the US) and see if there is something similar. So I think I'll get in touch with an LC, and see if she can offer a solution. I'll also try LLL (tried the other day, but the contact person wasn't in). Thanks so much for your advice Ruth - it is nice to know that other people are also too stubborn to give up BF!! Cathy |
#8
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Nipple pain: was Questions was Help - Breast inflammation (long!)
Cathy wrote: Dawn Lawson wrote in message ... When DD was younger, the nipple used to come out lipstick-like. But now it seems to come out 'nipple-shaped'. The whiteness is not present now (just after a feed). It seems to come on a bit later, really only if I shiver or get a chill..] Sounds liek vasospasm to me. warm/hot washcloths expand the seized up blood vessels and relieve vasospasm. Thanks for the advice. I'll try warm compresses, and see if that will help heal things up. If its vasospasm, there's nothing to "heal", it's just a condition of the physiology of your body. What you try to do is restore the blood and "uncramp" the blood vessels. See if warmth works for you. Dawn |
#9
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Nipple pain: was Questions was Help - Breast inflammation (long!)
Dawn Lawson wrote in message ... Ruth Shear wrote: G'day Changing the subject in an attempt to lure people who know about vasospasm like Dawn... Ah, I'm a sucker for a good luring..... Lemme see if I can figure out what you want to know from me..... Cathy wrote: And now to the nitty gritty - can a poor latch ever be corrected? DD has never been brilliant at latching. It wasn't her fault - she didn't have a lot to work with. I had almost non-existant nipples, which she has managed to pull out over time. One is now not bad, but the other (the breast that keeps getting blocked or whatever) is really misshapen, and I have noticed that it is often white - sometimes this is hours after a feed. Guessing this is where I step in.... If the nipple is white, it's probably blanched, or "out of blood", and that's VERY painful...perhaps the nipple is hard and white? If so, try warm compress or try rolling and squeezing behind the nipple, to press the blood back into the constricted vessels, just like you'd squeese your finger to push blood out of a pinprick. The rolling doesn't seem to work, so I'll try warmth. DD is really strong, and often I can't position her properly. But I have also noticed that when she first latches, she is not too good at getting on, but if I take her off after a short time, she sort of sucks the nipple in (instead of really opening her mouth wide) - and this actually feels better. It COULD be that when she opens wide, she's getting the nipple in far enough to compress it....and triggering the vasospasm. Does your nipple come out shaped like a nipple or is it flattened like a lipstick or a tent? Does the whiteness start after a feed? If you have inverted nipples, I suppose latching to draw it out and then relatching might indeed work better since her second latch would be on a nipple and not on the inversion, if you know what I mean. When DD was younger, the nipple used to come out lipstick-like. But now it seems to come out 'nipple-shaped'. The whiteness is not present now (just after a feed). It seems to come on a bit later, really only if I shiver or get a chill.. I don't have inverted nipples, but they were pretty flat when DD was born, and I guess they still are a bit. Some one else should cover this. The whiteness hours after a feed sounds like something others have talked about as Reynauds (?I think) or vasospasm I was told mine was vasospasm, which is triggered by an irritation, and if early bfding doesn't count as irritating to nipples.....I don't know what does... ;-) I also had a LOT of nipple pain if I got the slightest bit chilly when I was pregnant. And finally, is there anything I can do to ease the nipple pain after an episode like this? I shouldn't expect it to happen again, but if it does, I want to know how to fix it fast! The first 2 times I had infective mastitis, the 3rd time I'm not sure what it was, and the last 2 times I have had the symptoms described above. I would really like to try and get to the bottom of what causes it, as I would like to feed DD for as long as possible, and I also want to be prepared for no. 2 (whenever that might be!). I'm going to have to look back and double check your symptoms, but if it doesn't happen every time, I don't know that it's vasospasm, because that happened EVERY time I nursed and got worse thru the night. This does not sound like me. It does not happen every time. And to be honest, I'm not even sure if the nipples are white normally. If things are going o.k., I tend to ignore the nipples! All I know is that after an episode of mastitis, the nipples hurt and are white! I'll really have to look at them when things are fixed, and see what they are like. I'm trying to get to the bottom of what causes my episodes of mastitis. To be honest, they aren't too bad (if I can DD to clear things) - it is the 5-7 days of nipple pain afterward that I hate. The thing that helped my nipple pain at the start of my BF career (LOL) was Soothies. Apparently there's something else called Maternimates too. They are small gel peds that you keep in the freezer and place on your nips after feeding. Incredibly soothing after the initial cold yelp. NOT if you have vasospasm. Cold would be excruciating. Think of how your nipples feel on a chilly day, then multiply the feeling a thousand times......... :-O warm/hot washcloths expand the seized up blood vessels and relieve vasospasm. Thanks for the advice. I'll try warm compresses, and see if that will help heal things up. Cathy |
#10
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Nipple pain: was Questions was Help - Breast inflammation (long!)
Dawn Lawson wrote in message ... Cathy wrote: Dawn Lawson wrote in message ... When DD was younger, the nipple used to come out lipstick-like. But now it seems to come out 'nipple-shaped'. The whiteness is not present now (just after a feed). It seems to come on a bit later, really only if I shiver or get a chill..] Sounds liek vasospasm to me. warm/hot washcloths expand the seized up blood vessels and relieve vasospasm. Thanks for the advice. I'll try warm compresses, and see if that will help heal things up. If its vasospasm, there's nothing to "heal", it's just a condition of the physiology of your body. What you try to do is restore the blood and "uncramp" the blood vessels. See if warmth works for you. Dawn If it is vasospasm, why would I only notice it in one breast (the info I found said it was generally in both breasts), and only after an episode of mastitis? And the 'healing' in the last message referred to a crack - oops, forgot to mention that. It is all better now though! Just a wee one this time, which means that DDs latch is definitely not right. While feeding before, I looked at what she did, and it seems she doesn't really get her tongue down - the one time she did was the time it didn't hurt. I'd love to go back to basics (like when she was a week onld!), but now she is so darn strong that I find her very hard to position. Thanks for your advice, Cathy |
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