Some Help for Friend

My friend had a baby girl 3 weeks ago and is exclusively breastfeeding (woo
hoo). She called me today because she's had a sore spot "about the size of
a quarter" on her breast right to the side of her nipple. She said that it
did feel hot when she touched it and that sometimes the entire breast felt
hot. I never had mastitis, so I don't know much about it, but I told her it
sounded more like an infection than like a plugged duct or thrush (yes, I
know that's an infection too). She does not have any flu symptoms or any
fever, is it possible that she has a light case of mastitis? Or does this
sound like anything else you have experienced?

Thanks, I'll pass along whatever info I get to her, she's computer
illiterate!

- Jen

My friend had a baby girl 3 weeks ago and is exclusively breastfeeding (woo
hoo). She called me today because she's had a sore spot "about the size of
a quarter" on her breast right to the side of her nipple. She said that it
did feel hot when she touched it and that sometimes the entire breast felt
hot. I never had mastitis, so I don't know much about it, but I told her it
sounded more like an infection than like a plugged duct or thrush (yes, I
know that's an infection too). She does not have any flu symptoms or any
fever, is it possible that she has a light case of mastitis? Or does this
sound like anything else you have experienced?

Thanks, I'll pass along whatever info I get to her, she's computer
illiterate!

- Jen


Yeah, it sounds like mastitis to me, especially if she can feel a lump under or
next to the sore spot and/or if the skin over it is reddened. She just hasn't
come down with the fever yet, or she's so exhausted and out of it from being
the mother of a 3-week-old that she can't tell that she's also sick. ;-) Or,
I suppose, it's a mild case. In any event, give her the usual treatments for a
plugged duct and mastitis -- rotating baby's latch position, warm shower,
massage, saline bath, rest and fluids -- but she probably doesn't need
antibiotics unless and until her symptoms get worse. (I had cases like that a
couple times and it went away after a day in bed.)

The sore, "hot" spot could also just be a result of something about the way she
holds her baby. Trying a different position might help if that's the case.

Holly
Mom to Camden, almost 3
EDD #2 6/8/04