Become a contributor and register to submit your story!
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

Boobingit
  • Mama Stories
  • Breastfeeding and…
    • All
    • Being prepared
    • Covid19
    • Doing it longterm
    • Products + Reviews
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Sleep
    • Style
    • Support
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    Mum breastfeeding her baby in Sainsbury’s car park told it was ‘inappropriate’ by staff member

    Mum breastfeeding her baby in Sainsbury’s car park told it was ‘inappropriate’ by staff member

    DIY breast milk bath photoshoot

    DIY breast milk bath photoshoot

    American Academy of Pediatrics breastfeeding

    Breastfeed for 2 years or longer, new American Academy of Pediatrics guidance suggests

    The PUMP Act

    Senate fails to pass breastfeeding law for 9 million working parents despite calls for flexibility amid formula shortage

    How to breastfeed in public with confidence – breastfeeding mamas share their top tips!

    National Breastfeeding Week and how everyone can help mothers breastfeed

    Portrait of breastfeeding servicewoman wins Napier Waller Art Prize for 2022

    Portrait of breastfeeding servicewoman wins Napier Waller Art Prize for 2022

    Trending Tags

    • breastfeeding
    • covid vaccine and breastfeeding
    • breastfeeding and Covid19
    • Hypnobirthing and breastfeeding
    • boobingit podcast
    • Latched breastfeeding bra
    • breastfeeding support
    • diy breast milk soap
    • Sleep
    • Covid19
    • Being prepared
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    • Doing it longterm
  • Resources
    • Guides
      • Breastfeeding after giving birth
      • Breastfeeding after a caesarean birth
      • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
      • Breastfeeding the unsettled baby
      • Breastfeeding positions
      • Responsive feeding
      • Breastfeeding in public
      • Expressing milk
      • Tongue ties
      • Mastitis
      • Breast refusal
      • Bottle refusal
      • Relactation and Induced Lactation
      • Breast milk soap
      • Babywearing
      • Transitioning baby to solid foods
    • A-Z Glossary
  • The Podcast
  • ContributorsNew
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book
  • Mama Stories
  • Breastfeeding and…
    • All
    • Being prepared
    • Covid19
    • Doing it longterm
    • Products + Reviews
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Sleep
    • Style
    • Support
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    Mum breastfeeding her baby in Sainsbury’s car park told it was ‘inappropriate’ by staff member

    Mum breastfeeding her baby in Sainsbury’s car park told it was ‘inappropriate’ by staff member

    DIY breast milk bath photoshoot

    DIY breast milk bath photoshoot

    American Academy of Pediatrics breastfeeding

    Breastfeed for 2 years or longer, new American Academy of Pediatrics guidance suggests

    The PUMP Act

    Senate fails to pass breastfeeding law for 9 million working parents despite calls for flexibility amid formula shortage

    How to breastfeed in public with confidence – breastfeeding mamas share their top tips!

    National Breastfeeding Week and how everyone can help mothers breastfeed

    Portrait of breastfeeding servicewoman wins Napier Waller Art Prize for 2022

    Portrait of breastfeeding servicewoman wins Napier Waller Art Prize for 2022

    Trending Tags

    • breastfeeding
    • covid vaccine and breastfeeding
    • breastfeeding and Covid19
    • Hypnobirthing and breastfeeding
    • boobingit podcast
    • Latched breastfeeding bra
    • breastfeeding support
    • diy breast milk soap
    • Sleep
    • Covid19
    • Being prepared
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    • Doing it longterm
  • Resources
    • Guides
      • Breastfeeding after giving birth
      • Breastfeeding after a caesarean birth
      • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
      • Breastfeeding the unsettled baby
      • Breastfeeding positions
      • Responsive feeding
      • Breastfeeding in public
      • Expressing milk
      • Tongue ties
      • Mastitis
      • Breast refusal
      • Bottle refusal
      • Relactation and Induced Lactation
      • Breast milk soap
      • Babywearing
      • Transitioning baby to solid foods
    • A-Z Glossary
  • The Podcast
  • ContributorsNew
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

Boobingit
No Result
View All Result
Home Breastfeeding And... The challenges

How mastitis almost ended my breastfeeding journey

In less than 48 hours I went from feeling slightly unwell to being admitted to hospital and on the verge of sepsis

Grace Redmond by Grace Redmond
December 11, 2020
in Breastfeeding And..., The challenges
0
how mastitis almost ended my breastfeeding journey

I had read about mastitis early on in my breastfeeding journey so knew the signs to look out for. As soon as I felt my breast became sore I tried to prevent the blocked milk duct from becoming infected. I constantly massaged it, offered the painful side first during feeds, and used a warm flannel to help relieve some of the pain. I took to a breastfeeding support group on Facebook to look for other useful tips and tricks to unblock the duct. But despite my best efforts, I just kept feeling worse.

My symptoms became more severe

It was as if I had a bad case of the flu – buy body ached and I felt freezing, yet had a really high temperature. I knew I needed antibiotics, but because it was the weekend I rang the NHS emergency number for advice. Due to the severity of my symptoms I was advised to go to my local urgent care. My baby, now 15 weeks, was left at home with my husband, who promptly defrosted my milk from the freezer (thank goodness for my freezer stash). I was seen quickly and it was confirmed I had mastitis. I was given antibiotics and sent home.

Due to the severity of my symptoms I was advised to go to my local urgent care

After being home only an hour I started vomitting and couldn’t even keep water down. This meant the antibiotics weren’t staying in and the paracetamol that was helping with my pain and temperature weren’t working. I went back to urgent care, was given different antibiotics and some anti-sickness medication to take together.

My temperature reached 41⁰C and I couldn’t move

I came home and napped on the sofa, but I woke suddenly feeling very unwell. My temperature was now 41⁰C, I was so fatigued I couldn’t move and I was struggling with my breathing. My husband decided to call an ambulance and I was taken to A&E and put on a sepsis pathway. I was given IV antibiotics, pain relief, and fluids. Bloods were taken and I was having regular monitoring. 

how mastitis nearly ended my breastfeeding journey

After about 3 hours in hospital I was starting to feel better but my breasts had become very full. Luckily, my husband had packed me a bag and had thought to put in my breast pump. A&E was extremely busy and now that my observations (blood pressure, pulse, temperature) were more stable I was on the corridor not a private bay. I asked my nurse if there was somewhere private I could go to pump, and she was more than helpful.

I asked my nurse if there was somewhere private I could go to pump, and she was more than helpful.

I was given my own room, with a door that could be locked and a jug of water. My nurse regularly checked on me and although she didn’t know much about breastfeeding she was very supportive. She even offered to store the milk for me, but I declined, knowing a lot of my breast milk had already been defrosted. I was really impressed by the thoughtfulness and didn’t expect it at all. 

If I was admitted to hospital it would end my breastfeeding journey

As time went on and I was given more fluids and IV antibiotics, my observations kept improving and my bloods had come back ‘OK’. I was seen by a doctor and told my options. Either I could be admitted to hospital and continue IV medications but my son would be unable to stay with me due to Covid-19 restrictions, or I could go home and monitor myself. I was exhausted and emotional – what was the right decision?

Although I probably would have been better staying in hospital to continue IV medications, I knew if I was admitted to hospital it would end my breastfeeding journey. If my son couldn’t be with me, I couldn’t feed him and we didn’t have enough milk in the freezer to sustain him. Therefore, I made the difficult decision to go home as I didn’t want my breastfeeding journey with my son to end. Looking back now, I wish I had the energy to fight and question my care a bit more. Were these really the only two options available to me? Did I have to be separated from my son?

I was on the verge of becoming septic

I was told if my temperature spiked again or I felt as unwell as I did to come straight back. They said I had been on the verge of becoming septic from my mastitis. I honestly had no idea how unwell mastitis can make you and how quickly things can deteriorate. From feeling some pain to being taken to hospital via ambulance, it had happened in less than 48 hours.

It took me over a week to recover properly at home, taking oral antibiotics and resting lots. It was very difficult caring for my baby while I felt so unwell and managing the pain. Luckily my dad was working from home so was able to check on me every day while my husband was at work. Without his support, I think I would have given up on breastfeeding due to soreness and exhaustion. I am so proud that in end we are still breastfeeding through blood, sweat, and tears!

how mastitis almost ended my breastfeeding journey

I am so proud that in end we are still breastfeeding through blood, sweat and tears!


What is mastitis?

Mastitis is a condition whereby the breast(s) become inflamed and engorged. They’ll likely feel very warm to the touch and look ‘angry’ and red. You may experience flu-like symptoms; feeling hot one minute and cold the next. 

Sometimes there’s an obvious reason why mastitis takes hold, such as skipping a feed or baby repeatedly feeding off one breast and not the other (which can lead to a painful build up of milk in your breast) but sometimes there doesn’t appear to be a reason why mastitis occurs. 

Needless to say, it’s a very painful condition and can come on very suddenly and quickly. If you’re lucky and can ‘catch it early’ there are some home remedies which you can do to combat it. Things like a hot bath or shower whilst massaging the breasts can alleviate the engorgement and swollenness. It’s also important to continue to feed your baby from the sore breast(s). Hand expression, manual or electric pumping in between feeds can often remedy things. 

If you’re still in pain even after trying these things, then you should contact a doctor immediately for a course of antibiotics as it’s likely an infection has taken hold.

Tags: Mastitismastitis and breastfeedingmastitis home remediessymptoms of mastitis
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

“Breastfeeding in a pandemic was plain sailing…until my daughter showed signs of an allergy”

Next Post

The ultimate Amazon gift guide for breastfeeders

Grace Redmond

Grace Redmond

Hello I'm Grace. Mum to Freddie born July 2020. From Manchester. Enjoying breastfeeding despite lots of obstacles at the start and lack of support. Becoming more and more passionate about breastfeeding the more I learn. Our aim was 6 weeks then 3 months then 6 months and then a year. Currently hitting every target we had with no sign of stopping soon. Would love to get to 2 years. I work as an Operating Department Practitioner in the NHS, currently pumping since returning work in July 2021. See my 10 ten tips for breastfeeding and returning to work. Excited to be part of the #boobingit community. Grateful for all the like minded friends I've made along the way.

Next Post
gift guide for breastfeeders

The ultimate Amazon gift guide for breastfeeders

Please login to join discussion

Recommended

Mum breastfeeding her baby in Sainsbury’s car park told it was ‘inappropriate’ by staff member

Mum breastfeeding her baby in Sainsbury’s car park told it was ‘inappropriate’ by staff member

2 days ago
DIY breast milk bath photoshoot

DIY breast milk bath photoshoot

3 days ago

Become a boobingit member today. It's FREE!

Sign up today for the latest breastfeeding information & inspiration.

Sign Up Now!

Trending

Helen Flanagan shares honest post about parenting struggles as she stops breastfeeding

Helen Flanagan shares honest post about parenting struggles as she stops breastfeeding

April 25, 2022
Sad school teacher in classroom

Mirfield teacher wins harassment case after being forced to express breast milk in school toilets

April 17, 2022

How I survived Covid whilst breastfeeding (twice) & what I learned

April 14, 2022

Advertisement

Boobingit

Boobingit is here to inform, inspire, and empower you as you navigate your own unique breastfeeding journey.

Follow Boobingit on social

Be part of boobingit.com

Become a Partner

Become a Contributor

  • About boobingit
  • Shop
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2020, Boobingit - for breastfeeders everywhere.

  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
No Result
View All Result
  • Mama Stories
  • Breastfeeding and…
    • Sleep
    • Covid19
    • Being prepared
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    • Doing it longterm
  • Resources
    • Guides
      • Breastfeeding after giving birth
      • Breastfeeding after a caesarean birth
      • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
      • Breastfeeding the unsettled baby
      • Breastfeeding positions
      • Responsive feeding
      • Breastfeeding in public
      • Expressing milk
      • Tongue ties
      • Mastitis
      • Breast refusal
      • Bottle refusal
      • Relactation and Induced Lactation
      • Breast milk soap
      • Babywearing
      • Transitioning baby to solid foods
    • A-Z Glossary
  • The Podcast
  • Contributors
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book

Sign up today to become a contributor and share your story!
Sign up now!

Copyright © 2020, Boobingit - for breastfeeders everywhere.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create a boobingit account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Breastfeeding for Beginners – Latches, letdowns & leaky boobs

Out Now!

Shop Now

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?