So, I do my best to avoid giving TMI on this blog. I know my dad and father-in-law are among my readers and I like to spare them from some nasty details of my life if possible. :) BUT.. this is also my blog and so today I'm just going to be real. If you don't want to read about boobs, milk supply, clogged milk ducts, pumping, etc... you can just skip right over this baby.
From the time my milk came in with Emma, my body has been way overproducing milk. I mean, we're talking - I pump for 3 minutes and get 5 oz on each side!!!! I've been in pain and felt engorged pretty much the entire time. I've talked to the lactation consultant multiple times and they have told me to pump a little bit for comfort but not to pump too much or my body will continue producing that much milk. It's been a hard balance to figure out and because of that, I often realize I have a painful clogged milk duct. My fear has always been that I'll get mastitis because of this problem. Well, last Wednesday I did. I had been out and about all day - playgroup, errands, going for a walk, etc.. and then all of the sudden, I felt miserable. I was freezing and shivering, my boob was on fire, I felt like I was going to pass out, etc... I somehow suffered through the last hour before Justin got home from work. Someone had brought us diner that night (thanks, Amanda!!), so we sat down to eat and I couldn't even concentrate on eating. I told Justin I needed to go take a nap. On my way down the stairs, it hit me. I realized that all of these symptoms sounded exactly like the way my friend Lindsey described mastitis, which she had a few months before. I called her and told her my symptoms and she said to go to urgent care immediately. So, I did and they diagnosed me with mastitis and gave me some antibiotics. The next 24 hours were about the most miserable of my life. Just to give you some perspective - Lindsey gave birth with no drugs and said the pain from mastitis was way worse than that! So, I'm not just being a big baby here. :)
By Friday morning, I was feeling perfect again and totally back to normal. Yay.. drama over, right?! My only issue at this point was not being sure how my body was going to ever regulate my milk supply, because they told me now to pump and nurse as much as possible to get rid of the infection.
Anyway, I'd been feeling fine but this morning I woke up with another massive clogged duct in a different place. I called the lactation consultant again, who gave me the same advice - pump but not too much. Well.. how do I know what too much is?! She also said, "Well, at least if you have to give up nursing because of this issue, you'll have lots of milk in the freezer." HUH?! I thought lactation consultants never mention giving up on nursing!! Thanks for the encouragement...
Around noon today, I suddenly felt exhausted again and went to take a nap, since the girls were sleeping. I was laying in bed and realized I was freezing and shivering again. Took the temp... 101.3. I just started to cry, realizing I have another infection. I'm waiting for the doctor to call back to tell me what to do.
I'm feeling so discouraged and frustrated. I don't know how I can continue to nurse if this problem keeps happening. Mastitis totally knocks you out and I am not capable of taking care of my two children on my own when this happens. Thank the Lord for friends like Lindsey!! She picked up Claire last time I got it and she came and got her again this afternoon. Of course her generosity made me cry, too.
Anyone deal with mastitis twice in one week? How do you get your body to stop making so much milk without getting mastitis? HELP!!!!!!!!
8 comments:
Oh girl, I am RIGHT there with you!!!! I got mastitis when Max was a week old and have been having the hardest time with breastfeeding... not so much oversupply but it HURTS all the time, even though I know he's latched correctly.
What I find has been working is actually drinking things that mess with your supply... like coffee or soda. Not a ton, but enough to dehydrate *just* a little so you can get though the engorgement. I'm sure no one professional in their right mind would give that advice, but between the mastitis, clogged ducts, painful feeding and engorgement, I HAD to figure out something. And I also give him about 2 ounces of formula every day/other day so he's full and I'm forced to help my supply regulate (and give my poor boobs a break). AND I don't allow myself to feel guilty about it.
Hope that helps a little... if nothing else, know you are not the only one!!!
Oh Annie! I'm so sorry! Mastitis is no fun. I got it with Willow when she was about three months old, but never had multiple bouts. The only thing I can think of (besides the antibiotics) is always starting to nurse Emma on the infected side and then pump the rest of the way and the other side if need be. While nursing, massage the plugged duct to get things moving again. It hurts super bad, I know, but it helps in the long run! Place heat on them too, that feels good and can help. This seems crazy to say because you have a toddler and newborn, but get as much rest as possible. As you know, it's a lot like having the flu. I wish I knew more about how to handle multiple infections (wait... no I don't) but I do wish I could help you more!! Praying for you!!
You poor thing! I will be praying for you. I had it with Conner. I massaged the duct each time I fed him and it did work itself out. To get your supply to slow down, I pumped a little at a time for a few days and then pumped until all of the milk was gone. This did help slow it down some. It's no fun! What we go through!! Hopefully encouragement will help you as well! If we were there, I would come help out!!
annie so sorry sister! I had a ton of milk supply too- what i did was after my first feeding of the day, anna would only drink from one side in the am, i would pump the other side... freeze it and gave a TON of milk to the milk bank of IC- but not sure if you want to keep your supply up so if so i would do what missy said... have her drink from the side that hurts and pump the other side!
oh my dearest...i have never experienced this and can offer no advice. my mom had it when my brother was born and she said it was the most horrible thing ever. tho i don't know what to do, know i'm praying for you and the girls and am so glad you have close by friends to help you. i love you!
Annie- I JUST had this last week adn the week Evy was born- never had it with Anni- so weird but it is so painful- the shivers are terrible and body aches! I am thankful you got care right away and hopefully you can stay on antibiotics for longer this time to kick its butt. I never had an oversupply of milk but still got it. Not sure all the causes but it completely SUX! Pole sana and we will pray you are healed asap!
Hey Annie, I talked to several friends last night because I felt so bad for you! Everyone had the same advice, you just need to pump more. The supply will even out eventually, but dont' worry about that right now. They also said cabbage leaves work wonders when you have plugged ducts and supposedly they decrease the supply some!! I had a friend that had 3 babies at the U, and her last one here at St. Lukes and she said the lactation consultants here at St Lukes are wonderful! May be worth a call?? -Heather Adolphs
I have never had the problem, but to me it would make sense to pump less. The more you pump or feed, the more "demand" for milk. I think if it were me, I'd let the baby nurse whenever she wanted, whether for food or comfort, and then in between feedings if I started to feel too "full," I would hand-express just enough milk to reduce the discomfort, and also make sure to fully massage the entire breast. I just think if you keep pumping, your body will think you're in need of all that milk. But if you let out only enough to ease your discomfort, maybe that would help.
Whatever you end up doing, I hope you get to feeling better soon!!
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