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Mastitis for the FIFTH time – but who’s counting?

December 8, 2008 by Janice

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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I just got in from the clinic, carrying that familiar little, white bag of antibiotics. Yes – I have mastitis for the fifth time this year.

I have been trying to fight it off for the last three weeks with hot compresses, massage, and boiled cabbage leaves. And it worked a couple times. I was able to successfully get rid of the hard lump without it developing into full blown mastitis.

But this weekend, staying up most of the night building our new site 5 Minutes for Giveaways (but isn’t it just so pretty!) finally did me in. Today, my breast is red hot, rock hard and impossible to ignore. (And I feel horrible!)

So, it was off to the clinic for me.

Now, tonight I have three posts to get ready for tomorrow, a Christmas tree half decorated in my living room and all I want to do is raise a white flag and crawl into bed.

But you know what – I don’t even mind. I LOVE (almost) every second of my crazy life.

Those two little monkeys I call my kids are worth every moment of exhaustion. And getting to spend time with them is worth working till the wee hours at night.

They are as delicious as mastitis is painful.

Now off to decorate a tree and write some posts…

PS – In my 3am rush to announce the new 5 Minutes for Giveaways, I forgot to thank the ladies that helped me get the new site together this past week! The things we forget when we are tired. I added it to the post now, but wanted to give a shout out here too.

A HUGE thanks to Shera from A Frog In My Soup and Sweet and Simple Design for the design work on 5 Minutes for Giveaways. Shera and I had such a fun time coming up with the color scheme and images. Thanks for your patience with me Shera!!!

(Thanks to our designers Christy and Beth from Ruby and Roja’s fabulous design layout for our original 5M4M and sister sites designs, all we needed to do was modify an already great layout.)

And also thanks to Jen from One Woman’s World for her work with the techie stuff.

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About Janice

Janice is co-founder of 5 Minutes For Mom. She's been working online since 2003 and is thankful her days are full of social media, writing and photography.

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35 Comments

  1. Debra says

    December 10, 2008 at 12:04 pm

    To Ayla (comment #32) and others:
    It is unwise to recommend a nutritional or herbal regimen over the computer when you know so little information about the situation. As Janice has learned from all these posts and her 4 other Mastitis situations, the best advice is to nurse/pump and REST for both treatment and prevention. Why would you recommend Sudafed if it is not an oversupply issue? or do you know if it is? And do you that she is deficient in garlic or vitamin C? do you know if nettles or rasperry leaf tea is safe during nursing? Check out this article for more information:http://www.breastfeeding.com/reading_room/herbs.html

    Ruth Lawrence usually suggests a few teas for nursing moms: chicory, peppermint, red bush,rosehip teas (contain vitamin c),orange cinnamon, lemon lift, and raspberry teas.

    Reply
  2. Tara Pringle Jefferson says

    December 9, 2008 at 11:41 pm

    Wow, you are truly an inspiration. Five times? Oh, my!

    There is truly nothing more uncomfortable than engorged breasts. NOTHING. You have my prayers.

    Tara
    http://theyoungmommylife.com

    Reply
  3. MomOf3(4ToB) says

    December 9, 2008 at 11:27 pm

    Oh ouch! That really hurts. I hope you are doing better now!!

    Reply
  4. ayla says

    December 9, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    pump pump pump! You should pump after every feeding. Also, a little sudafed will lessen your supply if you develop oversupply problems from pumping after feedings when you’re getting lumpy. Check with la leche league, though.

    You should ALWAYS be on a regime of garlic and vitamin C. You should ALWAYS go a little over the top with your water intake. Also, nettle tea and red raspberry leaf tea, taken daily, will help with your immune system. I like to do a teabag of each in a 16oz cup.

    And, whenever you’re on an antibiotic, you should take a probiotic, either through food (live culture yogurt) or in a supplement.

    Reply
  5. Brianna says

    December 9, 2008 at 6:05 pm

    Oh, yuck! I had it three times when I was nursing my daughter. Thankfully it happened toward when I was planning to wean her, anyhow. I think mastitis is worse than the pain of childbirth!

    I don’t know anyone who would be upset if you DO throw up the white flag and head for bed. If it makes you feel any better, we haven’t even cleared a space for a tree, let alone unearthed the boxes in the garage with the decorations. Give yourself a few hours of rest, at least!

    Best wishes for a quick recovery so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor and the joys of the holidays.

    Reply
  6. Tree Climbing Mom says

    December 9, 2008 at 2:37 pm

    I’m so sorry. I know how painful that can be. Have you tried chilling the cabbage rather than boiling it? I used to do that and it helped quite a bit (even though I smelled like coleslaw!).

    Reply
  7. carole says

    December 9, 2008 at 11:13 am

    I know how painful that can be. I really feel for you! Especially with all that you have to do. I know it would feel so good just to have some time to yourself, to lay down and just get some rest. I hope that you feel better soon. You certainly have a great attitude!

    Reply
  8. Andrea says

    December 9, 2008 at 9:28 am

    I feel your pain! I had mastitis several times with my second child. What helped the most for me was filling a large bowl with water that was as hot as I could stand it. Then, you place the bowl on a table or counter that’s at waist level. Lean over the bowl and immerse the affected breast in the water for about ten minutes. I know it sounds totally strange, but it worked for me and felt so good on that sore breast! After you soak, its a really good idea to massage the breast and express some milk, so that the plugged up ducts that caused the infection can unplug themselves. It worked for me! Try to take it easy, because (as you surely know) most breast infections are brought on by a mama overdoing it. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Stephanie says

    December 9, 2008 at 9:23 am

    Oh you poor girl! I’ve been there. Get some rest, take care of yourself, and nurse/pump like crazy. You don’t want it to abcess trust me I had it happen. Only thing thats worse then nursing with mastitis is trying to pump after surgery. I was so determined to BF. I made it 9 months and it was soooo worth it!

    Reply
  10. Amber Stevens says

    December 9, 2008 at 7:58 am

    Ouch! No fun…but I totally understand what you mean about not minding! Even mastisis is worth it!

    Reply
  11. Noreen says

    December 9, 2008 at 4:08 am

    I am sure you thought of this but is your shoulder relaxed and elbow away from your body (an inch or two between your arm and your torso. I only mention because with my first I kept my arm tight against my body when I nursed and the milk never fully drained from my breast tissue near the armpit. I was always getting lumps or at least a tight feeling there. Once I relaxed my shoulder more and kept my arm from touching my body it all stopped.

    Reply
  12. Sheena says

    December 9, 2008 at 1:51 am

    OMG I panic when my girls are overstuffed with milk, I can’t even imagine life with mastitis! Hang in there, you are super woman!

    Reply
  13. Debra- BeyondPrenatals says

    December 9, 2008 at 12:55 am

    Sorry to hear about the mastitis but here is some news that will help you gain a few precious moments of relaxation: Don’t bother with the cabbage leaves, you are wasting your time. The folklore behind cabbage leaves is that they are shaped like breasts but there is no scientific evidence that it help reduce swelling. And by the way, people who recommend them, recommend cold cabbage leaves to counteract the pain. But like I said research shows that it doesn’t help. So what does help? The next time you feel a clogged milk duct or you get very engorged, lean your body into a warm-water filled basin and watch the milk start pouring out. Its pretty cool. And please don’t end up in the hospital with an abscess! Take care of yourself girl, and your girls! (From a soon-to-be lactation counselor)

    Reply
  14. Stephanie says

    December 9, 2008 at 12:37 am

    Oh, Janice, I’m so sorry to hear about the mastitis! You are such a “trooper” and you have such a wonderful, positive attitude about everything. Rest up and I hope you feel better very soon!

    Reply
  15. Casey says

    December 9, 2008 at 12:34 am

    Owie! 🙁 That’s no good. Have you ever tried treating yourself for thrush? Have you tried taking soy lecithin? Sometimes hidden thrush can cause repeated mastitis. Lecithin is supposed to lube up the ducts, and it’s supposed to help prevent clogs. Both are worth a try if you’re regularly finding yourself dealing with mastitis. Not fun.

    Reply
  16. Stefanie says

    December 9, 2008 at 12:17 am

    OH.MY.GOSH!!! I had that 5 times in 11 months with my last one! And it hurts like crazy! I feel for you! The only way I could keep from getting it (after the 5th time) was to always start on the breast I stopped on before and not stop with that one until my daughter got crazy mad that it was empty! Hope you feel better soon!

    Reply
  17. casual friday everyday says

    December 9, 2008 at 12:14 am

    Oh Janice…I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m also worried about all the antibiotics you’ve had to take in one year. It can do such a bad number on your good bacteria that is soooo important.

    I know I’m not a doctor but I would recommend that you’re taking acidophilus to help build that back up.

    I speak from experience of having too many doses of antibiotics and it doing a number on me. I didn’t know what it could do though until it got so bad that I developed systemic yeast (overgrowth of the bacteria Candida) and have been fighting that for years.

    Nell

    Reply
  18. SarahHub says

    December 9, 2008 at 12:04 am

    Oh, Janice! I hope you feel better soon!

    Here’s a story to make you chuckle, even though you’re sick:

    My pastor’s wife also struggled with recurring bouts of mastitis. One night, we were at dinner with her and her husband, and she started telling me about her clogged milk duct. Then, in the middle of the restaurant, like it was perfectly normal, she described how she had forced her husband to try to “suck out the clog!” I was so embarrassed, I didn’t even think to recommend using a pump next time!

    Reply
  19. Laura says

    December 9, 2008 at 12:00 am

    SO sorry! I had mastitis 3 times with my oldest son. Ouch! Let’s just say I feel for you. And with all the work you’ve been doing!?

    Reply
  20. Jennifer Nordin says

    December 8, 2008 at 11:49 pm

    Oucheee! Rock hard breasts were the worst thing about having my son. As a clinical aromatherapy practitioner may I suggest: 10 drops tangerine and 10 drops lavender (lavandula angustifolia-not lavendin or other species) mixed in one ounce of pure grapeseed or jojoba oil. Therapeutic/medicinal grade essential oils only,ask me if you need a source. I rubbed some of the above mixture on breasts and under armpits twice daily. Happy boobs! 🙂

    Reply
  21. oh amanda says

    December 8, 2008 at 11:28 pm

    Oh yuck! I’m feeling you…my pirate is only 2.5 months old and I’ve had a plugged duct 4 times, yeast infection 2x not to mention red bruises! YIKES.

    Praying you feel better!

    a

    Reply
  22. Amy says

    December 8, 2008 at 11:19 pm

    Ouch! I’ve had mastitis a few times, particularly with my 3rd. You’re not gonna like hearing this, but (1) REST and (2) drink Gatorade or similar stuff. This advice was given to me by a friend with eight kiddos…so I listened! 🙂 Hope you recover quickly!!

    Reply
  23. caitlin says

    December 8, 2008 at 11:17 pm

    Oh OUCH! I say pump the heck out of ’em and go to bed. Hope it clears up soon!

    Reply
  24. designher momma says

    December 8, 2008 at 10:57 pm

    dude…that is so not cool. I mean, smoking hot boob is hot an all….but come on, not under these circumstances.

    feel better!

    Reply
  25. Jamaise says

    December 8, 2008 at 10:56 pm

    Aww – you poor woman. I had mastitis once. It was a god send – It weaned my 3 year old!! I simply said “Mommy’s nursers are sick” & he stopped. No questions asked! I didn’t feel bad because he was three.
    I hope yours gets cleared up soon. I would wonder why it is reoccuring.

    Reply
  26. Katherine says

    December 8, 2008 at 10:47 pm

    YUCK!! I hear that really hurts. In the 2-1/2 years I’ve been nursing(yes I know a LONG time, or Still?) I never had mastitis…I have been a bit engorged and that hurt..so I could only imagine….5 times huh? Hope you feel better really soon :0)

    Reply
  27. stephaniesmommybrain says

    December 8, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    5 times! Wow! So very sorry!!

    I’m nursing a 7 week old and had to have a minor outpatient surgery last week. Baby Boy was NOT happy about a bottle all day – and neither was I! Why didn’t anyone tell my about this kind of stuff BEFORE I had kids?! = )

    Reply
  28. Alexandra says

    December 8, 2008 at 10:26 pm

    Hope you’re feeling much better soon! ouch!!

    Reply
  29. Tara says

    December 8, 2008 at 9:49 pm

    You poor woman! I hope it clears up quickly!

    Reply
  30. Denise says

    December 8, 2008 at 9:40 pm

    Feeling for you… feeling for you BIG TIME!
    YOWCH!
    I eventually learned not to even bother fighting that battle.. after 2-3 times it’s not something you can fight off alone.. don’t know why.. but it seems to be the case..
    But I do feel for ya.. been there.. and yes.. they are so worth it aren’t they?!

    Reply
  31. The Happy Housewife says

    December 8, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    I had mastitis once and I thought I was going to die! I feel for you! Glad you got to the doctor and hope you are feeling better soon!
    Toni

    Reply
  32. Jen says

    December 8, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    Big (((HUGS))). I had it with my girls and it was AWFUL. Hurt so much. My best friend is going through it right now and I had to get her to go to the Dr. today to get some antibiotics. Get to feeling better!!! I’ll say a prayer for you tonight for a speedy recovery.

    Reply
  33. Sharon says

    December 8, 2008 at 9:26 pm

    Wow I never had that but heard from friends how painful it can be. Ouch! But I do understand your joy at being able to stay at home, raise your kids and run your business. These are the simple things that make life good, even with all the crazy stuff happening OUTSIDE the home.

    I love your spirit!

    Reply
  34. Heather says

    December 8, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    Wow that stinks!

    Reply
  35. Kristin says

    December 8, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    Well at least you are in good spirits. I thought about you oddly when I woke up. Wondering if you had gotten any sleep. haha! I sure hope so!

    Reply

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