It starts with a pain, almost like a bruise on one or both breasts. As the milk slowly fills the ducts, the pain gets worse, almost unbearable to touch. I dread nursing, because it hurts to cup my breast and the tugging motion can make me feel like screaming. But I must plug on.
Then my shoulders start to ache. It moves slowly across my neck and down my back. Suddenly I am aching all over. I feel like I am coming down with the flu. In the summer? It can't be! And it's not. It's a clogged milk duct, or the beginning stages of mastitis. 4 babies; I have faced this before. And if I don't nip it in the bud now, it will get worse, causing much pain and further health problems.
I let it go too long with my first baby. At 2 weeks postpartum, I got what I thought was the flu. It made sense, being the middle of winter. So I stopped nursing and took NyQuil. I was miserable and hated myself because I couldn't nurse and wanted to. I never thought to call a lactation consultant. I couldn't call my mom or MIL, neither one had nursed their babies and so couldn't offer any support. Looking back now, I realize it wasn't the flu, but mastitis, or could have been. I blame part of it on my MIL. She was with us at birth and stayed through Christmas. With Charis being born on Friday, I had the weekend to adjust before hubby went back to work on Monday. He helped around the house, preparing meals and straightening up. But his mom would "offer" to help and do nothing. I wasn't going to make her wash the dishes or do laundry, or vacuum, or anything else. And so, she didn't... I did it all. When I fed Charis, I would retire to my bedroom for privacy. Still new and learning much, I was very timid. And she took it personally. She thought I didn't want her holding the baby. This, on top of the normal housework routine only added to my stress. After she went home, it only got worse until I was completely down and couldn't nurse.
It wasn't until my second child was born in June 2 1/2 years later, that I realized what I had had. When the aches started, I immediately remembered the same symptoms and found them to not be flu related, since it was summertime. So, I did some research, and I called a lactation specialist. I got the help and support I needed and I kept at the nursing. I still would get a clogged milk duct about every other month, but I knew then what to do. And what not to do.... DO NOT STOP NURSING!
The same symptoms occurred again with my third and now, with Faith. I know what it is and I can fight it. How?
- A warm washcloth helps tremendously, especially just before nursing. It helps the letdown reflex, which allows for more immediate vigorous sucking on the baby's part. This will unclog the duct. By tomorrow morning, I will be back to my normal self.
- Another useful tip is to start with the less sore breast when feeding. The baby will be less hungry when starting on the second (sore) breast and won't tug as hard to get the milk. This is helpful when you are aching all over, as I am right now. And when baby is finished nursing, be sure to empty the breast completely to discourage infection.
- Nurse more often during the day. I try to have my babies on a 4-hour schedule by the time they are 2 or 3 weeks old. It helps me to plan my day better and starts them early on a regular eating routine with the family. But during growth spurts and mastitis, I have to adjust. First because they need it more, and second, because I need relief more often.
- The most important tip I mentioned earlier: DO NOT STOP NURSING! If it is your desire to nurse, don't let stress or pain keep you from it. Take a Tylenol. I find the best time to take it is just before nursing. It goes through your system just as you finish nursing and runs its course until the next feeding (about 3-4 hours later).
Now, I may not be medically correct, and I am by no means an expert. But I have 4 babies' worth of experience and this is what I have found to be most helpful to me. Maybe you have some ideas to share? Or are you facing this issue and are wondering what more you can do? Don't give up! Find a support team or person.
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Comments: 16
Now I have breastfed my daughter who turned one in August & we are weened down to the morning feedings! I didn't have any problems with her...but something I did notice is that no matter how much of an expert you were at it with each of your kids it still hurts like hell the 1st 2 weeks & then it is a breeze. That was for me anyways :o).
I love that I was able to breastfeed my kids & I am thankful that they will be healthier because of my sacrifice. I have to say that breastfeeding my kids for a year each has been the biggest goal that I have ever accomplished in my LIFE! Now I have to find something else to shoot for! haha
* Your OB won't properly diagnose you. The first time I got mastitis was about 3 weeks postpartum, and I followed the recommendations on my discharge sheet and called because I had a fever above 101 F. I was told it was probably the flu, just go to bed and drink plenty of fluids. They never even ASKED me if I was breastfeeding! I was told not to bother to come in, either. Luckily, my LC told me what it was.
* Mastitis is more prone to ladies with oversupply. With my son, I was making enough milk for triplets. No lie - I was literally pumping over 60 ounces of milk a day! This is a MAJOR oversupply, and can be a major cause for mastitis. Reduce your supply to just a little bit of oversupply to save your sanity.
* Clogged ducts are usually how mastitis gets its foot in the door. As *soon* as you feel a clogged duct coming on, work to break through that clog (warm compress, hot shower, nusing vigorously on that side, vigorous breast massage, etc.)
* Lecithin works for many women. Lecithin is a natural component in foods, found in eggs and soft cheeses. It's an emulsifier, which is a fancy term for making fatty deposits flow more like a liquid. It's what makes your eggs runny, and what makes your soft cheese "soft" like mozzarella, and not "hard" like parmesan. You can buy lecithin at any drug store in caplet/tablet form. Take 3 tablets a day to help your breast drain the fatty hindmilk out more efficiently. Once I learned this trick with my son, I started religiously taking lecithin and never got mastitis again.
NOTE: Lecithin will not increase your milk supply, but you might actually notice more milk. This is because your baby can get all that rich fatty hindmilk out more easily than before.
And as my mom's nursing support group says: YMMV - Your Mammaries May Vary! :-)
Good Luck nursing everyone!
(Jane, I would recommend this to your friend for prevention.)