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I have clogged milk ducts again! Only on one side this time but it feels like someone took a baseball bat to me and then comes the fever...

I don't want to do antibiotics again because we are still dealing with thrush from the last round so I've been massaging and using hot compresses. Does anyone have any other brilliant ideas/home remedies? I know you do....

I had this recently too, and the massaging and hot compresses worked, although it took a couple days. Lots of rest, too. I feel your pain -- mastitis sucks!!

Oh....he did get thrush....My little girl did too when I was on the antibiotics. The compresses and massaging should help alot, but you have a fever too?? Don't let yourself get too sick! Don't let all of this discourage you. You really will get through this and breastfeeding will be the joy it should be. Are you massaging the spots while he is nursing or during letdown? That helps alot and the pressure of the milk flow will help bust up the clogs.

Karen

Poor Mary. Don't let all this discourage you and make Jack an only child

I don't know if it will be possible right now, but I read in the Le Leache book to try and have your baby's chin line up with the clogged duct when he nurses. this worked for me. I had to lay my sweetie on the bed and lean over her to get her at the right angle, but it cleared the duct with one feeding. I didn't have a fever or infection, so the pain wasn't too bad. i hope it clears up soon.

The massaging wasn't working and my fever spiked so I called the midwife and she said if I choose not to go on another round of antibiotics it would become an abcess and would have to be removed surgically. I'm on antibiotics. Thanks for the encouragement, I did consider stopping breastfeeding since the fever was so bad but I really love the sweetness and bonding so I'm gonna keep it up.

Good for you!!! The thrush will not get any worse as long as you keep up with the nystatin. Did the doc tell you to use the nystatin on yourself too. Mine gave me a cream to use but then told me I could also use the same liquid as I was using for my daughter. We pass the yeast infection (the thrush) back and forth during nursing which is why it is tough to clear up. I had to use it for five days after I saw no more signs of it in her mouth. Once the mastitis clears all the way up you will be so happy you toughed it out. I almost quit a time or two also with my last daughter especially, but was so proud and happy I didn't. I remember that I was so sore I used to sit and cry whenever she latched on it hurt so bad, and the clogged spots hurt when she nursed because the milk was trying to bust through. We are all so proud of you Mary!! Keep us updated on how you are feeling.

i used to get in the shower and let the hottest water i could stand hit them. maybe the steam helped open things up, who knows. but they did begin to flow and relieve some of the pain.

the cream is the best, helps keep them from cracking and bleeding.

i toughed it out with my daughter but with all of the other stress i was under when my son was born, i just didn't have it in me and i quit breastfeeding him. i am so SORRY i did. he was sick so much more than my girl. fought ear infections and had to have tubes. he has a mountain of other issues that i cannot definetly tie back to not breastfeeding but that was the only difference other than the stress level in our house. i also believe that if i had worked through it, the time together and the bond would have helped counteract the stress...

i hope jack realizes one day what a wonderful mommy he has.

You may find this link helpful for recurrent plugged ducts and mastitis. All the information is research based and referenced.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/recurrent-mastitis.html

Cold compresses before nursing or pumping will not only help with the pain but relieve sweling of the breast tissue try this for 10-15 minutes.
How long have you had the thrush? You may need a different type of anti-fungal as much as 50% of yeast is resistant to nystatin. You may want to ask your health care provider for All Purpose Nipple Ointment.
Hope this helps.

My sis (who has been in la leche league for 8 years) also told me to line up my son's chin with the plugged duct. I also had to get on all fours and "hang" my breasts over his face to get him at the right angle, but it worked like a charm.

She also gave me a copy of "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding", which is a la leche league book - and they say that chronic plugged ducts can be a sign that you aren't drinking enough water - maybe you should up your water intake? It's worth a try....

I never had mastitis but I did have clogged ducts with my first and my twin girls. I discovered something with my twin girls that may be helpful for others.
I used to nurse them together. Sometimes I would nurse them in the rocking chair and when they were finished I'd lay back and take a little nap with them resting on my chest. Well, since it was both of them I'd have one on either side. I soon realized that as they lay on my chest/breast and my milk would come in for the next feeding, they would cause compressions that led to clogged ducts.

I would also do the massaging as I fed, took a shower and when trying to pump. A good, quality pump is a necessity if you're dealing with clogged ducts frequently. I understand your pain and hope you get through this quickly.