GainesvilleMoms.com

Well the poison ivey is clearing so on to new challenges! This weekend I carried a fever of 103.3 but with no other symptoms. I went to my midwives and was diagnosed with mastitis (clogged milk ducts) which are very painful. I had heard so many horror stories about how painful breastfeeding was that I didn't think twice about how much I was hurting. So just let me tell you that if you are or someday intend to breastfeed, your nipples may be sore, your breasts should not. A round of antibiotics for me and maybe one day I will be a healthy mommy!

Mary I had mastitis when my daughter was about two to three weeks old too. I remember I felt like I had this horrible flu and I was running a fever and my breast were so lumpy and sore. Then the doctor said whatever you do don't stop nursing...I didn't but for a few days I thought I was just going to die!! Then my daughter got thrush in her mouth from the antibiotics I was taking!! ...But alas...it all worked out and I ended up successfully nursing her for 11 1/2 months!! Good luck

OH NO! What is "thrush" and what should I look for? I'm still nursing too. Did you feel the clogged ducts lessened your milk supply and did it increase once everything cleared?

Oral thrush is a yeast infection that nursing babies can get in their mouth if the mom is on antibiotics...similar to a yeast infection that women sometimes get if they are on antibiotics. Look for white splotches on his tongue or the insides of his cheeks. If he gets it the pediatrician will give you nystatin...in a liquid form for you to coat on the inside of his mouth and you may need to treat youself too if he is actually nursing from the breast. Its aggravating, but as long as you catch it and don't let it get yucky it doesn't hurt him and it clears up pretty quick with a good regimine of treatment.

And yes...after the mastitis clears up milk supply returns full force. I am not sure if it actually lessons..its just you get so clogged up. I had it bad. I had hard lumps the size of half golf balls. Try warm compresses and massaging during let down and nursing. I know it can be painful but the hard spots are painful too.

Good luck