i had my first brush with mastitis this week. (mastitis is an inflammation of the breast that can be caused by obstruction, infection and/or allergy.) i forgot to bring milk storage bottles to work in the afternoon (usually i pump around 3 or 3:30pm) and had nothing to pump into. i left work at 4pm with a headache. by the time i got home my left breast hurt really bad on the underside, close to my armpit. an hour later i had a fever and felt like crying. i remembered feeling similar pain the last time i wore the same nursing bra (la leche league brand!). so i took the bra off and went bra-less, letting boo nurse as much as she wanted to in bed with me the rest of the night. no matter how much i massaged the area i could not for the life of me feel a lump that would indicate a plugged duct. my fever broke during the night and the pain was mostly gone by morning. concerned, i checked out kellymom.com and was surprised to discover that its possible to have a plugged duct and not feel a lump. figuring that the issue was indeed a plugged duct, i emailed my lactation consultant susan for advice. her response:
"the headache makes it sound like a mastitis that you happen to catch early - keep treating with hot baths before feedings and pumping after - no antibiotics are needed if no fever returns."
mastitis! every breastfeeding woman's nightmare!! luckily i caught it early and had no subsequent pain or issues. kellymom has a great page on plugged ducts/ mastitis which lists the following warning:
CAUTION: Do NOT decrease or stop nursing when you have a plugged duct or mastitis, as this increases risk of complications (including abscess).
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