Mastitis and Milk Supply

I had mastitis with all three of my children (just once each) and just had to keep up the demand (pumping when necessary) to even out the supply. It usually takes a couple of days for the body to catch up and you are good to go. Hope this helps. :)

Hi L., Your milk supply will definitely come back. Are you continuing to pump breastfeed from that breast?? The best cure for mastitis is to NURSE NURSE NURSE! Make sure you stay well rested and drink a TON of water always. You most likely got it b/c your supply was so plentiful. You must make sure you empty your breasts to keep from getting it again. My best advice would be to go to bed! I know that sounds silly but take a load off and you and your new bundle of joy go and enjoy each others comforts in bed nursing all the while. You can get the best advice from your local La Leche group. The one in Waynesboro meets every month and the women are very helpful! Here is their info
LLL of Waynesboro 1st Wednesday, 9:30 am
St. John's Episcopal Church
Corner of 13th St and Wayne Ave, Waynesboro
Kathleen ###-###-####
Edie ###-###-####
Kathryn ###-###-####
Lynne ###-###-####
Any one of these women are wonderful to speak with and can answer all of your questions. Please join us, we'd love to have you! I hope your better soon mama!

Antibiotics can reduce your milk supply. Just be sure you are drinking plenty of water and no caffenated drinks. Also breastfeed regularly on that side. You can start on that side and then switch to the other side once that side is completely emptied.
If you have more questions or concerns please speak with a board certified lactation consultant or La Leche league leader.

Hi L.. I breasfed my daughter for one year (she is 17 months old now) and got mastitis twice during that time. It hurt and was a pain to deal with, but yes, at first, the milk production was low during that time, but once the infection went away, my milk production came back, full force. Cool cabbage leaves really helped me...I know that sounds weird, but they really did. I also alternated putting warm and cold compresses on my breast to help soothe the achiness. The coolness helped with the aches, but the warmth helped the milk to continue to flow. I hope this helps...best of luck to you.
T.

Hello. I have never had mastitis but with my 3 children I noticed that my milk supply fluctuated depending on how much the baby drank, which breast I nursed the most on, if I was taking care of myself (water, stress, etc.) Pumping (after nursing and then freezing the milk)increased my milk supply. Don't give up. Your milk supply should increase again as the baby needs it!

I'm sorry you got mastitis. I am wondering why you're having supply issues as nursing the effected breast frequently is one of the best ways to clear things up. If you stopped nursing your infected breast, to build supply you can start nursing on that side first. Offer that side more often. You can also drink mother's milk tea and eat oatmeal as both promote milk production if you're worried about your supply. As to oversupply before your infection, it depends on if your body had regulated it's supply yet. I have a 10 weeker and a 29 month old that are nursing right now, so while I have tons of milk, it's because I'm nursing two and things have evened out so that I'm not waking up in the morning with a throbbing breast since the baby only nurses on one side at night. Congrats on getting over mastitis and continuing to nurse exclusively through it. If you're still worried that you're able to produce enough for your child, see a good lactation consultant who can assess better what is happening in person.

Your supply could be regulating. I had oversupply and around 12 weeks it started to get under control.

As long as you offer to feed like normal and the wet and dirty diapers haven't changed baby'll be fine.

Check out www.kellymom.com if you are still concerned. It has a lot of helpful info about a lot of things related to breastfeeding.

Good job Mama. I hope you're feeling much better.

I've nursed all three of my children and got an infection with two of them. Although, very painful during the infection keep up the nursing your supply will def. return to normal. It also helps heal the infection to keep the milk flowing out of the breast.

Hello,

i've not had mastitis, but i am breastfeeding my current baby and breastfed my first born. Your milk supply should increase if you let him feed on that side more often - perhaps always start with that side for a few days. your body will produce milk based on the baby's actions - so more feedings will increase the milk. in contrast, when my first child weaned herself at 10 months, i just barely was able to maintain enough milk through pumping until she was 12 months because i didn't have her stimulating the milk.
If that doesn't work, you might contact your care provider to make sure there isn't another problem.

LaLeche League helped me through a lot of breatfeeding problems. they are very knowledgeable.

The supply will come back as long as you are not neglecting it! Make sure that you continue to nurse on that side, and feel free to nurse longer ont hat side. It will stimulate the milk to be produced. Also, it will help to work out the blockage. Do make sure that you look out for thrush because that is common when you are on antibiotics.

L.,
I have breastfed all four of my children. The last two were twins. I firmly believe that your milk supply will return to normal. The important thing is to not give up. Keep offering Kai the breast that has less milk & it will build back up again. Start with the left one and then switch to the other side. After that--go back to the left. Before you know it you will be back to normal! Take care!!

I agree with Christa. Don't give up! You're doing a great job. So sorry to hear you've had mastitis already. Don't forget to get enough rest. Remember that's one of the main causes of mastitis. Take care of yourself!
Hugs,

Congratulations on making it this far. I enjoyed exclusively breastfeeding my two children. Very often one breast produces more than the other. And after a while you're body will get in sync with your baby and stop overproducing; it's harder to tell how much milk you have when things are going smoothly. If your breasts were producing an equal supply before, they certainly can do it again. The key is to keep nursing, especially on the side you want to increase in supply. Attending La Leche meetings when my kids were nursing gave me a lot of support and info. Their website can give you info about preventing mastitis too.

Take care of yourself, I.

Hi there-
I just got off my antibiotics for the same thing a few days ago. I have been pumping at the end of almost every feeding to make sure I have completely emptied...It has actually increased my supply. I would give it a try and see what happens. My son is only 5 weeks old and has been almost exclusively breastfed (with exception when he was in the NICU.)

Let us know how it goes.
E.

I had the same thing happen. I had an abundance of milk, got mastitis, took the antibiotics, never stopped breastfeeding. You do have to keep feeding from the infected breast to keep the flow coming. My milk supply in the breast that had the mastitis has never returned to being equal to the other, however I have continued to have more than enough milk supply.
My son is now 13 1/2 months and I'm still breastfeeding and have had no problems at all. Long after healing - I developed the habit of starting a feeding with my "fuller" breast just to keep things more even for me. Good luck!

Hi L.,
Breast-feeding is a big commitment and hang in there! Do not worry about your milk supply in your left breast, if Kai consistently feeds out of it, it will meet your child's need of supply and demand.
Just stay healthy, eat right, and good luck!

It will resume as long as you continue to breastfeed with that breast regularly and make sure you do it with every feeding (alternate breasts during the same feeding)even if it seems that there is no milk coming out.

It is the suckling of the baby that stimulates milk production and letdown, without it the milk will stop altogether. Take care.

Oh, mastitis stinks! I read the other responses and I have nothing new to offer (my experience says your milk supply will come back fine, too); I just wanted to offer empathy because I've been there and I know how rotten you feel when you're tired and uncomfortable and have to nurse anyway. Mine came on the same way as yours: "oversupply" in one side (read: I kept forgetting which side I'd nursed last), which caused the backup which causes mastitis. It's so hard to nurse that side when it hurts, too. Hang in there; the first three months are the hardest, but it gets better soon, gradually. Soon breastfeeding will be so easy that you'll wonder why anyone ever washes a bottle (I've done both, so I know whereof I speak).

Yes it will come back. I have 4 daughters and have had lots of experience with this. I know how painful it can be, so sometimes you don't nurse the baby as much on that side because it does hurt so much. Something that I found helpful was to get in the shower and let the water massage the part of my breast where the "hot spot" was. That also helped to heal me.
T.

Hi L.,
I had the same problem when my son was about 2 months old. I just made sure he kept nursing from that side and it eventually got back to normal. The more you have him nurse on that side, the more it will come back. Hope you are feeling better!

OUCH. I really thought mastitis hurt. I got mastitis with two of my babies. When the milk supply seemed low, I always started feeding with the Owie-low-milk breast. My milk supply in that breast was back within three days.

I just got over mastitis a couple of weeks ago.. Yes the milk will come back more and more as the lump goes away and it will return to normal in a few days or so... watch because the antibiotics could give him thrush (it did in my case anyway) Good luck!!