breastfeeding question

For the experts here:

- one boob (the one that was engorged last wk, that side makes tons of milk) was extremely painful to the touch yesterday, the entire breast. last night i noticed a light-red patch on one side of the boob. now its mostly painful on the side where the skin is slightly reddened. might it be a clogged duct or some other inflammation? i dont notice any less milk coming out. baby usually sleeps on my chest so i'm wondering if she compressed something. i've been massaging the red area while she eats, tried a heating pad (didnt seem to help). is this anything to worry about or will it work itself out?

- i need to get some travel vaccinations in a couple weeks - Hep A and B boosters, typhus, etc. Are those safe while breastfeeding?

thanks in advance-

[ajemmom]

I would get it checked out...if it turns into a mastits (an infection) you are in for a world of pain!  If it was a clogged duct, you should be able to feel a firm "knot" in the area, maybe feeling like a squishy ball under the skin.  If it is clogged, massage the area and use warm compress to try to free up the duct.  I dealt with this for about 4 months of my breastfeeding.  It would clear up and then return and was VERY painful.  I also had to deal with thrush, which is an entire set of other problems.  Good luck!  I say get it checked b/c if it us truely an infection, they can make you feel very sick, and that is no fun with a baby around.

[taysmommy]

when i would get a clogged duct i would notice a white patch on the nipple itself, i agree you should get it checked out, especially if its so painful, what i did was take a hot shower (not too hot) and let the water run over your breast and gently massage it, have you called laletche? i dont recall what their number is but i called them when my duct was clogged and they gave me great advise on what to do

[cutiemama]

Definitely keep massaging the red area and try the warm compress. I had mastitis and it began with terrible breast pain, fever and chills the 1st day and the next day is when the huge red patch appeared in by breast. If it doesn't clear up soon, you should consult with your doc.

As for the vaccines, I'm not so sure. Check out motherrisk.org.

[jennifer1977]

7 or 8 yrs ago, when I started a new job, I needed a Hep B vaccine to work there.  They wouldnt give it to me while I was breastfeeding, completely done Breastfeeding.  I dont know if things have changed, but it either wasnt safe, or they didnt know enough about it.  I would ask your OB or the baby's pediatrician.

As for the red spot, it sounds like the starts of mastitis, which if I am remembering right is an infection of the milk ducts.  You need an antibiotic to clear it up and if not treated you will start to get flu like symptoms along with it.  It is very common, especially after being engorged.  Best thing to do, nurse as much as possible and like the other ladies said, massage, and heat.  But do see your dr. in case it is infection.

[twiceadopt]

thanks, i have a 5-wk post partum appt tomorrow and will ask the OB. no flu symptoms, just red patch and pain.

baby had some thick mucus-y white spitup this morning after eating, which she hasnt had before.. when a milk duct is clogged, is there thicker milk there? wondering if she's sucking out (and spitting up) whatever's clogging it up?

[jennifer1977]

I dont thinkyou have ot worry about your baby getting something she shouldnt.  It is not harmful to her (at least I dont think it is) but its you that needs the treatment.  You should definitely continue to feed her on that side, rather than avoiding that side!

[AnnieBrooke]

My doc told me that the baby should keep nursing even through a mommy's mastitis, and when I asked about passing infection that way, said this doesn't happen.

When I got badly engorged, I soaked boobs-down in the bathtub, and then while still warm from that soak, I pumped that side like crazy.  It hurt, but felt better than before, even while pumping.  

For the record, the first time I had bad engorgement, it was nighttime and I made dh go to Babies R Us in a hurry before it closed to buy me the best breast pump there.  :)  If he had had a siren on his car, he would have turned it on, I was hurting that much.

[AndiJ78]

I agree, mention it to the doc at your appt. But unless there is an abscess, you can and should continue nursing on that side. Your baby is the best medicine to unclog that duct. If it does turn into mastitis, you should still be able to nurse.

Watch the compression on the breast, tight fitting bras and underwires.

[anxiousmomtobe?]

HI Twice,

I had mastitis when my son was 13 months.  You get very sick.  I nursed for several more months.

It does sound like a blocked duct.  Try to sleep without a bra so the vessels can drain a bit.  Make sure your bra is roomy enough.  Nurse the baby as much as possible on that side.

Cabbage leaves are great to help with engorgement or blocked ducts.  And the cool leaves feel great.  (old midwives' trick)

Kisses to your little angel.


Ciel

[twiceadopt]

thanks all. i called the nurseline to ask about the baby's thick spitup (which they think is unrelated to the breast pain) but they thought it sounded like a looming infection. will ask tomorrow.

>> Nurse the baby as much as possible on that side.
won't that contribute to engorgement? after feeding her on that side i pumped, and still got out 2 oz in 5 minutes, so either she's not emptying it, or there's too much for her to empty in one feeding, or nature intended me to nurse quintuplets.

[mum2beagain]

Oh poor you, you have had more than your fair share of nursing issues since babe was born. I think for now you have to deal with the blocked duct/looming infection issue before the overproduction issue. Nurse and then pump until you can pump no more, massage the breast also when nursing/pumping, this will help clear the problem. Then when that breast is clear of problems pump just enough after baby has nursed (if you need to) to feel comfortable, but don't empty the breast, thus sending signals to the brain that you don't need that much! Gradually reduce the time pumped each day, it may take a week or more to sort out the overproduction problem on that side.
For the first few weeks after Sam was born I had way too much milk for him and so pumped and froze it, pumping less and less each day, that combined with Sam eating more and more as he grew mean't that at 9 weeks I was hardly pumping at all and my body had adjusted to Sam's demands. Now I have packed the pump away and now only use it if I am going to be away from him and need a bottle for him. I also have a fairly decent freezer stash now to use in his rice cereal/sippy cups etc when the time comes to wean as quite frankly I don't think I will be wanting to be bothered with pumping breastmilk to put in his cereal when that time comes around!.
Hopefully your doc will get you antibiotics tomorrow if you need them, hope you feel better soon.

[anxiousmomtobe?]

Nursing is the best and most efficient way to clear a blockage.  Pumping doesn't quite sut it.