Top tips ... mastitis | Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

This is another blog - like the previous one on reflux - that I have to make clear from the beginning isn't based on our own experience.

We had all sorts of other palaver with breast feeding but luckily not mastitis. I am just acting as editor here for lots of ideas and suggestions that came from friends who did go through it.

I would love to receive thoughts from mums who did suffer with it and then we can make it into an ever better list that can hopefully help new mums going through it - feel free to comment on the post or send me a message and I will keep updating the list.

If you are going mastitis right now you won't need me to tell you that it can be excruciatingly painful. You can download and print off the full list of top tips on mastitis but here's a summary of lots of ideas for managing the pain and preventing it from recurring. As with all these things some of the advice is contradictory so is a question of trying things and see what works ...

Tips for Easing Mastitis

Get plenty of rest (I know easier said than done but your body needs to recover)
Drink plenty of fluids
Wear loose fitting clothes
Wearing maternity bras that open right up when you are feeding
Clothes that open right up when feeding
Completely empty breast by expressing at end of feed
Don't skip a feed without expressing
Soften breasts with warm compress to open ducts
If very painful to feed apply a cold compress to breast
Massage breasts to remove blockages
If have mastitis lumps feed with baby's chin towards lump
Hot shower before feeding
Don't sleep on stomach
Open bra right out to feed
If only in one breast feed off one side only - it is possible!
Get a full course of antibiotics - 10-14 days not 7
Do complete any antibiotics
Get experienced mum to watch you feed to see if anything odd in position
Get seamless maternity bras
Feed upside down
Get partner to feed off breast to fully drain :-)
Support breast underneath when feeding
Don't interupt feeds - or at least try not to
Look out for anything that could be pressing on breast e.g. clothes, bag
Sleep on alternate sides
Do NOT feel like a failure if you switch to formula

Mastitis can result in serious infection and abcesses that needs to be drained in the hospital so if there's extreme pain and a lot of redness and lumps or any sign of infection do see your GP and do push to get a scan so this can be ruled out.

If you're a new mum do come and talk babies and much more on Twitter and Facebook and please do ...