So unfortunately during the week I developed a breast infection also known as mastitis, this infections happens in the tissue of the breast. Breast infections are most common among women who are breastfeeding, when the nipples become cracked and sore, allowing bacteria from a baby’s mouth to enter the breast. I thought the pain and problems with breastfeeding were long gone as I've been feeding my son for over three weeks now and had no further problems, I had never heard of this infection before and antibiotics are given by the doctor to prevent a cyst or abscess occurring.
From developing this infection one of my boobs became hard and sore again, when baby sucked it caused a sharp pain through my breast, it was also really red on one section. I also developed flu like symptoms, this was really difficult to have whilst looking after a newborn baby! I had to beg my friend to come over and take care of me as my body hurt and my head was pounding, I was sweating and then shivering and I was so so tired.
If you have any pain and swelling in your breasts or a red rash on one side then you should get it check out by the doctors, however the doctor will advice you to keep on feeding from the breast that hurts. Honestly you should keep feeding from it, the more you feed from it the better the chance you have of it becoming unblocked, it worked really quickly for me and helped my breast go back to normal.
Also another few things you can do is massage the area, this really helps stimulate the milk flow and encourage the milk to become unblocked, you have to do it regularly throughout the day. I started doing this as soon as I got home from the doctors alongside hot compresses using a flannel and warm water, and it started feeling better straight away. Don't give up on breastfeeding if you really want to do it, as these problems that occur are only temporary and it will go back to normal quickly, I've decided to stick with breastfeeding and just keep giving it a go.
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