Let's Breastfeed

Abcess Alert!!!

Have you had mastitis recently and found that the ‘inflammation’ or ‘lump’ never really went away? Do you still have the lump and experience bouts of fever without seeing any redness on the breast? Do you experience deep tissue pain in the breast, after a bout of mastitis which feels similar to a tight, bruised feeling?

If you do, you may have developed an abscess.

Often moms decide to stop taking antibiotics half way through the course as they ‘feel so much better’.

What moms are not, told is that if you do stop taking antibiotics halfway through the course, the infected area won’t recover completely, thus leaving you vulnerable to the development of an abscess.

Sometimes, especially when you have larger breasts, you won’t see any signs of an abscess until the breast becomes very tender and inflamed. With little time to seek help, moms often find themselves in extreme pain and not a doctor’s appointment in sight.

What to do:

Please always complete any course of antibiotics your doctor prescribes. He or she knows what you need, so best take his or her advice.

Go back and see your doctor again if the infection has not cleared properly.

If you feel a grape like lump in the breast, visit your doctor and ask about being sent for an ultrasound – just to check.
More often than not it is just a fibrous cyst and harmless.

If you do have an abscess, the care plan is very simple and easily resolved – so please don’t panic.

Should you need any further advice on this or need to speak to me about making a private appointment, please contact me directly at g@letsbreastfeed.com.

Wishing you success and happy breastfeeding!

Geraldine

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