A breastfeeding mother has opened up about the painful condition that shocked her, despite her training as a birth doula: mastitis.
“It literally feels like someone kicked me in the breast,” Lindsey Bliss told Cosmopolitan magazine.
The mum of seven shared her struggle with the condition – breast inflammation that can lead to a bacterial infection – with a recent post to Instagram showing her reddened breast.
Lindsey, from Queens, New York, told her followers she almost went to the emergency ward of a hospital because she was in so much pain, with flu-like symptoms and a swollen breast.
“When a good boob goes bad – AGAIN! I literally wanted Dan to bring me to the ER last night due to the most EPIC engorged boob, full body shakes, and a crushing headache.”
“On the mend today from my bed. Why does this keep happening?”
Listen: Bec Judd talks about her pregnancies on new podcast Hello Bump.
Mastitis can occur when a milk duct becomes clogged and lead to infection. This can be caused by missed feeds, a baby’s poor attachment to the breast or even an overly tight bra, according to The Royal Women’s Hospital in Victoria.
The hospital recommends women try a series of treatments before seeking medical attention if the condition does not improve and infection has occurred – such as in Lindsey’s case.
It’s a condition that, only back in January, former Married At First Sight star Zoe Hendrix found herself grappling with.
Lindsey told Cosmopolitan she wasn’t prepared for the havoc mastitis wreaked on her body.
“No one really warns you about how powerful mastitis is,” she says. “Your boob can cause a full body shut-down.”
Lindsey said she shared the post not to frighten other mothers, but to show a different side to breastfeeding.
“You always see these flawless goddess photos of breastfeeding, and no one discusses or shows when shit gets crazy,” she told the magazine.
“Yes, [you might think] breastfeeding is the best thing for your child, but it isn’t always unicorns and rainbows.
“Sometimes it just sucks.”
Top Comments
Ohhh I remember that pain :(
I have breastfed 4 babies (over 2 years with each) & I only got mastitis twice with my 3rd child. I was fevering badly & my breast was so sore but I was lucky I had wonderful women to help me (& who knew what it was & how to treat it) so I took my fair share of paracetamol & fed through the excruciating pain. I did suffer from a blocked milk duct after that experience but nothing could turn me off breastfeeding my children.
I found Cabbage Leaves to be magic, before mastitis sets in (when you feel that little tingle/sting), just pop the very green ones in your bra & it draws out the blockage, they have worked wonders for myself and my 2sisters :)
Obviously the best thing to do is see your Doctor & sort it out immediately!
I had terrible mastitis and no health insurance several years ago. A counselor from the La Leche League told me to eat eggs and nurse baby immediately. She said this advice was illegal as she was not allowed to give natural remedies, only refer mothers to a Dr. She said the lecithin in the eggs would greatly thin my milk. Within 20 minutes of eating a plateful of eggs and nursing, my mastitis and pain was gone. You can also jump into a very hot shower, massage that infected duct directly under the stream for 10 mins., then jump out to nurse immediately. Rotate the nursing baby in all kind of clockwise positions around your breast. This should help too. Bless all of you nursing mamas out there. You are doing a good job!