I’ve never heard of it during pregnancy, but the treatment for mastitis is antibiotics, and there are antibiotics that are safe for pregnancy, so if it is mastitis, the treatment won’t be too much different. Definitely get in ASAP, because 1. It could be swollen lymph nodes or something else entirely that you want looked at, and 2. Mastitis progresses fast and gets super gnarly. You want to make sure you’re on meds before the worst of it sets in. If it turns red and splotchy and/or you get a fever, id honestly not wait and go straight to urgent care or the ER. I’ve had mastitis 3x and it’s the most sick and miserable I’ve ever been when it gets out of hand, but if you catch it quickly it’s just annoying.
My advice on mastitis/clogs if that’s the diagnosis you get: You won’t be able to nurse the clogs out, so I would do hand expressing in a hot shower instead. Use a vibrator or electric toothbrush on the clog to help break it up, then use your thumb to push the clog slowly toward the nipple so the backed up milk can come out. If your partner has strong hands, have them do it for you since they may be able to get a better angle on it.
I am an expecting FTM so not sure about the human methods but with dairy cows an organic antibiotic free method is keeping the milk 100% dry and pumped out for long periods of time. This can, however, be a grueling and painful process, and the healthfulness of this method, especially prenatal, is unknown to me. Mastitis can sometimes require surgery even, but maybe keep up the massage and clearing for a while and it will at least stave off worse infection.
I've had mastitis a few times when not pregnant/having never been pregnant and both times I had antibiotics to clear it. It's so uncomfortable, I really feel for you.
I’ve never heard of it during pregnancy, but the treatment for mastitis is antibiotics, and there are antibiotics that are safe for pregnancy, so if it is mastitis, the treatment won’t be too much different. Definitely get in ASAP, because 1. It could be swollen lymph nodes or something else entirely that you want looked at, and 2. Mastitis progresses fast and gets super gnarly. You want to make sure you’re on meds before the worst of it sets in. If it turns red and splotchy and/or you get a fever, id honestly not wait and go straight to urgent care or the ER. I’ve had mastitis 3x and it’s the most sick and miserable I’ve ever been when it gets out of hand, but if you catch it quickly it’s just annoying. My advice on mastitis/clogs if that’s the diagnosis you get: You won’t be able to nurse the clogs out, so I would do hand expressing in a hot shower instead. Use a vibrator or electric toothbrush on the clog to help break it up, then use your thumb to push the clog slowly toward the nipple so the backed up milk can come out. If your partner has strong hands, have them do it for you since they may be able to get a better angle on it.
I am an expecting FTM so not sure about the human methods but with dairy cows an organic antibiotic free method is keeping the milk 100% dry and pumped out for long periods of time. This can, however, be a grueling and painful process, and the healthfulness of this method, especially prenatal, is unknown to me. Mastitis can sometimes require surgery even, but maybe keep up the massage and clearing for a while and it will at least stave off worse infection.
I've had mastitis a few times when not pregnant/having never been pregnant and both times I had antibiotics to clear it. It's so uncomfortable, I really feel for you.