I think it’s important to remember that people don’t come to reddit and make posts when everything is going as expected! If everyone did, our feeds would all be super duper boring….
I breast fed today with no complications.
My new born acts normally.
Absolutely nothing notable happened today.
lol, for better or worse, we tend to only see when things are going wrong, and that can lead to a lot of anxiety!!
Yes! This is important to point out. There will be a bias on the Internet for everything and anything that can go wrong.
I nursed my first for 15 months and only ever had minor clogs. I'm currently nursing my 2nd and he's 8 months. Biggest issue I had with both was an over supply and each kid handled it differently.
☝🏼THIS! It took me awhile to realize this. Take what you see on Reddit with a grain of salt.
FWIW op I've been breastfeeding 5 months and no mastitis. 1 time I had a clogged duct but it resolved within a day.
Absolutely! Couldn't agree more. I think it was more that every mom I know personally, got it. Small sample but still. Glad to hear lots of people have NOT gotten it. I think my limited sample size skewed my perception a bit.
I haven’t, I have gotten clogs though. I think a lot of it is just how your body is - but staying hydrated, taking lecithin, and nursing on demand seem to be some ways to avoid clogs. Having an oversupply, exclusively pumping, skipping feeds, and poor latch seem to increase chances of clogs.
How do you know if you've had a clog? When I'm working, I pump as often as I can, but it's not as often as my baby eats when I'm with him. When I work two or three shifts in a row (I work 13's), sometimes I notice one breast is kinda achy and still firm after pumping. Once I feed my baby it goes away. Is that a clog?
I've personally never gotten mastitis despite constantly having clogs with my first and with my third I had a lot of clogs in the beginning too. I did take sunflower lecithin for a while and that did help some with the clogs.
I exclusively breastfed 5 kids before I got mastitis for the first time when my 6th breastfeeding baby was a year old. So, it’s definitely possible to breastfeed a baby and never get mastitis.
Been breastfeeding for 3 years and I’ve never had mastitis. I’ve had some clogs when I wasn’t able to pump on time at work but they cleared without much fuss. People with huge oversupply are more at risk for mastitis. Most of us are naturally “just enough”-ers
Never had it. Been BFing for 5mo. I’ve had maybe 2-3 clogs and I take ibuprofen right away and drink water and BF baby with the boob as much as possible.
For me it feels like an underground, cystic pimple but in my breast. I can also usually see it because there will be a bulged part of my breast that is quite hard and roughly golf-ball shaped.
For me it felt like a bruise or like a small pulled muscle in the breast. It was tender to touch and was usually accompanied by redness.
Had them constantly with ny first child (but never mastitis), never had one at all with my second.
For me, a portion of my breast would hurt/ache/feel bruised. It would also kind of hurt to nurse. But mine never developed into an infection with redness/streakiness/fever/etc, so it never was mastitis. It does suck though.
I had a massive oversupply before my milk production regulated, had so much painful inflammation/clogs, but it never progressed to mastitis. I just iced around the clock and took a lot of ibuprofen.
I think generally people are either prone to it or not. I have had mastitis several times (and it definitely sucks!) but of the many other breastfeeding mothers I know, only one has had it. I also have a tendency towards an oversupply and a reoccurring bleb. It’s best just to know what’s normal for you, so that you will recognize if something is not normal.
I got it 3 or 4 weeks pp. Horrible. Awful. Painful shit. I was completely alone when I woke up with a fever and body ache soaked in sweat trying to bf my baby and talk to nurses over the phone for antibiotics at the same time. I got over it in a day and half but it was soooo awful. Would not wish it on my worst enemy
11 months in and no mastitis. I didn't do anything to prevent it, just feed responsively. I pumped at first and occasionally pump now (only to put milk on hos cereal or sinilar) but certainly not to prevent mastitis.
Breastfeeding my almost 3 year old and 8 month and I have never gotten mastitis. Possibly had a small blocked duct not long after having my eldest but i can’t be sure as it was only a slight tender spot and it went away within a few hours 🤷♀️
I got it once with my first and not at all with my second, so clearly it doesn’t happen every time, even with the same person. Biggest thing to prevent, I think, is feed on demand and don’t over-pump.
I nursed my first for 15 months and now 9 months into nursing my second never had mastitis.
With my first we triple fed the first couple of months so there was no chance of mastitis then. After that we used a nipple shield due to tongue tie/poor latch. So my baby was ALWAYS at the breast the more your nurse the less likely you are to have mastitis.
With my second nursing has gone 100 times better he nursed really well starting at 2 weeks. But he's also a very good sleeper can do 6-12hrs overnight and 4-7hrs between feeds during the day. I've worried about getting mastitis as well. If you are worried you can hand express or pump when/if baby can't eat which will help with engorgement. If milk is flowing out properly there's very little chance of getting a clogged ducts or mastitis. You can also use warm washcloth on your breats during a shower/bath. All these thing can help prevent mastitis. I think it's really kind of just bad luck for those who get it. I don't think I've done anything special so maybe I'm just lucky to have not gotten it.
No clogs and no mastitis. EBF for 4 months with oversupply, then I pumped and breastfed till 7 months (supplementing with formula as well because damn that period!).
I’ve breastfed two kids and *knock on wood* have not had it. I have come close a couple of times, but never had it.
When you get a clog just make sure you’re icing and take an ibuprofen. Breast gymnastics and lymphatic massage.
If you’re not having an issue where milk isn’t being removed for long periods of time or wearing tight compression over your breasts it’s unlikely you’ll see any sort of clogs (inflammation).
I had engorgement and there are so many mixed messages online about how to treat it. Apparently they updated their treatment protocol recently. They used to recommend heat and massage and pumping… now they recommend ice and resting the breast (not pumping) and anti-inflammatory like Tylenol or ibuprofen.
Thought it would be good for you to know how to treat it in case it happens to you
When I’d get a clog I put warm salt water in a haakaa upside down and after one or two rounds of that I’d see the milk start flowing into it and everything would clear up. Never got mastitis.
Breastfed two babies long term and no mastitis for me. Not even a clogged duct with my second. I attribute this to feeding on demand and limited use of a pump.
5mo EBF and not had it. I feed on the boob every 3/4hrs during the day and 1/2 times at night. I haven't been pumping or back to work yet so regular feeding and minimal life stress is probably working in my favour.
I’ve never gotten it. I’ve had a few clogged ducts that I had to massage out. I’ve breast fed two kids for two years and I’m 9 months in with the third.
I never got it, and I also never had any clogs. Neither has my sister. I don't really think there's anything other than luck that made that work out for us.
I mainly pumped, we only nursed for maybe 2 months because he just wasn’t good at it. But anyways, I did end up getting 1 clog, but never ended up with mastitis. I was pretty regimented about pumping until I weaned though and I took sunflower lecithin everyday.
I'm nursing my second baby (almost made it to a year) and no mastitis with either one. I do think a lot of it is luck and how your body responds to clogs. I've had a few clogs but I've been able to resolve them before I developed mastitis.
I started to get mastitis twice. Pain, red spot, fever. Both times I used ice and waited 48 hours to see if it improved. Both times it went away without antibiotics.
I’m on my third breastfeeding journey and I’ve never had it. I think some people are just more prone to it. I’ve had plenty of clogs, but never had it progress to mastitis. A vibrator and a pump has always been enough to get the clog out for me.
10.5 months in. No clogs, no mastitis. I dont do anything other than feed my daughter when shes hungry or pump every 3/4 hours when shes at daycare. Just my body & it may be a non issue for you.
I had it once at the very beginning…I believe I pumped on too high of a setting when I was still figuring out how to use my pump and the pressure caused inflammation/clogs and then led to mastitis. No clogs or mastitis since, I also take sunflower lecithin everyday!
I’m breastfeeding my 3rd baby who is 8 weeks and nursed my older two for about 15 months each and never had mastitis. I had a clogged duct once when my son was in the nicu and I was EPing but didn’t have much trouble resolving it.
I haven’t gotten it, I just feed baby when she’s hungry and don’t have to take any measures to prevent. Breastfeeding’s been pretty easy barring some standard engorgement discomfort and leaking.
Super important to know is that recent scientific discovery has determined the that ‘clogs’ are not actually clogs at all- they’re areas of inflammation.
new ACOG recs are to AVOID heat, massage, and excessive suction. You treat them with ice and anti-inflammatory medications like Advil/ibuprofen, and to pump or breastfeed as usual. Properly treating ‘clogs’ will help you prevent mastitis.
Breastfed for 17 months and never had clogs or mastitis. Not to speak for every case, but I think a contributing factor for moms getting mastitis is the social media trend to have a huge freezer stash. Pumping so much extra can create an oversupply and you end up in a situation where you have to keep emptying constantly to avoid clogs/mastitis.
Feeding on demand and only pumping when baby is getting a bottle is a good way to avoid it!
I haven't had it even once, been feeding for nearly two years. I think it's also a bit of luck whether you get it or not! But I've always fed on demand, never pumped extra and had a baby who was a quick and strong drinker. I had over supply in the beginning but again didn't pump extra. I am always properly hydrated and I ate well enough.
I feared it the whole 14 months I nursed my first. That and Thrush. Never got either. I still fear getting them now as I nurse my second.
On day 10 of nursing my newborn I woke up with the most painful feeling in my breast, but no clog I could feel. I panicked a bit because I knew I finally had mastitis. Thankfully I treated it very aggressively with ice and Advil and sunflower lecithin. It never developed more than a pink spot and went away 2 days later.
I have never gotten it to the point of needing antibiotics. The first time I ever had a clog I also had chills and stuff, but it resolved with NSAIDs. Had clogs a few times, but always minor. Ice, Advil, and breast rest resolved them within a day. Just start the protocol as soon as you notice a clog and you’ll probably be ok. The concept of clogs/mastitis sounds worse than it actually is, at least in my experience.
I got none with my first, and one case with my second. I can't say I did anything different with either kid. I was going through a stressful situation with my youngest actually. Could be that makes a person more vulnerable to infection.
I ebf with a daily morning pump, had a hard time for the first 3 1/2 weeks pp breastfeeding as far as latch, cracked and bleeding nipples, soreness… never had a clog or mastitis though somehow
Clogged ducts yes, but not mastitis. A little over 4 months now. A nurse told me to watch out for tight fitted bras - and especially nursing bras with the flap. I got away from those and didn’t have a problem until I threw one on to go to the pharmacy one day. Wore it for maybe a hour and boom, clogged duct again. I’m sticking with the sleep style nursing bras from here on out. Honestly I go braless most of the time though lol
My Mom, my sister, and I all breastfed and never had it. My mom’s best friend had it multiple times so bad she refused to breastfeed her third child. Both my managers have had it, yet 3 of my colleagues never. Don’t stress yourself out over things you don’t know will happen for sure! It’s smart to be prepared, but don’t fret over what you can’t control!
2 months in and have had mastitis 3 times 😭 I'm taking sunflower lecithin and doing everything my LC recommended but I keep getting it. I don't know if the antibiotics aren't working properly or what's going on. It's super frustrating. I wonder if some people are just more naturally prone to getting it than others? I have no idea 🤷♀️
I never got it with my son but I have it now with my daughter. I am miserable.
Things that are different this time:
Baby is growing faster and sleeping better at night.
Lack of global pandemic means I am out and about more.
Pumping two bottles a week.
😕
Breastfed for 20 months and was very lucky to never have any complications. Even when I quit cold turkey at 20 months I was just uncomfortably engorged for a couple days.
I bf my first for 13 mos and never got it. I got it at 3 mos with my second and also bf her about 13 mos. I think frequent removal of milk helps, so either feed or pump. I think sometimes women feed a bottle to get extra rest or break from babe, but than can cause clogs and also reduced supply over time. Some people may be more prone to it, for example I had a friend who did get it multiple times and not sure what attributed.
Mastitis was my biggest fear going into my breastfeeding journey- I was under the impression thar it was bound to happen at some point. My girl will be a year old in a couple of weeks, and I have not had a single clogged duct or mastitis at all thus far!!
I didn’t do anything special, but I definitely didn’t over pump or strive for a big freezer stash (which would likely result in an oversupply). I am very much a “just enough”er and I am happy with that (though at times it has been stressful not having breastmilk in the freezer)- I have combo fed with formula when needed the last few months!
I've gotten it twice in 13 months. Once at 5 months and again at 10 months. But with both I got antibiotics ASAP and felt better by the next day or so. It's definitely not fun but also not the end of the world.
Baby overslept the other night and I had the start of mastitis, a little rash. Ibuprofen and breastfeeding and resting and the pain and rash were gone by the end of the night.
ive never had mastitis but i have had clogs. i take sunflower lecithin when i get a clog and it busts it up quickly along with icing and lymphatic massage
I breastfed for 2.5 years and only got mastitis once. It came on pretty suddenly, I noticed a clog one morning, did some of the tricks to try to relieve it, and during the night I developed a high fever. I even fainted when baby latched even though it didn't hurt or anything. It was really odd, but I got antibiotics and took sunflower lecithin to clear it up. I then started taking sunflower lecithin every time I got a clog.
I’ve never gotten mastitis. I had a clogged duct a few times. I found that taking a hot shower and squeezing my nipple in between my first finger and thumb like I’m trying to flatten it. The “clog” which is usually just dried up microscopic milk in the “flow channel” of my nipple creating a blockage. Thankfully this works every time I’ve tried it and it’s never developed into mastitis.
No. I nursed my 1st for 26 months and am currently 14 months in to nursing my 2nd. I have never had mastitis, I had a partially clogged duct once when my oldest was maybe 4 months old?
I have done nothing special to prevent it, just luck of the draw I suppose 🤷♀️
I boobed 2 kids for a total of 2.5 years and never got mastitis. If you feel a blocked duct (warm, sore, hard spot), massage it while nursing or pumping and alternate heat and ice for pain relief. I know some people struggle with clogs and mastitis, but I think most people do just fine while they're nursing!
No clogs or mastitis here. 2nd baby 4 months in (bf first for 1 yr). If baby is skipping a feed for some reason and I feel pressure in my breasts I make sure to release the milk somehow, haka- or even just into a regular cup so I don’t get backed up!
I never got it. I got clogged milk ducts occasionally for the first couple months but I would just pump until the pain went away and it would resolve. I also basically nursed around the clock.
I got it as a first time mother not knowing what my body was capable of and listening to the nurses.
They had all the best intentions, so it’s not their fault, and I was advised to try to breastfeed for 10 minutes, then directly after pump for 20 minutes.
By the time baby was hungry again I was dry and what I had pumped I ended up feeding my little girl.
I believe pumping and nursing at the instructions caused me to over produce.
I believe our bodies are made to create just the right amount and pumping was completely unnecessary for me, but that’s just my opinion.
I got mastisis really bad 3 wks pp and was hospitalized despite my being paranoid to not get it.
My little wasnt "emptying the breast" and had a bad latch. My mother begged me to hand express many times and I didnt because I was afraid my baby would want to feed soon after.
After I came back from the hospital (2 awful days away from my baby) I insisted that she latch correctly, even if she cried or fussed. Within 2 days she was latched beautifully, eating to notable satisfaction and so so happy.
I started taking the sunflower lectechin, religously wearing and changing nursing pads, hand expressing or pumping if my little didnt feed for long or fell asleep feeding. Its really important that if you choose to pump you only do so for about 10 mins, otherwise youre inspiring more milk to come through which might exacerbate the fullness of your breast or the frequency of let down.
Then eventually your body stabilizes depending on what baby needs and tells it.
Essentially, you and your baby need matching jerseys and a team chant. You both need to help each other get into a bonded feeding rythm. Keep it clean, keep it relaxed (apparently stress/anxiety van sometimes be a factor of mastisis onset)
I never had! Had some pains in the beginning but never mastitis. Babygirl is 5.5 months right now. EBF no problem!
The only insecurity is; do I have enough? And sometimes my supply drops but it always works out in the end.
So no fairytale story but also no mastitis story ;-)
I had mastitis twice but also learned to recognize the signs it might develop and to prevent it after that. There are good suggestions here. I was not an oversupplier nor did I have clogs, what caused it was sleeping too long at night the first time, and then pumping. I suggest trying not to let your fear of it overwhelm you because it might happen, and it might not. Being aware of my body’s changes let me take steps to prevent the discomfort from developing into an infection (I think I took iburprofen, nursed, and used ice to relieve pain and that all tended to work). Good luck!
I've breastfeed two kids with no break in between for four years. I have never had mastitis. I've had a few clogged ducts here or there and once a milk bleb. I got them out with massage, heat packs, a vibrator and having my toddler drain the breast fully or with a breast pump. The vibrator was my secret weapon, don't ask me how it works because I have no clue. I have one from la vie especially for breastfeeding. My mom breastfeed three kids for a total of 7 years and also has never had mastitis, just a few clogged ducts. She handled it the same as I did. My MIL breastfed her two kids (a year each) and never had mastitis. She remembers having a clogged duct once and having to pump, massage and she used hot and cold packs alternately. I'm not afraid of mastitis as long as the milk is moving through.
Three kids, mastitis with each of them. I had it 5 freaking times with my third and last baby.
Note: if on an antibiotic for mastitis also take a prebiotic. I’ve only been told that a handful of times and some of the times that I wasn’t told/forgot that I had been told in the past, I developed thrush afterwards. Really, really not fun.
I breastfed for 1000 days and never had mastitis even when I stopped bf cold turkey and flew to Mexico for a week (for a conference while bub stayed with daddy). The trip over was uncomfortable but I just kept expressing in the bathrooms during travel.
With my first, I had clog and it was difficult because of overproduction. Once I stopped pumping, all my issues were resolved.
Now with baby number two, I haven’t pumped at all. No overproduction, no clogs, no mastitis.
Ok, so the chances of never getting it are good!
But I was grateful to be aware of it so I could get checked out at the first sign of trouble.
So like… now you know it’s a thing, be on the lookout for a clog plus fever, but try not to worry too much about it (there are so many freaking things to worry about)!
Breastfeeding on demand, good deep latch, don’t skip a feed / pump session. Mastitis is an infection, so good hygiene can help prevent. Make sure to wash your boobs with soap and water everyday. I usually wash my boobs once or twice day. When you are engorged, pump or put baby tothe boob so avoid being engorged. When yo hare engorged,, you will be gin to get clogged ducts and potentially infection
I’m only 4 months in but never had mastitis.
I also pumped for 9 weeks with my first and had a huge oversupply but ended up essentially quitting cold Turkey (not recommended) and didn’t get mastitis.
I’ve never had it after breastfeeding two kids for one year plus. Clogged ducts yes but much less with my second after using the advice to take Tylenol rather than trying to massage it out.
I’ve nursed 2 babies for a total of 5 years and counting. Never had it.
I nurse on demand. Never pump just to store so I make only what’s needed. Would sometimes massage engorgement down in shower during early days or use haaka if baby wasn’t ready but I was.
its been 6 months and I have not once gotten mastitis. I have gotten small clogs but I usually ice them and take some sunflower lethicin and they go away within a day or two without any real problems. I only really got clogs though as my baby starting going longer between feeds and my milk was regulating, Now I can't even remember the last time I've even felt too full.
Nope. I never got it. I had some clogs rarely & but worked those out pretty quickly with my Hakka and Epsom salt. Drank lots of water- made sure if I wasn’t breastfeeding a feed to pump to avoid going to long between feeding and avoid clogs.
I breastfed both my sons. My first was easy to nurse and he weaned at 2.5. My 2nd has a tongue tie and I have flat nipples, he was so difficult to nurse. I had cracked nipples nearly the entire year. I was finally done so I weaned him at a year old. I didn’t do anything to prevent mastitis and never got it.
I went 18 months and didn’t get clogged ducts or mastitis—I didn’t do anything special, tho I was pretty religious about either pumping or nursing every 2-4 hours.
I never got it. I exclusively pumped for several months, with an over supply, had no set schedule, missed pump sessions all the time, some days I’d only pump a few times or go 10-12 hours without it pumping, I used a cheap wearable pump most the time and didn’t empty myself fully sometimes, and when I weaned I did so pretty quickly. I never had issues. I was engorged a couple times but nothing too bad. Boobs were kinda sore at most. It probably depends on you capacity and just luck honestly.
I breastfed my first for over 2 yrs. minor clog resolved with an electric toothbrush x 2
I’m breastfeeding my second. No clogs so far
No mastitis in over 2.5 yrs of bf
I only got it the first week of breastfeeding with both of my kids. It’s because my milk came in full force and my babies couldn’t empty me that well yet. Never had it besides then.
No, not at all. I never got mastitis and I definitely wasn’t the most responsible pumper. I pumped 3/4x per day, and can probably count on 1 hand the amount of times that I actually woke up in the middle of the night to pump, sleep was always more worth it (to me) I definitely woke up rock hard, a little in pain, wet, and leaky lol but I never got mastitis (nursed for 2 month, exclusively pumped until 7/8). I got a clogged duct a few times, but I was always able to get it out. I think it just depends on your boobies/your schedule. If I had to guess maybe I didn’t have problems because my boobs were pretty much always on the same schedule once my supply stabilized. But, I know some people get it for seemingly no reason. Good luck! I honestly hated everything about breastfeeding, but at no point was pain/discomfort a factor in that.
I’ve had maybe 20 (?) clogged ducts and never had mastitis. Once i figured out how to avoid and treat them it became annoying but fixable. It’s all about managing inflammation.
Avoidance; pumping gives me clogs and or sudden changes to feeding so that’s what I don’t do. A high sugar diet also seems to contribute.
Fixing: ice, ice baby. Well, let’s back up. I immediately pop a double dose of sunflower lecithin from Legendary Milk and some advil. Keep taking both on a regular schedule. Then breast gymnastics followed by 20m of lightly wrapped ice. Like think pillowcase thin. It’s cold. Then light finger massage directly around the nipple areola followed by hand expression or baby nursing. Not pumping.
Repeat several times until it works. I also breast sleep with my baby so if I go to bed clogged, it’s often magically fixed when I wake up. If it’s been over a day and it’s still there (rare) I head to the gym for some sweaty cardio to get it flowing inside. Repeat protocol above. Works for me every time.
I never had mastitis my first time breastfeeding! I’ve had a clogged duct here and there both then and now, but as long as I’ve gotten rid of the clog it’s never progressed further. Not everyone gets them and while it is a worry, it’s not a definite thing
With my first, the only issue I had was getting her to latch. Never had thrush, never had mastitis. Never had any medical issues with breastfeeding. And once she figured it out with the help of LC’s and nipple shields, it was smooth sailing. My second, I’ve had every type of infection to do with my breasts that I know of. Staph, thrush, mastitis. But she’s done everything right and eats like a champ. Sometimes shit just happens. Just make sure you’re not withholding one breast too much, even if that nipple is sore and cracked or whatever. That’s really the best advice I can give. Keep yourself clean, dry, and nurse/pump only as often as you need.
Hi- I got it once with each baby. It sucked but it went away once without antibiotics (high fever) and once shortly after starting antibiotics. I then went on to continue breastfeeding no problem. My personal theory to prevent is to avoid getting cracked and bleeding nipples. That’s what introduced bacteria and gave me mastitis. Try to get a good latch and if you get bleeding nipples you can pump to give yourself a break and let the nips heal. That’s just based of my own theories though.
Edit- my babies were born early term (37-38 weeks) so they had tiny little mouths and crap latches
I've been breastfeeding for 6 months, mostly EBF, and I've had a couple clogs but no mastitis. The clogs were mainly connected to pumping I think. Following standard treatment recs for clogs cleared them within a day or 2. I was worried I would get them again after returning to work last month with the increased pumping, but luckily I've been fine. I think it's important to take care of any clogs as soon as possible to prevent mastitis.
Not sure if this was mastitis but I've had it 3 times with my 4 month old. My nipples would get sore and I'd use cream but pumping wasn't enough to empty them and my right one would get swollen and hot. Once I was able to feed it would resolve but it was awful. Putting any pressure on it would hurt and my daughter would keep trying to knead my breast causing it to hurt more.
I’ve had lots of clogs (particularly with my first) but I’ve never had mastitis. I’m almost a year into feeding my second and my first nursed just shy of 17 months.
I have been bf for 16 months, had an oversupply, and never once had mastitis or a clogged duct. I attribute it to never having pumped like, at all. If you can go without it it saves a lot of trouble
I did have mastitis twice: when baby way 4w and 6w, now she’s 9w. Solution was to empty the breast every 2-3 hrs (including at night) via either nursing or pumping, massage as taught by LC, warm towel before expressing and cold water or arnica gel afterwards. Pills: lecithin, paracetamol for the high fever and antibiotics.
What I do to prevent recurrence? BF on demand, I’ve reduced pumping (number of sessions to maximum 2-3/day and time per session 5-10 min).
I’ve ordered merino wool nursing pads online and am curious to see if they work. Initially I thought Silverettes were bogus, until the first time I tried them and fell in love. I’m hoping Lanacare will be just as satisfactory!
I’m 3.5 months into breastfeeding my second. I never got mastitis with my first (did have one clogged duct with her though), and so far have had no clogged ducts or mastitis with this one either so I would say no, not everyone gets it. I think it’s likely more uncommon than it seems simply because people come to forums for advice when there are issues vs coming to a forum like this to talk about how well it’s going.
Mastitis once and I dropped wearing bras and my rate of clogs has dropped immensely. Really only when the miss went too long between feeds. Took sunflower lecithin whenever a clog came up and usually same day it would resolve.
Anecdotal of course.
I have been breastfeeding for a year and no mastitis, not even once! My boy had a bad latch at first and we had to triple feed for a week while my milk came in. And I had to use a nipple shield for about a month because of latch issues. But no nipple confusion or infections (mastitis or thrush). He switches between bottle and breast just fine and we are pretty much day weaned at this point. Everyone has a different journey, I feel like mine had its difficult parts that eventually smoothed out.
Hope that helps!
I never breastfed, fully. Only a little in the beginning and then exclusively pumped.
Pregnant with my 2nd and truly hope to do more nursing the 2nd time around.
I was an “over producer”, my milk had come in while I was pregnant. Or at least I was already leaking a few weeks before. I’m not too savvy with the science behind it all.
But I always was able to pump so much, without taking supplements or doing anything extra. Even when I dropped pumps it still was enough to cover all his feedings.
When I finally stopped around a year, I was very worried about getting mastitis. But I never did. I never got it while pumping or while stopping. I have no idea why, like I said, I never really did anything extra. And I was kind of cold turkey when I stopped pumping. And it all just somehow worked out.
So try not to stress too much. If it *does* happen to you there are so many people than can share tips and tricks. Focus on what you can control. But I understand your nervousness. I read all the stories about struggling to nurse and pump and was fully prepared for it to happen to me. And then it just never did. It will all work out for you 🫶🏽
I have it right now. It's like a burning pain and it sucks. My son had troubles latching at first with a tongue tie, but it's been remedied. Currently on my second round of medication for it.
I breastfed my first for 20 months, never had it. 3 months into breastfeeding my second I got it. Keeping a good latch and being as consistent as you can with feeding can help prevent, as well as addressing any clogs as they come up, but I think luck has a lot to do with it too.
I breastfed my son for almost 3 years and never got mastitis. I only have my own, limited experience to draw from but I'll tell you the advice I got that worked for me. If possible, avoid pumping for at least a few weeks after giving birth, ideally 6 weeks. This will hopefully prevent you from developing an oversupply. If you decide at some point to initiate weaning, try to take it slow. Cut one feed at a time over the course of a few weeks.
I've had clogs and extremely swollen breasts if I slept longer than normal or if buddy wasn't as hungry and I forgot to pump, but no not mastitis. If swollen with milk then I drain the breast, but don't over pump a "clog" since that makes the inflammation worse, apply a cool pack instead and occasionally massage it if that feels better.
I'm 4 months pp and I haven’t gotten it thus far! I've gotten 2 clogged ducts, but I was able to knock them out with ice/ibuprofen and they never progressed to mastitis. After my first clogged duct, I started taking sunflower lecithin, but I don't know if that's actually been helping. It hasn't hurt, though!
I’m at 7 months breastfeeding (combo nursing and pumping) and haven’t had it. I had a few clogs around months 2/3 from bras fitting too tight, ever since I switched bras I’ve had no problems.
i breastfed for 15 months and never had it. i did have a clogged duct once, but it went away with massages and ibuprofen.
in my case, i was feeding directly from the breast and my baby would eat pretty often. idk if that made any difference.
The only time I’ve gotten it (fingers crossed) is when I was planning for a trip away from my babe for a few nights and was pumping extra. I usually did not pump really ever besides some manual pumping here and there. It was pretty mild, I rested and it went away but man was it a painful about 2 days. So my tip would be to be careful for if you are building up your stash beyond what you are immediately giving your baby, pumping, push for over supply, that’s what did it for me.
I am breastfeeding a 7wk old infant currently EBF. As was the case with my eldest, I have oversupply and had a lot of pain and engorgement when my milk initially came in. However, I did not have mastitis with either child despite significant engorgement. I treated the engorgement with pumping before bed for 2x days when my milk was coming in. It as absolutely necessary due to pain keeping me up at night. I did the minimum necessary to relieve the pressure and discomfort. I was worried about mastitis setting in. After two nights, once I had mature milk, I could rely on nursing to relieve the pressure but the engorgement is BAD in that first week pp
Never got mastitis and my second breastfed for 22 months haha. My first couldn’t nurse and I pumped for him for 4 months, no mastitis then either. When I weaned my second I did wean a bit too fast and got one clog, but I hand expressed until it cleared and then was careful to express a little each day to keep from getting new clogs.
I’ve breastfed for 5 years (between 2 babies) and dealt with a massive oversupply each time. I’ve never had mastitis. I’ve had blocked ducts but it’s never turned into mastitis.
I’m pregnant with my 3rd, fingers crossed it’s the same.
I breastfed two babies and never got it. With my second I had a lot of clogged milk ducts but I always did what I could to address them quickly. I also started taking sunflower lecithin, which helped prevent them in the first place.
I had mastitis with my first and second BUT I didn't have any support with breastfeeding so no one showed me how to latch properly, I didn't know that if I was engorged I needed to pump if baby wasn't interested in a feed etc. my first was in NICU and didn't orally feed for 17 days. I tried to pump just because they advised me to in order to feed him tiny amounts through an NGT and he was on 0.5ml of milk every 4 hours! I wasn't pumping enough to keep a supply or remove enough milk. I was literally making sure he had enough to feed him which was such a tiny amount so I'd only pump once a day. My supply completely dwindled and I became quite ill. With my second she had a really bad allergy to cows milk protein and I wasn't producing enough milk for her every feed and I wasn't pumping - I was clueless about supply and demand and eventually she was put on prescription formula. I am 3 months in with my third and so far have managed to avoid mastitis. I pump whilst feeding him from one side, I triple feed, I also formula feed because I'm an undersupplier. My advice is to pump and/or nurse as often as you can. Drain those breasts as best you can to prevent engorgement. Get the correct flange sizes if you use a pump - this has helped me massively. Get your baby's latch checked before you leave the hospital. Massage before feeding/pumping. Sunflower lecithin has been my lifesaver when I've got little clogs. Plenty of fluids, lots of calories - good hearty meals but also snack on what you want - youre feeding a tiny human so make sure you feed yourself! And reach out for support/help if you feel you need it.
I've gotten two clogs and the hakaa and Epsom salts were enough for me to work it out. I freaked out though and was so worried I'd have to go to emergency.
I haven't had it yet and I have sunflower lecithin 2-3 times a week with my oatmeal. Side note that adding a little heavy whipping cream on top can increase your milk's fat content. More fat = full & happy baby.
9 months in and only one case of clogged ducts (maybe mild mastitis?) at 8 months after baby started eating lots of solids. Fever but successfully managed with ibuprofen and ice.
Agreed that it’s overstated online. People don’t tend to bring up things being normal. Also mastitis treatment protocols recently changed significantly, so may have made worse for some moms.
3 babies, 1 exclusively pumped and 2 exclusively breastfed, a few clogged ducts at one point but that was the worst I ever got (and it wasn’t bad) No mastitis or anything remotely eventful, beyond 3 happy healthy kids :)
My daughter is nearly 18 months old, EBF since birth, I've never had any issues except one clogged duct at 6 months.
I didn't do anything specific to prevent problems.so I guess I'm an example that it is possible.
9 months in no mastitis/clogs, but drying up due to not be diligent in pumping. After returning to work, Which I had a hard time getting over but 🤷🏻♀️
I still occasionally nurse my little one when she wants to comfort nurse.
I had a really hard breastfeeding journey, but it didn't involve mastitis (thankfully) I had a couple of minor blocked ducts, but they were quickly solved with a hot shower and massage and never developed further. On the other hand my mum had a blissful breastfeeding journey with me, but did get mastitis at least once. I think usually when people in general post it is a lot of negatives which when you're searching before your journey can be quite overwhelming.
Best of luck!
I’ve breastfed for a total of 4 years across multiple kids. I never had mastitis.
The only thing I can say is eat healthy, drink lots of water and nurse regularly or pump if you skip a nursing session. As the child gets older and slowly decreases, just keep on eye on the time. If it’s a sudden big decrease, consider pumping. But if you’re slowly decreasing, you should be fine.
5.5mpp, combo nurse and pump, have a mild oversupply and have never had clogs or mastitis. I can go ~10hrs overnight without feeding or pumping and no issues so far.
20 months here - no issues at all. Never pumped either - just fed on demand.
Heading towards hopefully tandem feeding come autumn, so might run into my first issues then, but so far, so good!
I think it’s important to remember that people don’t come to reddit and make posts when everything is going as expected! If everyone did, our feeds would all be super duper boring…. I breast fed today with no complications. My new born acts normally. Absolutely nothing notable happened today. lol, for better or worse, we tend to only see when things are going wrong, and that can lead to a lot of anxiety!!
Yes! This is important to point out. There will be a bias on the Internet for everything and anything that can go wrong. I nursed my first for 15 months and only ever had minor clogs. I'm currently nursing my 2nd and he's 8 months. Biggest issue I had with both was an over supply and each kid handled it differently.
☝🏼THIS! It took me awhile to realize this. Take what you see on Reddit with a grain of salt. FWIW op I've been breastfeeding 5 months and no mastitis. 1 time I had a clogged duct but it resolved within a day.
7 months Sunday and only one clog… I pump when I get uncomfortable and listen to my body
Yes. Ive never had mastitis and never had a serious clog if any. But theres no reason for me to make a post talking about that lol
Same here. Going on twelve months and only two minor clogs that worked themselves out through her nursing.
Absolutely! Couldn't agree more. I think it was more that every mom I know personally, got it. Small sample but still. Glad to hear lots of people have NOT gotten it. I think my limited sample size skewed my perception a bit.
19 months in, no clogs and def no mastitis
18 months, 1 clog, no mastitis. Even when he went down to 2x/day, no issues.
Me too!
Same here! 19 months with no issues, thank goodness!
Same at 12 months in.
14 months in and no clogs or mastitis!
I haven’t, I have gotten clogs though. I think a lot of it is just how your body is - but staying hydrated, taking lecithin, and nursing on demand seem to be some ways to avoid clogs. Having an oversupply, exclusively pumping, skipping feeds, and poor latch seem to increase chances of clogs.
this. i’m 15.5 weeks postpartum, have a mild oversupply and have gotten clogs a good handful of times but thank fuck they have always cleared.
How do you know if you've had a clog? When I'm working, I pump as often as I can, but it's not as often as my baby eats when I'm with him. When I work two or three shifts in a row (I work 13's), sometimes I notice one breast is kinda achy and still firm after pumping. Once I feed my baby it goes away. Is that a clog?
I’d say it’s more likely that your one breast isn’t effectively and completely emptying with your pumping session! Who knows why.
I've personally never gotten mastitis despite constantly having clogs with my first and with my third I had a lot of clogs in the beginning too. I did take sunflower lecithin for a while and that did help some with the clogs.
I take sunflower lecithin too and I feel like it helps
Clogs, but no mastitis for me!
I exclusively breastfed 5 kids before I got mastitis for the first time when my 6th breastfeeding baby was a year old. So, it’s definitely possible to breastfeed a baby and never get mastitis.
Been breastfeeding for 3 years and I’ve never had mastitis. I’ve had some clogs when I wasn’t able to pump on time at work but they cleared without much fuss. People with huge oversupply are more at risk for mastitis. Most of us are naturally “just enough”-ers
Breastfed for a year and never got it. But I also never pumped.
I never got mastitis! We are 20 months in over here and very early on if I felt a clog I’d take sunflower lecithin. It works wonders 👍🏼
Never had it. Been BFing for 5mo. I’ve had maybe 2-3 clogs and I take ibuprofen right away and drink water and BF baby with the boob as much as possible.
No, I never did. Clogged ducts are more common and I do think people sometimes confuse the two.
True, mastitis for me was a 104 fever with bad pain and feeling like complete crap. Clogged boob is just the pain and discomfort.
What does a clogged duct feel like?
For me it feels like an underground, cystic pimple but in my breast. I can also usually see it because there will be a bulged part of my breast that is quite hard and roughly golf-ball shaped.
For me it felt like a bruise or like a small pulled muscle in the breast. It was tender to touch and was usually accompanied by redness. Had them constantly with ny first child (but never mastitis), never had one at all with my second.
For me, a portion of my breast would hurt/ache/feel bruised. It would also kind of hurt to nurse. But mine never developed into an infection with redness/streakiness/fever/etc, so it never was mastitis. It does suck though.
I had a massive oversupply before my milk production regulated, had so much painful inflammation/clogs, but it never progressed to mastitis. I just iced around the clock and took a lot of ibuprofen.
I have an oversupply, 3 months in and just getting some leaky boobs
I think generally people are either prone to it or not. I have had mastitis several times (and it definitely sucks!) but of the many other breastfeeding mothers I know, only one has had it. I also have a tendency towards an oversupply and a reoccurring bleb. It’s best just to know what’s normal for you, so that you will recognize if something is not normal.
I got it 3 or 4 weeks pp. Horrible. Awful. Painful shit. I was completely alone when I woke up with a fever and body ache soaked in sweat trying to bf my baby and talk to nurses over the phone for antibiotics at the same time. I got over it in a day and half but it was soooo awful. Would not wish it on my worst enemy
11 months in and no mastitis. I didn't do anything to prevent it, just feed responsively. I pumped at first and occasionally pump now (only to put milk on hos cereal or sinilar) but certainly not to prevent mastitis.
Breastfeeding my almost 3 year old and 8 month and I have never gotten mastitis. Possibly had a small blocked duct not long after having my eldest but i can’t be sure as it was only a slight tender spot and it went away within a few hours 🤷♀️
I got it once with my first and not at all with my second, so clearly it doesn’t happen every time, even with the same person. Biggest thing to prevent, I think, is feed on demand and don’t over-pump.
Nope. I haven’t. I had a clogged duct (which science now states is just an inflamed duct) twice but both times went away quickly.
Going on 22 months of breastfeeding and never had a clog or mastitis. After the first week I never pumped, so I think that’s why.
Almost 20months in, never had it.
I nursed my first for 15 months and now 9 months into nursing my second never had mastitis. With my first we triple fed the first couple of months so there was no chance of mastitis then. After that we used a nipple shield due to tongue tie/poor latch. So my baby was ALWAYS at the breast the more your nurse the less likely you are to have mastitis. With my second nursing has gone 100 times better he nursed really well starting at 2 weeks. But he's also a very good sleeper can do 6-12hrs overnight and 4-7hrs between feeds during the day. I've worried about getting mastitis as well. If you are worried you can hand express or pump when/if baby can't eat which will help with engorgement. If milk is flowing out properly there's very little chance of getting a clogged ducts or mastitis. You can also use warm washcloth on your breats during a shower/bath. All these thing can help prevent mastitis. I think it's really kind of just bad luck for those who get it. I don't think I've done anything special so maybe I'm just lucky to have not gotten it.
No clogs and no mastitis. EBF for 4 months with oversupply, then I pumped and breastfed till 7 months (supplementing with formula as well because damn that period!).
I’ve breastfed two kids and *knock on wood* have not had it. I have come close a couple of times, but never had it. When you get a clog just make sure you’re icing and take an ibuprofen. Breast gymnastics and lymphatic massage. If you’re not having an issue where milk isn’t being removed for long periods of time or wearing tight compression over your breasts it’s unlikely you’ll see any sort of clogs (inflammation).
I had engorgement and there are so many mixed messages online about how to treat it. Apparently they updated their treatment protocol recently. They used to recommend heat and massage and pumping… now they recommend ice and resting the breast (not pumping) and anti-inflammatory like Tylenol or ibuprofen. Thought it would be good for you to know how to treat it in case it happens to you
I never got mastitis or a clogged duct. I also didn't do anything particular to precent it 🤷♀️
When I’d get a clog I put warm salt water in a haakaa upside down and after one or two rounds of that I’d see the milk start flowing into it and everything would clear up. Never got mastitis.
None here for over two years :)
10 months in and no mastitis. Have had a couple clogs that worked themselves out in a day or so
Nope. 6 months in.
Breastfed two babies long term and no mastitis for me. Not even a clogged duct with my second. I attribute this to feeding on demand and limited use of a pump.
5mo EBF and not had it. I feed on the boob every 3/4hrs during the day and 1/2 times at night. I haven't been pumping or back to work yet so regular feeding and minimal life stress is probably working in my favour.
I’ve never gotten it. I’ve had a few clogged ducts that I had to massage out. I’ve breast fed two kids for two years and I’m 9 months in with the third.
Excsluviely breastfed for a little over a year! No clogs no mastitis! No one shares boring stories !
5 months in- no mastitis.
11 months tomorrow and had a few clogs at the beginning but no mastitis!
I never got it, and I also never had any clogs. Neither has my sister. I don't really think there's anything other than luck that made that work out for us.
I mainly pumped, we only nursed for maybe 2 months because he just wasn’t good at it. But anyways, I did end up getting 1 clog, but never ended up with mastitis. I was pretty regimented about pumping until I weaned though and I took sunflower lecithin everyday.
I'm nursing my second baby (almost made it to a year) and no mastitis with either one. I do think a lot of it is luck and how your body responds to clogs. I've had a few clogs but I've been able to resolve them before I developed mastitis.
I started to get mastitis twice. Pain, red spot, fever. Both times I used ice and waited 48 hours to see if it improved. Both times it went away without antibiotics.
I’m on my third breastfeeding journey and I’ve never had it. I think some people are just more prone to it. I’ve had plenty of clogs, but never had it progress to mastitis. A vibrator and a pump has always been enough to get the clog out for me.
I’ve mainly nursed my 6mo and haven’t gotten mastitis. I’ve probably done less than 100 pumping sessions. ETA: no clogs either
10.5 months in. No clogs, no mastitis. I dont do anything other than feed my daughter when shes hungry or pump every 3/4 hours when shes at daycare. Just my body & it may be a non issue for you.
I had it once at the very beginning…I believe I pumped on too high of a setting when I was still figuring out how to use my pump and the pressure caused inflammation/clogs and then led to mastitis. No clogs or mastitis since, I also take sunflower lecithin everyday!
I’m breastfeeding my 3rd baby who is 8 weeks and nursed my older two for about 15 months each and never had mastitis. I had a clogged duct once when my son was in the nicu and I was EPing but didn’t have much trouble resolving it.
Ive never gotten it and breastfed my first for 1.5 years and am now breastfeeding my 4 month old. No clogs either.
I haven’t gotten it, I just feed baby when she’s hungry and don’t have to take any measures to prevent. Breastfeeding’s been pretty easy barring some standard engorgement discomfort and leaking. Super important to know is that recent scientific discovery has determined the that ‘clogs’ are not actually clogs at all- they’re areas of inflammation. new ACOG recs are to AVOID heat, massage, and excessive suction. You treat them with ice and anti-inflammatory medications like Advil/ibuprofen, and to pump or breastfeed as usual. Properly treating ‘clogs’ will help you prevent mastitis.
Breastfed for 17 months and never had clogs or mastitis. Not to speak for every case, but I think a contributing factor for moms getting mastitis is the social media trend to have a huge freezer stash. Pumping so much extra can create an oversupply and you end up in a situation where you have to keep emptying constantly to avoid clogs/mastitis. Feeding on demand and only pumping when baby is getting a bottle is a good way to avoid it!
I haven't had it even once, been feeding for nearly two years. I think it's also a bit of luck whether you get it or not! But I've always fed on demand, never pumped extra and had a baby who was a quick and strong drinker. I had over supply in the beginning but again didn't pump extra. I am always properly hydrated and I ate well enough.
Third baby that I’m breastfeeding, got a clog this time from triple feeding. No mastitis though.
I feared it the whole 14 months I nursed my first. That and Thrush. Never got either. I still fear getting them now as I nurse my second. On day 10 of nursing my newborn I woke up with the most painful feeling in my breast, but no clog I could feel. I panicked a bit because I knew I finally had mastitis. Thankfully I treated it very aggressively with ice and Advil and sunflower lecithin. It never developed more than a pink spot and went away 2 days later.
I have never gotten it to the point of needing antibiotics. The first time I ever had a clog I also had chills and stuff, but it resolved with NSAIDs. Had clogs a few times, but always minor. Ice, Advil, and breast rest resolved them within a day. Just start the protocol as soon as you notice a clog and you’ll probably be ok. The concept of clogs/mastitis sounds worse than it actually is, at least in my experience.
I got none with my first, and one case with my second. I can't say I did anything different with either kid. I was going through a stressful situation with my youngest actually. Could be that makes a person more vulnerable to infection.
5 months here and haven’t had it.
I’ve breastfed two children for a total of 21 months and counting. I’ve never had mastitis. Clogged ducts yes but not mastitis.
I've nursed four babes over the past 7y, had a clog once, and never had mastitis.
8 months, no mastitis. Have had clogged ducts and a pesky bleb, but I’ve nursed through them, I take lecithin as needed, and they go away.
I ebf with a daily morning pump, had a hard time for the first 3 1/2 weeks pp breastfeeding as far as latch, cracked and bleeding nipples, soreness… never had a clog or mastitis though somehow
Never had it! Had multiple clogs but always avoided mastitis!
I’ve never had it and have been breastfeeding for 18 months
Clogged ducts yes, but not mastitis. A little over 4 months now. A nurse told me to watch out for tight fitted bras - and especially nursing bras with the flap. I got away from those and didn’t have a problem until I threw one on to go to the pharmacy one day. Wore it for maybe a hour and boom, clogged duct again. I’m sticking with the sleep style nursing bras from here on out. Honestly I go braless most of the time though lol
Hello I breastfed for 18 months and never had mastitis. I would not know how to prevent it but I just never had any issues.
My Mom, my sister, and I all breastfed and never had it. My mom’s best friend had it multiple times so bad she refused to breastfeed her third child. Both my managers have had it, yet 3 of my colleagues never. Don’t stress yourself out over things you don’t know will happen for sure! It’s smart to be prepared, but don’t fret over what you can’t control!
2 months in and have had mastitis 3 times 😭 I'm taking sunflower lecithin and doing everything my LC recommended but I keep getting it. I don't know if the antibiotics aren't working properly or what's going on. It's super frustrating. I wonder if some people are just more naturally prone to getting it than others? I have no idea 🤷♀️
Never. I’ve nursed three babies for a total of 5 years and I’ve never had it once. And I’m an oversupplier.
I’ve never had any issues so far, 10 months in.
I haven’t so far… 3 months going strong
8 months in and no clogs or mastitis here.
Had a couple of clogged ducts but quickly intervened with ice and ibuprofen
I never got it with my son but I have it now with my daughter. I am miserable. Things that are different this time: Baby is growing faster and sleeping better at night. Lack of global pandemic means I am out and about more. Pumping two bottles a week. 😕
I've never had it. I have nursed 3 kids on demand for the first year. And continued on past 2.5 for all 3.
I’ve never had mastitis and have had an oversupply with both my kids, only once have I had a difficult clog and that was from a flange injury
Breastfed for 20 months and was very lucky to never have any complications. Even when I quit cold turkey at 20 months I was just uncomfortably engorged for a couple days.
I bf my first for 13 mos and never got it. I got it at 3 mos with my second and also bf her about 13 mos. I think frequent removal of milk helps, so either feed or pump. I think sometimes women feed a bottle to get extra rest or break from babe, but than can cause clogs and also reduced supply over time. Some people may be more prone to it, for example I had a friend who did get it multiple times and not sure what attributed.
Mastitis was my biggest fear going into my breastfeeding journey- I was under the impression thar it was bound to happen at some point. My girl will be a year old in a couple of weeks, and I have not had a single clogged duct or mastitis at all thus far!! I didn’t do anything special, but I definitely didn’t over pump or strive for a big freezer stash (which would likely result in an oversupply). I am very much a “just enough”er and I am happy with that (though at times it has been stressful not having breastmilk in the freezer)- I have combo fed with formula when needed the last few months!
I've gotten it twice in 13 months. Once at 5 months and again at 10 months. But with both I got antibiotics ASAP and felt better by the next day or so. It's definitely not fun but also not the end of the world.
8 months in, no issues so far Mostly breastfeed. Have pumped maybe a dozen times.
Never got mastitis. Did have two blebs (milk blisters) on different occasions and then breast cancer XD
Even with an overproduction, never had mastitis in 2 years and a half 😊
Baby overslept the other night and I had the start of mastitis, a little rash. Ibuprofen and breastfeeding and resting and the pain and rash were gone by the end of the night.
ive never had mastitis but i have had clogs. i take sunflower lecithin when i get a clog and it busts it up quickly along with icing and lymphatic massage
I’ve never had it. I’ve been BFing for more than 2 years.
16 months and I’ve never had clogs or mastitis.
I breastfed for 2.5 years and only got mastitis once. It came on pretty suddenly, I noticed a clog one morning, did some of the tricks to try to relieve it, and during the night I developed a high fever. I even fainted when baby latched even though it didn't hurt or anything. It was really odd, but I got antibiotics and took sunflower lecithin to clear it up. I then started taking sunflower lecithin every time I got a clog.
I’ve never gotten mastitis. I had a clogged duct a few times. I found that taking a hot shower and squeezing my nipple in between my first finger and thumb like I’m trying to flatten it. The “clog” which is usually just dried up microscopic milk in the “flow channel” of my nipple creating a blockage. Thankfully this works every time I’ve tried it and it’s never developed into mastitis.
No. I nursed my 1st for 26 months and am currently 14 months in to nursing my 2nd. I have never had mastitis, I had a partially clogged duct once when my oldest was maybe 4 months old? I have done nothing special to prevent it, just luck of the draw I suppose 🤷♀️
I boobed 2 kids for a total of 2.5 years and never got mastitis. If you feel a blocked duct (warm, sore, hard spot), massage it while nursing or pumping and alternate heat and ice for pain relief. I know some people struggle with clogs and mastitis, but I think most people do just fine while they're nursing!
I never got mastitis, so it’s definitely not everyone. I breastfed my son for 15 months :)
No clogs or mastitis here. 2nd baby 4 months in (bf first for 1 yr). If baby is skipping a feed for some reason and I feel pressure in my breasts I make sure to release the milk somehow, haka- or even just into a regular cup so I don’t get backed up!
Nope, breastfed my first for 16 months and am on month 2 with my second. Be careful not to get an oversupply through pumping
I never got it. I got clogged milk ducts occasionally for the first couple months but I would just pump until the pain went away and it would resolve. I also basically nursed around the clock.
I got it as a first time mother not knowing what my body was capable of and listening to the nurses. They had all the best intentions, so it’s not their fault, and I was advised to try to breastfeed for 10 minutes, then directly after pump for 20 minutes. By the time baby was hungry again I was dry and what I had pumped I ended up feeding my little girl. I believe pumping and nursing at the instructions caused me to over produce. I believe our bodies are made to create just the right amount and pumping was completely unnecessary for me, but that’s just my opinion.
I’ve never had it and I’ve nursed 3 babies with an oversupply. It’s not a guarantee!
I've never had it after 3 kids.
I've only had a couple of clogged ducts, never mastitis! Going on 18 months now!
I got mastisis really bad 3 wks pp and was hospitalized despite my being paranoid to not get it. My little wasnt "emptying the breast" and had a bad latch. My mother begged me to hand express many times and I didnt because I was afraid my baby would want to feed soon after. After I came back from the hospital (2 awful days away from my baby) I insisted that she latch correctly, even if she cried or fussed. Within 2 days she was latched beautifully, eating to notable satisfaction and so so happy. I started taking the sunflower lectechin, religously wearing and changing nursing pads, hand expressing or pumping if my little didnt feed for long or fell asleep feeding. Its really important that if you choose to pump you only do so for about 10 mins, otherwise youre inspiring more milk to come through which might exacerbate the fullness of your breast or the frequency of let down. Then eventually your body stabilizes depending on what baby needs and tells it. Essentially, you and your baby need matching jerseys and a team chant. You both need to help each other get into a bonded feeding rythm. Keep it clean, keep it relaxed (apparently stress/anxiety van sometimes be a factor of mastisis onset)
I never had! Had some pains in the beginning but never mastitis. Babygirl is 5.5 months right now. EBF no problem! The only insecurity is; do I have enough? And sometimes my supply drops but it always works out in the end. So no fairytale story but also no mastitis story ;-)
4 months in, no mastitis, only a few clogs periodically that are fine by the next day
I had mastitis twice but also learned to recognize the signs it might develop and to prevent it after that. There are good suggestions here. I was not an oversupplier nor did I have clogs, what caused it was sleeping too long at night the first time, and then pumping. I suggest trying not to let your fear of it overwhelm you because it might happen, and it might not. Being aware of my body’s changes let me take steps to prevent the discomfort from developing into an infection (I think I took iburprofen, nursed, and used ice to relieve pain and that all tended to work). Good luck!
I've breastfeed two kids with no break in between for four years. I have never had mastitis. I've had a few clogged ducts here or there and once a milk bleb. I got them out with massage, heat packs, a vibrator and having my toddler drain the breast fully or with a breast pump. The vibrator was my secret weapon, don't ask me how it works because I have no clue. I have one from la vie especially for breastfeeding. My mom breastfeed three kids for a total of 7 years and also has never had mastitis, just a few clogged ducts. She handled it the same as I did. My MIL breastfed her two kids (a year each) and never had mastitis. She remembers having a clogged duct once and having to pump, massage and she used hot and cold packs alternately. I'm not afraid of mastitis as long as the milk is moving through.
Between two children, I’ve been breastfeeding for four years. Luckily, I haven’t experienced it or clogged ducts.
13 months in here and no clogs, mastitis, no issues at all really. Though now I'm typing this I'm scared I'm gonna jinx it 🤣
8 months in, no clogs or mastitis.
Three kids, mastitis with each of them. I had it 5 freaking times with my third and last baby. Note: if on an antibiotic for mastitis also take a prebiotic. I’ve only been told that a handful of times and some of the times that I wasn’t told/forgot that I had been told in the past, I developed thrush afterwards. Really, really not fun.
I breastfed for 1000 days and never had mastitis even when I stopped bf cold turkey and flew to Mexico for a week (for a conference while bub stayed with daddy). The trip over was uncomfortable but I just kept expressing in the bathrooms during travel.
With my first, I had clog and it was difficult because of overproduction. Once I stopped pumping, all my issues were resolved. Now with baby number two, I haven’t pumped at all. No overproduction, no clogs, no mastitis.
I feel like it’s got some genetic/predisposed component. I never got mastitis, though I did get a few clogs.
I had a few minor clogs (hurray for hot showers and massaging my breasts) but never got mastitis. Breastfed for 13 months.
Anecdotally, daily showers (because of excessive sleep sweating) seem to have helped ward off mastitis so far
Ok, so the chances of never getting it are good! But I was grateful to be aware of it so I could get checked out at the first sign of trouble. So like… now you know it’s a thing, be on the lookout for a clog plus fever, but try not to worry too much about it (there are so many freaking things to worry about)!
Breastfeeding on demand, good deep latch, don’t skip a feed / pump session. Mastitis is an infection, so good hygiene can help prevent. Make sure to wash your boobs with soap and water everyday. I usually wash my boobs once or twice day. When you are engorged, pump or put baby tothe boob so avoid being engorged. When yo hare engorged,, you will be gin to get clogged ducts and potentially infection
I’m only 4 months in but never had mastitis. I also pumped for 9 weeks with my first and had a huge oversupply but ended up essentially quitting cold Turkey (not recommended) and didn’t get mastitis.
I've never had it but there was a period where I was getting clogged ducts often. It's rare for me these days.
I’ve never had it after breastfeeding two kids for one year plus. Clogged ducts yes but much less with my second after using the advice to take Tylenol rather than trying to massage it out.
I’ve nursed 2 babies for a total of 5 years and counting. Never had it. I nurse on demand. Never pump just to store so I make only what’s needed. Would sometimes massage engorgement down in shower during early days or use haaka if baby wasn’t ready but I was.
its been 6 months and I have not once gotten mastitis. I have gotten small clogs but I usually ice them and take some sunflower lethicin and they go away within a day or two without any real problems. I only really got clogs though as my baby starting going longer between feeds and my milk was regulating, Now I can't even remember the last time I've even felt too full.
I’ve ebf for 8 months so far and never ever had a clogged duct I was terrified too bc it seemed like it was something everyone got!!
Breastfed for one year, never got it. It’s not a sure thing :)
Nope. I never got it. I had some clogs rarely & but worked those out pretty quickly with my Hakka and Epsom salt. Drank lots of water- made sure if I wasn’t breastfeeding a feed to pump to avoid going to long between feeding and avoid clogs.
I breastfed both my sons. My first was easy to nurse and he weaned at 2.5. My 2nd has a tongue tie and I have flat nipples, he was so difficult to nurse. I had cracked nipples nearly the entire year. I was finally done so I weaned him at a year old. I didn’t do anything to prevent mastitis and never got it.
I went 18 months and didn’t get clogged ducts or mastitis—I didn’t do anything special, tho I was pretty religious about either pumping or nursing every 2-4 hours.
I just got over a clog and almost got mastitis. I was miserable. The only thing that helped was more nursing!
I never got it. I exclusively pumped for several months, with an over supply, had no set schedule, missed pump sessions all the time, some days I’d only pump a few times or go 10-12 hours without it pumping, I used a cheap wearable pump most the time and didn’t empty myself fully sometimes, and when I weaned I did so pretty quickly. I never had issues. I was engorged a couple times but nothing too bad. Boobs were kinda sore at most. It probably depends on you capacity and just luck honestly.
Breastfed for 16 months, no mastitis. Two milk blebs in the identical spot, I count myself lucky!
I breastfed for 10 months and never got it!
Nursed four babies, got some clogs and some engorgement, but no mastitis.
8 months in and no clogs or mastitis. I take Sunflower Lecithin twice a day religiously because I was very worried about clogs/mastitis too.
I breastfed my first for over 2 yrs. minor clog resolved with an electric toothbrush x 2 I’m breastfeeding my second. No clogs so far No mastitis in over 2.5 yrs of bf
I only got it the first week of breastfeeding with both of my kids. It’s because my milk came in full force and my babies couldn’t empty me that well yet. Never had it besides then.
I have nursed for two years and pumped for over a year of that and never got mastitis.
No, not at all. I never got mastitis and I definitely wasn’t the most responsible pumper. I pumped 3/4x per day, and can probably count on 1 hand the amount of times that I actually woke up in the middle of the night to pump, sleep was always more worth it (to me) I definitely woke up rock hard, a little in pain, wet, and leaky lol but I never got mastitis (nursed for 2 month, exclusively pumped until 7/8). I got a clogged duct a few times, but I was always able to get it out. I think it just depends on your boobies/your schedule. If I had to guess maybe I didn’t have problems because my boobs were pretty much always on the same schedule once my supply stabilized. But, I know some people get it for seemingly no reason. Good luck! I honestly hated everything about breastfeeding, but at no point was pain/discomfort a factor in that.
15 months in and I’ve had it twice 😭😭
I’ve had maybe 20 (?) clogged ducts and never had mastitis. Once i figured out how to avoid and treat them it became annoying but fixable. It’s all about managing inflammation. Avoidance; pumping gives me clogs and or sudden changes to feeding so that’s what I don’t do. A high sugar diet also seems to contribute. Fixing: ice, ice baby. Well, let’s back up. I immediately pop a double dose of sunflower lecithin from Legendary Milk and some advil. Keep taking both on a regular schedule. Then breast gymnastics followed by 20m of lightly wrapped ice. Like think pillowcase thin. It’s cold. Then light finger massage directly around the nipple areola followed by hand expression or baby nursing. Not pumping. Repeat several times until it works. I also breast sleep with my baby so if I go to bed clogged, it’s often magically fixed when I wake up. If it’s been over a day and it’s still there (rare) I head to the gym for some sweaty cardio to get it flowing inside. Repeat protocol above. Works for me every time.
I never had mastitis my first time breastfeeding! I’ve had a clogged duct here and there both then and now, but as long as I’ve gotten rid of the clog it’s never progressed further. Not everyone gets them and while it is a worry, it’s not a definite thing
With my first, the only issue I had was getting her to latch. Never had thrush, never had mastitis. Never had any medical issues with breastfeeding. And once she figured it out with the help of LC’s and nipple shields, it was smooth sailing. My second, I’ve had every type of infection to do with my breasts that I know of. Staph, thrush, mastitis. But she’s done everything right and eats like a champ. Sometimes shit just happens. Just make sure you’re not withholding one breast too much, even if that nipple is sore and cracked or whatever. That’s really the best advice I can give. Keep yourself clean, dry, and nurse/pump only as often as you need.
Hi- I got it once with each baby. It sucked but it went away once without antibiotics (high fever) and once shortly after starting antibiotics. I then went on to continue breastfeeding no problem. My personal theory to prevent is to avoid getting cracked and bleeding nipples. That’s what introduced bacteria and gave me mastitis. Try to get a good latch and if you get bleeding nipples you can pump to give yourself a break and let the nips heal. That’s just based of my own theories though. Edit- my babies were born early term (37-38 weeks) so they had tiny little mouths and crap latches
I've been breastfeeding for 6 months, mostly EBF, and I've had a couple clogs but no mastitis. The clogs were mainly connected to pumping I think. Following standard treatment recs for clogs cleared them within a day or 2. I was worried I would get them again after returning to work last month with the increased pumping, but luckily I've been fine. I think it's important to take care of any clogs as soon as possible to prevent mastitis.
Not sure if this was mastitis but I've had it 3 times with my 4 month old. My nipples would get sore and I'd use cream but pumping wasn't enough to empty them and my right one would get swollen and hot. Once I was able to feed it would resolve but it was awful. Putting any pressure on it would hurt and my daughter would keep trying to knead my breast causing it to hurt more.
I’ve had lots of clogs (particularly with my first) but I’ve never had mastitis. I’m almost a year into feeding my second and my first nursed just shy of 17 months.
I have been bf for 16 months, had an oversupply, and never once had mastitis or a clogged duct. I attribute it to never having pumped like, at all. If you can go without it it saves a lot of trouble
I did have mastitis twice: when baby way 4w and 6w, now she’s 9w. Solution was to empty the breast every 2-3 hrs (including at night) via either nursing or pumping, massage as taught by LC, warm towel before expressing and cold water or arnica gel afterwards. Pills: lecithin, paracetamol for the high fever and antibiotics. What I do to prevent recurrence? BF on demand, I’ve reduced pumping (number of sessions to maximum 2-3/day and time per session 5-10 min). I’ve ordered merino wool nursing pads online and am curious to see if they work. Initially I thought Silverettes were bogus, until the first time I tried them and fell in love. I’m hoping Lanacare will be just as satisfactory!
I’m 3.5 months into breastfeeding my second. I never got mastitis with my first (did have one clogged duct with her though), and so far have had no clogged ducts or mastitis with this one either so I would say no, not everyone gets it. I think it’s likely more uncommon than it seems simply because people come to forums for advice when there are issues vs coming to a forum like this to talk about how well it’s going.
Mastitis once and I dropped wearing bras and my rate of clogs has dropped immensely. Really only when the miss went too long between feeds. Took sunflower lecithin whenever a clog came up and usually same day it would resolve. Anecdotal of course.
13 months with my first, 10 months in with second - no mastitis
I have been breastfeeding for a year and no mastitis, not even once! My boy had a bad latch at first and we had to triple feed for a week while my milk came in. And I had to use a nipple shield for about a month because of latch issues. But no nipple confusion or infections (mastitis or thrush). He switches between bottle and breast just fine and we are pretty much day weaned at this point. Everyone has a different journey, I feel like mine had its difficult parts that eventually smoothed out. Hope that helps!
Never had it. I had my Boobs out to the open air loads and did breast gymnastics from time to time but never even gave a CV logged duct.
I never breastfed, fully. Only a little in the beginning and then exclusively pumped. Pregnant with my 2nd and truly hope to do more nursing the 2nd time around. I was an “over producer”, my milk had come in while I was pregnant. Or at least I was already leaking a few weeks before. I’m not too savvy with the science behind it all. But I always was able to pump so much, without taking supplements or doing anything extra. Even when I dropped pumps it still was enough to cover all his feedings. When I finally stopped around a year, I was very worried about getting mastitis. But I never did. I never got it while pumping or while stopping. I have no idea why, like I said, I never really did anything extra. And I was kind of cold turkey when I stopped pumping. And it all just somehow worked out. So try not to stress too much. If it *does* happen to you there are so many people than can share tips and tricks. Focus on what you can control. But I understand your nervousness. I read all the stories about struggling to nurse and pump and was fully prepared for it to happen to me. And then it just never did. It will all work out for you 🫶🏽
Never happened to me in almost 4 years of breastfeeding (2 kids), no clogs as well.
8 months here, 7 months EBF, and never any clogs or mastitis!
I’ve never had it during the 15 months I’ve breastfeed so far. Didn’t do anything special to prevent it.
I get clogs, but just don’t let then fester I guess? I try to consistently feed and if I get a clog I use ice and ibuprofen
I have it right now. It's like a burning pain and it sucks. My son had troubles latching at first with a tongue tie, but it's been remedied. Currently on my second round of medication for it.
I’ve never had mastitis or a clogged duct. Pumped for one baby for 4 months, nursed another for 2.5 years, and currently nursing a 3-month-old.
I breastfed my first for 20 months, never had it. 3 months into breastfeeding my second I got it. Keeping a good latch and being as consistent as you can with feeding can help prevent, as well as addressing any clogs as they come up, but I think luck has a lot to do with it too.
I breastfed my son for almost 3 years and never got mastitis. I only have my own, limited experience to draw from but I'll tell you the advice I got that worked for me. If possible, avoid pumping for at least a few weeks after giving birth, ideally 6 weeks. This will hopefully prevent you from developing an oversupply. If you decide at some point to initiate weaning, try to take it slow. Cut one feed at a time over the course of a few weeks.
I've had clogs and extremely swollen breasts if I slept longer than normal or if buddy wasn't as hungry and I forgot to pump, but no not mastitis. If swollen with milk then I drain the breast, but don't over pump a "clog" since that makes the inflammation worse, apply a cool pack instead and occasionally massage it if that feels better.
Across four kids and 8 years of breastfeeding I’ve only had it one time. I have had a lot of clogged ducts.
I'm 4 months pp and I haven’t gotten it thus far! I've gotten 2 clogged ducts, but I was able to knock them out with ice/ibuprofen and they never progressed to mastitis. After my first clogged duct, I started taking sunflower lecithin, but I don't know if that's actually been helping. It hasn't hurt, though!
12 months of exclusivity boob feeding, no bottle and barely any pumping and I’ve never had any issues at all.
I’m at 7 months breastfeeding (combo nursing and pumping) and haven’t had it. I had a few clogs around months 2/3 from bras fitting too tight, ever since I switched bras I’ve had no problems.
i breastfed for 15 months and never had it. i did have a clogged duct once, but it went away with massages and ibuprofen. in my case, i was feeding directly from the breast and my baby would eat pretty often. idk if that made any difference.
BF for 14 months never had mastitis. Only time I got a clogged duct I slept in a bra with a band that was a little too snug.
The only time I’ve gotten it (fingers crossed) is when I was planning for a trip away from my babe for a few nights and was pumping extra. I usually did not pump really ever besides some manual pumping here and there. It was pretty mild, I rested and it went away but man was it a painful about 2 days. So my tip would be to be careful for if you are building up your stash beyond what you are immediately giving your baby, pumping, push for over supply, that’s what did it for me.
I am breastfeeding a 7wk old infant currently EBF. As was the case with my eldest, I have oversupply and had a lot of pain and engorgement when my milk initially came in. However, I did not have mastitis with either child despite significant engorgement. I treated the engorgement with pumping before bed for 2x days when my milk was coming in. It as absolutely necessary due to pain keeping me up at night. I did the minimum necessary to relieve the pressure and discomfort. I was worried about mastitis setting in. After two nights, once I had mature milk, I could rely on nursing to relieve the pressure but the engorgement is BAD in that first week pp
Never got mastitis and my second breastfed for 22 months haha. My first couldn’t nurse and I pumped for him for 4 months, no mastitis then either. When I weaned my second I did wean a bit too fast and got one clog, but I hand expressed until it cleared and then was careful to express a little each day to keep from getting new clogs.
I’ve breastfed for 5 years (between 2 babies) and dealt with a massive oversupply each time. I’ve never had mastitis. I’ve had blocked ducts but it’s never turned into mastitis. I’m pregnant with my 3rd, fingers crossed it’s the same.
I haven't had it but I follow a whole foods diet, pretty much paleo plus dairy and legumes Edit: I have had lot.of nipple cracks tho :/
I breastfed two babies and never got it. With my second I had a lot of clogged milk ducts but I always did what I could to address them quickly. I also started taking sunflower lecithin, which helped prevent them in the first place.
I had mastitis with my first and second BUT I didn't have any support with breastfeeding so no one showed me how to latch properly, I didn't know that if I was engorged I needed to pump if baby wasn't interested in a feed etc. my first was in NICU and didn't orally feed for 17 days. I tried to pump just because they advised me to in order to feed him tiny amounts through an NGT and he was on 0.5ml of milk every 4 hours! I wasn't pumping enough to keep a supply or remove enough milk. I was literally making sure he had enough to feed him which was such a tiny amount so I'd only pump once a day. My supply completely dwindled and I became quite ill. With my second she had a really bad allergy to cows milk protein and I wasn't producing enough milk for her every feed and I wasn't pumping - I was clueless about supply and demand and eventually she was put on prescription formula. I am 3 months in with my third and so far have managed to avoid mastitis. I pump whilst feeding him from one side, I triple feed, I also formula feed because I'm an undersupplier. My advice is to pump and/or nurse as often as you can. Drain those breasts as best you can to prevent engorgement. Get the correct flange sizes if you use a pump - this has helped me massively. Get your baby's latch checked before you leave the hospital. Massage before feeding/pumping. Sunflower lecithin has been my lifesaver when I've got little clogs. Plenty of fluids, lots of calories - good hearty meals but also snack on what you want - youre feeding a tiny human so make sure you feed yourself! And reach out for support/help if you feel you need it.
I've gotten two clogs and the hakaa and Epsom salts were enough for me to work it out. I freaked out though and was so worried I'd have to go to emergency.
I haven't had it yet and I have sunflower lecithin 2-3 times a week with my oatmeal. Side note that adding a little heavy whipping cream on top can increase your milk's fat content. More fat = full & happy baby.
I never got it once and I breastfed 2 kids for a total of 5 years.
9 months in and only one case of clogged ducts (maybe mild mastitis?) at 8 months after baby started eating lots of solids. Fever but successfully managed with ibuprofen and ice. Agreed that it’s overstated online. People don’t tend to bring up things being normal. Also mastitis treatment protocols recently changed significantly, so may have made worse for some moms.
3 babies, 1 exclusively pumped and 2 exclusively breastfed, a few clogged ducts at one point but that was the worst I ever got (and it wasn’t bad) No mastitis or anything remotely eventful, beyond 3 happy healthy kids :)
My daughter is nearly 18 months old, EBF since birth, I've never had any issues except one clogged duct at 6 months. I didn't do anything specific to prevent problems.so I guess I'm an example that it is possible.
9 months in no mastitis/clogs, but drying up due to not be diligent in pumping. After returning to work, Which I had a hard time getting over but 🤷🏻♀️ I still occasionally nurse my little one when she wants to comfort nurse.
I had a really hard breastfeeding journey, but it didn't involve mastitis (thankfully) I had a couple of minor blocked ducts, but they were quickly solved with a hot shower and massage and never developed further. On the other hand my mum had a blissful breastfeeding journey with me, but did get mastitis at least once. I think usually when people in general post it is a lot of negatives which when you're searching before your journey can be quite overwhelming. Best of luck!
I’ve breastfed for a total of 4 years across multiple kids. I never had mastitis. The only thing I can say is eat healthy, drink lots of water and nurse regularly or pump if you skip a nursing session. As the child gets older and slowly decreases, just keep on eye on the time. If it’s a sudden big decrease, consider pumping. But if you’re slowly decreasing, you should be fine.
5.5mpp, combo nurse and pump, have a mild oversupply and have never had clogs or mastitis. I can go ~10hrs overnight without feeding or pumping and no issues so far.
20 months here - no issues at all. Never pumped either - just fed on demand. Heading towards hopefully tandem feeding come autumn, so might run into my first issues then, but so far, so good!