My Personal Experience with Mastitis as a Lactation Counselor

In February, during my third breastfeeding journey, I had my first-ever experience with mastitis. Even as a lactation counselor, this caught me off guard, and it gave me a deeper appreciation for just how challenging mastitis can be. My personal experience with mastitis gave me an even better perspective to help new moms when going through this – it’s not fun!

How It Started

It all began after a particularly busy weekend filled with activities and a birthday party. Our typical nursing schedule was completely thrown off, and my baby–distracted by all the excitement–wasn’t emptying my breast well during feedings.

By Sunday evening, I noticed the top of my right breast felt tender. There was no noticeable lump yet, but it felt swollen, almost like an area of congestion.

Things escalated quickly. By 8 PM, I started experiencing body aches, chills, and significant breast pain. The next morning, redness began to develop, and I felt nauseous throughout the day. While I never developed a fever, I had other systemic symptoms that were hard to ignore.

What I Did to Treat Mastitis

Knowing the latest Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) protocol, I decided to treat my symptoms proactively while holding off on antibiotics since it was likely an inflammation-based mastitis. Here’s what worked for me following the protocol:

• Ibuprofen for Inflammation: I took ibuprofen every 6-8 hours around the clock to manage pain and reduce inflammation.
• Light Lymphatic Massage: I gently massaged the affected area four times a day to help improve drainage.
• Icing After Feedings: After each nursing session, I applied ice packs to the inflamed area for about 10 minutes to reduce swelling.
• Regular Nursing Schedule: I stuck to our normal feeding routine and only pumped if my baby wasn’t emptying the breast well or if I felt overly full to avoid any further inflammation.
• Rest: This one was tricky with three kids running around at home. But I did my best to rest as much as possible.

This photo was taken around the 48-hour mark of beginning of symptoms and was the peak of mastitis progression.

My Recovery Journey

Thankfully, my symptoms began to improve gradually. By day three, I felt significantly better– most of the tenderness, redness, and discomfort had subsided.

However, there was still some lingering soreness, mild redness, and slight bruising (which is all completely normal as the breast heals). I noticed a small lump that took a few extra days to resolve fully.

What My Personal Experience with Mastitis Taught Me

Even as someone who supports moms daily through breastfeeding challenges, experiencing mastitis firsthand was humbling. It reminded me just how quickly it can escalate and how important early intervention is.

It also reinforced the value of following evidence-based protocols to manage mastitis effectively while minimizing unnecessary interventions. If you’re navigating mastitis, know that you’re not alone. With the right support and treatment plan, recovery is possible– and I’m here to guide you through it.

Want more tips on managing mastitis? Check out this post.

Curious how you can get personalized support when managing mastitis or other common breastfeeding struggles? Check out The Essentials Program for expecting and new moms on our services page here.