Oh, and…
Published September 18, 2009 | 
… now I have mastitis.
Maia and I were at the playgroup today, and I picked her up… and almost puked when she pushed her hand against my right breast. It hurt, and it made me feel nauseous, and this sick feeling rose in my throat.
We left playgroup, I brought her home to Chris, and I left for the walk-in clinic.
I was home an hour later, with antibiotics.
I’m hoping that once this mastitis clears up, my problems with pumping may clear up too, or maybe, just maybe… Maia will be nursing again.
I am so sorry that this happened. Mastitis SUCKS! And so does pumping. I am not really sure what to suggest only I know that if Lukas did this I would freaking out.
And when I first started pumping I had trouble getting enough out. I have since learned a few tricks to help with expression. I am not sure what kind of pump you have but leaving it on the let-down setting for longer helps with increasing production and stimulating another letdown.
I’ve read your last few posts about the breastfeeding strike. That sucks. I know how frustrating it can be because both of my kids did it too. You try and you try and (in my case) they scream and scream. Both of them started to nurse again (although my daughter fully weaned herself just before 10 months. Pumping never produces as much as a baby can get out of you. I don’t know if you’re using a handlheld machine but it may be worthwhile considering renting one of those big electric pumps that you can get from drug-stores. Those things will suck every drop you have…although with Mastitis you may not be able to. I’ve never had it. I’m sure it’s terrible. Hang in!
I am late reading about your troubles. I will likely give you advice you’ve already read or heard and not find useful but I will do it anyway, in the hopes that something might help.
Have you tried nursing her when she is really calm? Happy? Or sleepy? Like bedtime, naptime or in the middle of the night? Is there something you can do for yourself to relieve the stress of this situation? Mastitis is usually an indicator that we’re stressed (no shit with a nursing strike!) and need to rest more. Can you bring her into bed with you and re-connect just cuddling and maybe the nursing will just come back naturally.
Have you spoken to a LLL leader? Read the Kelly mom or LLL website about nursing strikes for advice?
I know this isn’t what you want to hear and I don’t mean to be discouraging anymore than you are likely already feeling, but in case you don’t know I just want to tell you (and readers) that once a baby gets hooked on the bottle and its quick feeding action that mama’s breasts can sometimes become less attractive, which is the problem with introducing bottles at all, especially in the early days. Have you considered taking away the bottle and giving her milk in a sippy cup or by spoon? She might begin to associate eating with slow delivery and then want your breasts back. Just an idea.
Good luck Tatiana. I’m rooting for you!
I had mastitis twice. My midwife said if I could get Jonathan to nurse it would help me and she was right..it did. Of course there are conflicting opinions on whether or not you should nurse if you have mastitis, but she said to do it and it would not hurt Jonathan. As far as I can tell it didn’t….
I hope you feel better son.
Oh noes!
Get well soon — I keep hearing about people getting this dreaded mastitis & it sounds like NO FUN at all!
*hugs*
Yuck! and Ouch!I hope the medicine helps.
Ohhhhhhh! Soooo sorry to hear that! That sucks!
I thought I had mastitis too when I first had my daughter. Sure felt like it, but it wasn’t. Hope the medicine helps and fast!! 
This may sound completely random, but is there any possibility that you could be pregnant?! With my first daughter, Vera, I had planned on nursing her past 1 maybe until 18 months. However my plans were foiled when she completely would not nurse at all. She went on a strike so to say. I ended up with mastitis, and I too went to the Dr. for it. She asked me if I had been trying to wean, and I explained to her that Vera just stopped outta nowhere. She told me to go home and take a pregnancy test. She said that sometimes the milk tastes bad because of hormones released into it and that will cause them to refuse. 0_0. Just a suggestion….not that it’s going to clear up your mastitis haha. Your story just sounds all to familiar though.