A breast abscess almost always has to be drained surgically.  However,
we have now done about 40 in Toronto (through my clinic and a surgeon
who is sympathetic), as outpatient surgery, sometimes under general,
but usually under local anaesthetic.  The mother does not stop
breastfeeding on the affected side, even for one feeding.  This has
gone well and aside from women who had decided to stop before the
surgery, most of those who chose to continue did well.

As far as the rash on the baby's face is concerned--OY VEY!!! Formula
fed babies get it too.  If it's just the little red zits, for crying
out loud, there is no reason for a cream, no reason for telling the
mother that it's due to breastfeeding.  The rash comes and goes during
the first 2 or 3 months of the baby's life, lasts for two days or so,
then goes away for two days or so, and then when the mother thinks
it's gone, it comes back again.  Eventually it goes away.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC