A lot of physicians will hospitalize for mastitis.  This woman's
mastitis does not sound worse than the usual, and probably, it was not
necessary for her to be in hospital.  It was certainly *not* necessary
for her to stop breastfeeding.

This sort of approach to treatment shows exactly what is wrong with our
system.  Probably (and I'm guessing), the determining factor in the
decision to hospitalize was the high white count.  Besides causing the
mother pain, the test cost money, and possibly resulted in a 10 day
unnecessary hospitalization.  But this is what we are teaching in
medical school and interneship.  TESTS, TESTS and more TESTS.  Forget
using your brain.

Off topic, but not that far off, as it affects a lot of nursing mothers.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC