"The only time the doctors get involved in breastfeeding is when it goes wrong - for example mastitis or breast abscess when they have to prescribe antibiotics" Just to say that I feel that implying that antibiotics are NECESSARY for the treatment of mastitis is not helpful. Sally Inch wrote in MIDIRS a while ago about infective vs. non-infective mastitis. Antibiotics won't do much more than act as an anti-inflammatory agent in a bout of non-infective mastitis. Odd, isn't it, that women often get unneeded medication for mastitis, when self-help/drainage measures would do, but have to fight so hard for medication for thrush on or in the breast. Magda Sachs Breastfeeding Supporter, BfN ,UK