Dear Donna, Rowena, Debra,  & everyone else who posted to LACTNET about
abcesses,

The mum with a breast abcess who I posted about a while back is doing really
well now. Thank you to everyone who sent information about different
treatments for abcesses.

The mum decided to keep breastfeeding after all, but nursed mostly on the
unaffected side and pumped the side with the abcess - partly because that
side was so painful, partly because she had doubts about breastfeeding on
that side in case the abcess became worse (as the doctor at the hospital had
told her). She was concerned that the pumped milk from the side with the
abcess separated into 3 layers - an extra "oily" layer as well as thinner
foremilk and creamy hindmilk.

She treated the area over the abcess with hot packs as often as she could,
and noticed the abcess moved towards the skin surface. When she returned to
the hospital for a follow-up, the registrar tried to drain it again (using a
needle - no surgery) and gave a further course of antibiotics. This was a
different doctor, but again she was told to stop breastfeeding, this time
because the abcess would drain into the milk and infect it! I despair!!!

The mum looked into using lecithin (as a couple of people suggested) but was
discouraged by the pharmacist, who told her it wasn't recommended for
breastfeeding mums because it is used as a slimming pill. In any case, the
local shops had none in stock, so she didn't try this.

The hot packs continued to work well and the abcess eventually surfaced and
drained
through the skin. On her final check up at the hospital, the abcess had
cleared up. This time she saw the consultant, who told her that continuing
to breastfeed was the best thing she could do! What a pity he doesn't make
sure his staff are equally well informed.

The mum is back to exclusive breastfeeding (had been adding formula
supplements) and is happy to be able to continue breastfeeding after all.
She is slowly building up her milk supply on the side that had the abcess.
The area around where the abcess was still feels "harder" - is this likely
to be scar tissue from the pressure of the abcess on surrounding tissue, and
will it gradually resolve? The mum even mentioned that she is thinking of
continuing breastfeeding long term now that she is over this problem. Thanks
to everyone who helped!

Kath Monkhouse
BFC, Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, UK

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