Hi,
I have been working with this mom (mostly by email) for about a week (other
issues - when to start solids, sleeping through, etc). History: baby boy is
6 months old, 21 lbs, exclusively breastfed; baby has dairy allergies, and
she has eliminated all dairy from her diet; Father of baby had dairy
allergies as well as wheat allergies. Her doctor has suggested taking
lecithin daily, which she is doing. I spoke with her this morning, and she
is feeling better now, and seems less inclined toward weaning early, but is
concerned for her health, and getting pressure from family. I told her she
definitely has options other than weaning and gave her several from the
Breastfeeding Answer Book. The mastitis and plugged ducts have occured in
the same breast each time, and she said with the last occurence, it was too
painful to wear a shirt. Is this within the normal range for recurring
mastitis, or is there something else to look for? I would welcome any
thoughts, suggestions, questions, etc.

Thank you,
Jackie Sinicrope
LLLL, Cary NC

I have permission from the mom to post the following email she sent me:

Thanks so much for the reply.  I had planned on coming to the meeting
today, but woke up at 4 a.m. with a terribly painful round of Mastitis.
I had Mastitis just 4.5 weeks ago so this makes 3 times for Mastitis and
at least 5 blocked ducts.  My Mom is a BIG LLL person, but she told me
today she is worried about my health and thinks it might be better for
me to stop nursing.  Of course I don't want to do that, but with a
temperature of 102 and my body fighting so hard it is pretty miserable.
The doctor has told me today that there is no way to avoid the Mastitis,
but I keep getting it in the same side.  He said that you get Mastitis
from bacteria in the baby's nose.  So, I hate to imagine it, but perhaps
what I need to do is pump and then give him the breatmilk in a bottle to
avoid the infections.  I'd hoped to make it to 12 months or at least 9
months and he was eating well on solids.  Plus I have been doing a
slower pace on his vaccinations and believe it is important that he get
breastmilk during those.  What are your thoughts?  Have you read up on
anything to prevent Mastitis or plugged ducts?  Is there a danger
physically to getting Mastitis over and over again?  Each time I get it
the infection seems more severe and bigger spread and MORE painful.  Now
it is painful when I breathe as it hurts all the way into the under arm
and is incredibly flaming red.   Any advice would be great.

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