The story of how I ended up with mastitis as second-time breastfeeding mom (and IBCLC) and how I cleared it in 48 hours using gentle, evidence-based care
How I ended up with mastitis at 15 months postpartum
I experienced mastitis with my first born when he was somewhere between six and 12 weeks old. It sucked. I was so tired and so sore and completely exhausted. Once I was over it, it was smooth sailing.
I thought for sure there was no way I was going to experience mastitis again because I know exactly what to do to make sure that it does not happen. BUT at 15 months into breastfeeding my second, I ended up with mastitis. And the way that it happened was a little unconventional in a sense.
My toddler kicked me straight in the chest! It was an accident but he kicked me right in the boob. It hurt so much. And I honestly didn’t think anything of it at the time, other than like, “oh my gosh, this hurts!” And that was kind of the end of it as it was in the middle of the night.
By the next afternoon, I had some soreness, particularly around my nipple, but I chalked it up to the impact. But he kicked me so hard that he likely damaged the delicate breast tissues. It was leading to swelling and in the lactating breast that starts to narrow the milk ducts, setting the stage for mastitis to develop.
The symptoms I had
By mid-afternoon the next day, I was feeling off. Exhausted. No energy to make dinner. I started feeling cold and thought maybe I was catching the cold my school-aged child had brought home (because, if you have a kid in school, you know germs are nonstop).
By that evening I had:
- full-blown chills
- body aches
- sore breasts that felt bruised, and I realized what was happening; I was getting mastitis
Why I didn’t need antibiotics
Mastitis is an inflammatory condition of the breast. It can become infectious, but not every case needs antibiotics.
In my case:
- No nipple trauma (which is a risk factor for infection)
- No latching issues
- Happened from trauma to the breast (my toddler’s karate kick)
So I put my knowledge as an IBCLC to work with the goal of calming inflammation and supporting my body. And within 48 hours, I was feeling back to normal
What I Did to Clear Mastitis in 48 Hours
1. Warm shower
I hopped in a warm shower NOT to apply heat to my breast, but to warm up my whole body and calm the chills. I specifically avoided massaging or expressing milk in the shower.
2. I nursed as usual
I didn’t try to remove extra milk. Nursing continued as usual. Overexpressing can sometimes make things worse due to increased inflammation
3. Lymphatic massage + Breast Gymnastics
I used gentle, light massage techniques focused on moving fluid toward the lymph nodes (especially in the armpits) to reduce swelling. Some of this included Maya Bolman’s Breast Gymnastics technique. She’s an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Her technique is a form of lymphatic drainage which involves gentle movement of the breast. You can find her video below
https://www.mayabolman.com/videos/v/breastgymnastics
4. Rest and fluids
With two little ones, rest isn’t always easy, but I did my best:
- My husband took over dinner
- I hydrated a lot including adding electrolytes (minerals) to my water
- Supported my immune system with supplements
- I went to bed at 9 p.m. for some solid early rest
5. Kinesiology Tape (K-Tape)
By the next morning I was feeling much better. I had seen other IBCLCs suggest K tape so I looked up a video of how to properly apply it. I applied K-tape (physio tape) to my breast to further support drainage and reduce swelling. This made a big difference in speeding up recovery.
Why what I did worked
Many people assume a plugged duct or mastitis is caused by trapped milk but in reality, inflammation narrows the milk ducts, and that’s what blocks flow.
Think of it like a kinked garden hose: the flow is blocked not because there’s something stuck inside, but because the walls are squeezed shut. So when we support reducing the “squeeze” (the inflammation if you’re following) then we begin to have more room for milk to flow.
Pain relief options
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) has updated guidelines that recommend:
- Breast rest– not pumping excessively
- Ibuprofen (Advil) for inflammation
- Tylenol for pain
- Ice packs (after feeding)
This is a good BASIC approach but everybody is different and the root cause will differ. Not everyone is getting kicked in the boob by their toddler for example. This is why I put together my course, Boob-ease to help you find the root cause and get fast relief from the pain of plugged ducts and mastitis at home.
The Takeaway: You Matter
Yes, it’s helpful to know how to treat mastitis, but here’s what I really want you to take away from my story:
How you feel matters. If you’re in pain, exhausted, or just not being heard, trust yourself. Protocols are helpful, but healing happens faster when your care plan includes your needs, your preferences, and your comfort.
If you’re navigating mastitis or another breastfeeding challenge and feel lost, dismissed, or pressured to “just push through it” please know this:
- You don’t have to suffer in silence
- You don’t have to follow advice that doesn’t feel right for your body
- You deserve care that’s responsive, gentle, and centered around you
You can buy my course to help you overcome plugged ducts and mastitis at home, here.
References:
Mitchell, K. B., Johnson, H. M., Rodríguez, J. M., Eglash, A., Scherzinger, C., Widmer, K., Berens, P., & Miller, B. (2022). Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Clinical Protocol #36: The mastitis spectrum, revised 2022. Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. https://abm.memberclicks.net/assets/DOCUMENTS/PROTOCOLS/36-mitchell-et-al-2022-academy-of-breastfeeding-medicine-clinical-protocol-36-the-mastitis-spectrum-revised-2022.pdf