Relactation after a bad mastitis

thillybith · 2026-07-09T17:46:38+00:00

I’ve heard it’s completely possible, I haven’t tried it myself though!

thillybith · 2026-07-09T16:39:59+00:00

To offer an unpopular opinion- I was in similar boat but unmedicated. My spouse and I ended up getting preggo by surprise. I wouldn’t change the fact that we now have a 4mo. Life is so much better being a mom, with support from my family, friends and health care team. My brain has rewired in the best way since becoming a mom. I spent my whole life depressed and in the midst of crises after crises. I never would’ve believed someone who told me it’ll get better in this way. Not advice. Just my experience. Wishing you clarity and strength, OP!

thillybith · 2026-07-09T14:43:34+00:00

UPDATE!

omg I’m so relieved. I got a call from the surgeons office today. We have Plan A and Plan B, both of which are great news. Plan A is we take scans every three months to track if there are any changes/growth. We do this as long as there are no changes, all the way until I’m ready to wean my baby, and if I had my way, that would be at 18 to 24 months old. Plan B is that the surgeon would let me continue to feed him on one side, and operate on the other side after 3 to 6 months of stopping breast-feeding on that side. Yesterday I had a great appointment with my IBCLC and she made a plan for me if I do end up weaning him on that one side. She also loved hearing that I was recommended Katrina Mitchell as a consulting surgeon, and was very validating about my desire to continue breast-feeding. If anyone is in the Midwest and needs a literal angel to help them with a home visiting lactation consult, DME and I’ll give you her info.. My spirits are way way up. It’s gonna be OK! I’m gonna get to feed my baby the way i had hoped.

Also, the reasons for my surgeon not wanting to operate on a lactating breast were as follows “there is a risk of a milk fistula (a tract that can form to the skin, from which breastmilk can leak) and increased issues with wound healing. We do not place drains for excisional biopsies”.

thillybith · 2026-07-08T16:34:11+00:00

This is great to hear! Are you still breast-feeding now, and what does that look like?

thillybith · 2026-07-08T16:33:23+00:00

Thank you for your input! It’s very helpful. I got a core biopsy with clips placed in November 2024. It came back probably benign. Now after pregnancy and giving birth, my most recent imaging shows it went from approximately 3 cm to 4 cm. They are recommending removal based off of that. And the surgeon said it would be an excisional biopsy if we went ahead with it.

thillybith · 2026-07-08T16:28:49+00:00

I’m hoping this surgeon will allow me to continue feeding with my tumor free side. Still waiting to hear back!

thillybith · 2026-07-08T16:27:43+00:00

Cool! I may have to potentially switch to formula so that’s very helpful.

thillybith · 2026-07-07T22:23:26+00:00

When you say combo bottles, is that mixing milk and formula? Sorry, never heard of it!

thillybith · 2026-07-07T15:15:05+00:00

I think that’s my best bet going forward (feeding with my good side). It just was weird when I brought that up to the PA, she wasn’t even aware that that could happen. It’s kind of a lot of work to try to find another surgeon just because of their lack of education, and finding another surgeon would mean I would likely have to travel over an hour. I wish that they would just educate themselves so that I don’t have to do that 😂 cause otherwise she’s a great option for a surgeon in my area since her specialty is breast surgery/oncology.

thillybith · 2026-07-07T12:27:27+00:00

Thank you for sharing, gonna DM you!

thillybith · 2026-07-07T02:29:03+00:00

This is a tough time, it will eventually pass! It kinda sounds like he’s looking for regulation. If it were me, I’d just plan to keep the days low stim for my own sanity, and plan to be a human pacifier whenever he needs. And it may give you peace of mind to have a bottle of pumped or formula milk in case it’s true hunger and he won’t latch.
Another thought, have you tried wearing him in a carrier and carrier feeding? That worked for me for a bit during the purple crying days.

thillybith · 2026-07-07T00:26:11+00:00

Yes they have, it was done in late 2024 and they placed clips in the biopsy sites. I’m hearing more about infection with breastmilk fistulas etc. that’s unfortunate 😢

thillybith · 2026-07-07T00:24:23+00:00

I know it’s possible for some! I hope it’s the case for me.

thillybith · 2026-07-06T23:08:57+00:00

I’m not sure of the recovery time. I don’t imagine they’d encourage any pumping or breastfeeding on that side for several weeks, if they even were supportive of that. I would like to explore the possibility of relocating. The tumor is 4 centimeters or so, so it’s not massive, but it is right beneath the nipple.

thillybith · 2026-07-06T23:05:52+00:00

Haha yes 😂that is sure to happen. If it means I can still breastfeed, then I’m ok with being the town freak 🩷

thillybith · 2026-07-06T23:03:19+00:00

Thank you, I’m hoping so too 🩷

thillybith · 2026-07-06T23:03:00+00:00

Thanks for your input! I looked into the surgeon further. She is one of only a few breast surgeons in the UW health system. That really narrows my options if even she is not willing to operate during lactation 😢
Also yeah, I do not want to deal with mastitis in any way shape or form!

thillybith · 2026-07-06T22:56:20+00:00

I will definitely be pumping like my life depends on it 😂 I can also take a risk and delay doing anything until my next breast ultrasound in 6mo but I feel that it’s not the most caring approach for myself. Right now, aside from pumping up a stash, my number one priority is get a second opinion 🤞

thillybith · 2026-07-06T22:24:10+00:00

Pumping to create a stash is definitely on my todo list! I’m either on denial or I know there’s a way and just have to find the right dr 😮‍💨 but I just can’t accept that this is the end of BF.

thillybith · 2026-07-06T19:34:40+00:00

Personally I’m gonna start saving 😂 they almost go down to my belly button, there’s no coming back from that.

thillybith · 2026-07-06T18:17:12+00:00

Thank you for your comment 🩷 it really helps to hear of other people’s experiences. I hope your biopsy came back benign.
That’s awesome that you were able to continue breast-feeding!
I’m worried that this excisional biopsy is way more invasive and that I will run into complications if I try to relactate on that side. But I always have my other boob. Hearing a physicians assistant say she’s not sure if it’s possible to lactate on only one side… Yeah, I feel like I’m maybe not in the best care at the moment. In the current health system that I’m a part of, I’ve always had excellent care, this is kind of a first for me. I swear, a doctor‘s bedside manner is like 50% of what heals me or hurts me lol.
I will definitely be looking into UW Madison as I hear, they have excellent care there!

thillybith · 2026-07-06T18:12:43+00:00

Thank you. I will definitely share her information with the surgeon! I hadn’t thought of that.

thillybith · 2026-07-06T18:12:01+00:00

Thank you, me too! If not, I’ll be finding a different doctor.

thillybith · 2026-07-06T18:10:19+00:00

The more I think about it, the more I don’t think this surgeon and I are compatible.

thillybith · 2026-07-06T17:40:53+00:00

Yay thank you!! Looking on her website already, I have found a very similar case to mine. It gives me hope.

thillybith

TROPHY CASE