Mastitis or clogged duct?

Question

I was up most the night with my newborn and my left breast was VERY sore. As he fed I massaged it but it was almost too sore to touch. But 5am I had a fever of 100 and chills and headache. I have been pumping, nursing often, massaging and compresses all day. Still so so sore and engorged. My fever is now 99.8. Do I need to go to the doctor or what can I do at home?
I am so dreading having my baby up all night and battling this. Any help is appreciated.

Answer

If you have engorged, painful, red breast with a fever then you need to see your doctor, you may have mastitis.

Answer

They're one in the same. The definition of mastitis is a clogged duct.

Answer

Hand warmers! Get some and put them in your bra for a while before you feed the baby. I had tried some many things before this and it has worked every time since!
Some times it takes a feeding or three even ... but pain got better before the duct cleared. I was about to go into the doctor mine hurt sooo bad before someone recommended hand warmers - was skeptical but it really worked

Answer

It may not be a infection yet.
When your milk is engorged and the ducts are overfull, the milk can leak out of the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue, this is what causes those hard lumps that feel like a bruise. Your body will start an inflammatory response, with fever, chills, body aches and flu symptoms. You may also get hot spots, redness and inflammation on/in your breast. 
If you can feel a hard vein of milk along a duct, you have a blocked duct.
For either of these problems, use a warm compress before feeding and/or pumping everything you can out of your breast. 
For a clogged duct, first check for a milk bleb. It's often easier to clear a bleb or clogged duct in the shower, at the warm running water helps with a letdown and loosening blockages. 
Sometimes a bleb can be cleared with a combo of pressure from behind the blockage, with light/gentle abrasion of the top of the bleb with a wet facelifts or fingernail. Sometimes if you can get a small part out you can pull the rest out, sometimes you have to work at it for a while, and it may return over a few days. Often once the bleb is cleared, the trapped milk will spurt out, or you may have to help with hand expression.
A clogged duct can be cleared with a combo, pressure behind the blockage, of massage towards the nipple, and massage/ vibration at or just before the blockage to help move it through. I've heard some people use their electronic toothbrush to get a gentle vibration that helps move the blockage. 
It can take some time to clear the blockage,  but it needs to be done, or a definate infection will set in. 
If your breast had a lump that feels more like a sore tender bruise, milk is trapped in the surrounding breast tissue and can only be cleared by your lymphatic system. Regular warm compresses and massaging will speed your lymphatic drainage. You can take paracetamol for the body aches and ibuprofen will help for the inflammation. 
If you are not feeling an improvement in the chills and body aches after pumping and/or if the sore breast tissue hasn't cleared or at least improved in 24 hours, you likely have an infection that needs antibiotic. If your condition worsens at any point, go for immediate medical attention for antibiotics.
Your supply may the a dip, as the excess milk left in your breast signals your body to make less milk. An infection causes a tank in milk supply. But it is possible to build it back again. Your baby may cluster feed, or you could help build it yourself with extra pumping. 
Good luck. I hope you're feeling better soon.

Mastitis or clogged duct?

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