Again...

Ug. I woke up at 2am from pain in my left breast...turns out I have another breast infection. All day yesterday I was really, really tired and I couldn't figure out why. Now I know: the infection was building and I didn't know it yet.

Breast Infection Symptoms: Breast infections may cause pain, redness, and warmth of the breast along with the following symptoms:

• Tenderness and swelling...check
  
• Body aches...check
• Fatigue...check
• Breast engorgement...check
• Fever and chills...check
• Rigor or shaking...nope, thank goodness

So now I'm on antibiotics again, which means Eddie is, too.

The student health center doctor couldn't answer all my questions about these types of infections, nor about the safety of the medication options while breastfeeding Eddie. Her suggestion was to "ask my gynecologist," which would be one of the randomly assigned student health center women's clinic doctors. But she said that all the student health center doctors are unaccustomed to seeing pregnant or breastfeeding women since they always refer them out to Sutter Women's Health near the hospital. Well, I had a referral there but it was canceled after my 4 week postpartum appointment. So I don't know what gyne she was telling me to talk to...

I just emailed the school to ask if they will give me another referral until I'm done breastfeeding. It is likely that I will get more of these breast infections since apparently once you get one you are likely to continue getting them. Lovely.

Hopefully the medication kicks in soon because it hurts to do anything involving my left arm, to walk, and to nurse. And I feel completely wiped out.

Holding a very squirmy baby who always flails his arms and hits things (including his Mama) is also no fun. I need a jock strap for my boob to protect it! For now I have stuffed a microwavable blue gel pack into my shirt to soothe my chest. It looks really cool...but I hope no one comes to the door today.