A Testimony of How the Right Knowledge—and the Right People—Can Save You from Mastitis

This is the story of my breastfeeding journey—a journey that started in confusion and pain, but thankfully led me to healing and joy. I share it with the hope that it might spare another mom the trauma I went through the first time around, and offer encouragement that things can be different.

My First Experience: A Journey Marked by Pain and Confusion

I had an oversupply of breastmilk (a blessing, I know), but instead of being a gift, it became a constant source of stress and illness. As a brand-new mom, I was unprepared and overwhelmed—and, unfortunately, taught the wrong things from the very start.

After my baby was born, I didn’t get the immediate skin-to-skin time I now know is so vital. He was first taken to be cleaned and weighed, and only then handed to me, wrapped tightly in blankets. I was eager to do everything "right," so I followed the nurses' strict instructions to feed every three hours, 20 minutes per side, waking my sleeping baby if needed. I thought that was just how it was supposed to be.

But then came my first experience with mastitis. I became extremely ill and had to go on antibiotics. Desperate, I visited a breastfeeding clinic, where I was told something different - to feed every two hours during the day and on demand at night. I gave it a try—anything to make this work—but just a week later, I was sick again. Another round of antibiotics.

Over the next few weeks, I consulted three or four different professionals. Each one gave me completely different advice:

• “Feed every 2 hours.”

• “Feed only 15 minutes per side.”

• “Stick to a strict 3-hour schedule.”

• A common suggestion was to apply heat to the affected areas of my breast.

• Another recommendation was to massage the lumps or express milk in addition to breastfeeding.

• Some said to stand in a hot shower when I felt a lump forming in my breast. 

• Others said express in the shower. I was overwhelmed, confused, and deeply discouraged.

  
  

I followed all of these suggestions in hopes of not getting sick again  Nevertheless, in total, I had mastitis five times in six weeks. I was physically exhausted, emotionally drained, and had no joy in those early weeks with my newborn. I was barely surviving.

Eventually, my husband and I found our way to a La Leche  League Leader. And for the first time, something made sense. The Leader we spoke with told me:

“Your baby is not a robot. Let him guide you.”

She explained that I, as an adult, don’t eat or drink at the exact same time or in the same amount every day—so why should a baby?

Feed on demand. It was simple. Logical. Human. And yet no one had explained it to me that way before.

Sadly, by the time I received this life-changing advice, my breastfeeding journey was already falling apart. At my six-week checkup, both my gynaecologist and paediatrician told me to stop breastfeeding—for the sake of my health and the baby’s. I didn’t want to give up, but I no longer had the strength to keep going.

The grief of that decision stayed with me. But so did the lesson: the right knowledge, and the right people, matter more than we realise. If I had met that La Leche League Leader earlier, my story could’ve turned out so differently.

My Second Journey: Healing, Trust, and Joy

When I fell pregnant again, I knew without a doubt who I needed by my side from the start. I contacted the same Leader while I was still pregnant, filled with fear and questions. I was terrified of breastfeeding again—how would I cope this time? Would my body betray me a second time?

The Leader was there, guiding me before birth and answering every anxious question. And then, unexpectedly, my newborn was taken to ICU for 10 days after birth. Once again, I couldn’t do skin-to-skin contact right away, and I couldn’t feed him myself. I had to express from day one. My immediate thought was: “Here we go again… I’m going to lose my breastfeeding journey all over again.” The Leader advised me to express every two hours to keep up supply. And when I finally could start feeding my baby myself, she guided me to gradually wean off the pump and transition to feeding on demand—just like we’d discussed.

My breasts adjusted beautifully to my baby’s needs. Yes, there were moments I felt lumps or “knobs” forming, but this time I knew what to do.  The Leader told me to only use cold packs for 5-10 minutes every hour, and suggested I take Ibuprofen as an anti-inflammatory. No warm compresses, no hot showers. Also, she cautioned against massage or expressing or pumping in addition to breastfeeding. It made sense to me — your body needs to adjust to your baby’s needs. If you express or massage on top of feeding, your brain assumes your baby is consuming more milk, which leads to increased milk production. This can result in an oversupply, which may ultimately cause breast inflammation.

I followed only the recommendations from the Leader, and the lumps subsided on their own. I was never ill — not even close. And now, five months into my second breastfeeding journey, I can finally say: I love it. I’ve experienced the beauty and bond that people speak of when they talk about breastfeeding. My body continues to adjust to my baby’s rhythms. It’s nothing short of amazing.

If you're a new mom reading this, please know:

Trust your instincts. Listen to your baby. And find people who truly understand breastfeeding—not just as a science, but as a deeply human experience. Don’t be afraid to question the advice you’re given. Your well-being matters just as much as your baby’s.

And to the Leader who helped me, and the breastfeeding community of La Leche League South Africa —thank you. For every single check-in, answering all my questions, easing every uncertainty, and  helping turn my breastfeeding journey into an amazing one. You gave me back what I thought I had lost: joy, connection, and confidence in myself as a mother.

-Anja Kraemer

For more info on mastitis see https://www.lllsa.org/mastitis