Stroking her head, I tried to soothe my 10-month-old daughter, Una, as she squirmed at my right breast. ‘Oh, what’s the wrong little one?’ I cooed, cradling her in my arms as we snuggled on the sofa. Usually, Una was an easy baby when it came to feeding, but she’d started refusing to take my right breast. I’d never had any problems when my older kids, Siofra, then nine, and Finn, six, were babies. My breast was swollen and sore, too, and I was becoming increasingly anxious, wondering why my baby wasn’t happy anymore.
Six weeks earlier, in October 2019, a rash had appeared, and when I’d checked myself thoroughly, I’d found a small lump the size of a blueberry. I’d assumed it was a blocked milk duct, so tried massaging it in a warm shower. When that didn’t do the trick, I went to the GP assuming it was mastitis, an infection caused by inflammation of the breast tissue and common for feeding mothers. The doctor agreed, and scans showed two abscesses, full of fluid, wrapped around my ducts, which was a common complication caused by mastitis. But after six lots of antibiotics and regular drainage of the fluid from my breast, it still hadn’t improved. In fact, the rash had spread and clear liquid leaked from my breast, and now Una was refusing to feed on it completely, so I went back to the doctor, hoping for more answers.
At home, I tried not to fret, but I was down, and something didn’t feel right. I’d had friends with mastitis before and they’d never said it got this bad. ‘I hope it’s nothing serious,’ I said to my husband, Matt, 39, but deep down, it was slowly dawning it was more sinister than an infection. I could physically see whatever it was growing, as the red rash spread across my breast to my armpit.
この記事は WOMAN'S OWN の November 02, 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は WOMAN'S OWN の November 02, 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
MAGNIFICENT MAURITIUS
Pe This istand in the ut 7% Indian Ocean feels Sa: like paradise, says Charlotte Richards
I HATE BEING A MUM
One woman, 55, reveals why she resents all of the sacrifices she made to be a mother
SLASH SUGAR AND SLIM
Trying to lose weight? With these clever tweaks, you don’t have to miss out on the seasonal sweet stuff
DAWN HARPER ASK THE DOCTOR
Doctor Dawn Harper answers all your questions
SEX HORRORS SOLVED!
Stop physical intimacy from turning into the stuff of nightmares with our expert advice
THE TRUTH ABOUT LIFE WITH CANCER
More than 12,000 people are diagnosed with brain tumours each year in the UK. Two mums tell us how the cruel disease changed their lives forever
DAWN NEESOM MIND OF MY OWN
The Woman's Own columnist has her say on marriage, tea and Absolutely Fabulous!
TRAPPED INSIDE MY HOME WITH A MONSTER
Gemma Williams, 46, thought she'd die at the hands of her partner
AMANDA TO REPLACE CAT?
With increasing criticism directed at the This Morning host, are producers ready to call in a familiar face?
Get the GOSS
Your round-up of this week's biggest showbiz stories