My Unexpected Mastitis Diagnosis 8 Months After Weaning

Mastitis … turns out it’s not just for breastfeeding mums. Plus, find out what to do if you find a lump and how to prevent future scares. Your breast health matters.

Nothing wakes you up at 3am, quite like a very sore and very large lump in your breast that literally popped up overnight. Panic mode activated. My mind immediately went to the scariest place – breast cancer. So, as soon as dawn broke, I rushed to see my GP.

My doctor was super reassuring, saying it was probably just a cyst, but to be sure, she sent me off for an ultrasound. When the results came back, the news was both surprising and confusing – it wasn’t a cyst; it was mastitis. Wait, what? I stopped breastfeeding eight months ago.

Written for Mama Disrupt® | Read the full feature here.