Mastitis 101
Everything You Need to Know About Mastitis
Firstly, what is this mastitis that everyone is talking about? Basically, it is “when your breast becomes swollen, hot and painful.”
Mastitis happens when there is an inflammation in the breast, “which may involve a bacterial infection”. It is pretty common for many breastfeeding mothers to experience mastitis at least once throughout their breastfeeding journey and when it happens, immediate treatment is super important and necessary. Because breastfeeding is already a learning curve for any mother, getting mastitis can be very discouraging.
Rest assured, mastitis does not need to be what ends your breastfeeding journey! By understanding the causes, symptoms, and possible treatments, you can find mastitis relief, continuing to breastfeed your little one for a long time after.
Some common causes of Mastitis
Bacteria enter the breast through a cracked or sore nipple. It's a double whammy! Healing cracked nipples can be done at home. Note that cracked or sore nipples can be a sign that your baby is not latching correctly, so be sure to check with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) to have your breastfeeding position and baby’s latch assessed.
Blocked ducts or if milk is not fully drained from the breast. If milk is not sufficiently expressed from the breast (e.g. missed feedings), it may result in a clogged milk duct which may develop into mastitis.
Any abnormalities in the infant’s mouth such as “cleft lip or palate” may contribute to ineffective milk removal.
Restrictive clothing. Invest in loose and comfortably fitted nursing bras and tops. Avoid anything tight on your chest area.
What are the symptoms of Mastitis?
By understanding the common mastitis symptoms, you will be able to identify a potential problem sooner! Here are some of those symptoms:
Localized pain on the breast
The breast being red, or hot to the touch
Low-grade fever with aches and chills in the body
A lump on the breast
Extreme fatigue
General feelings of unwellness
What are remedies for Mastitis?
Mastitis, after experiencing the symptoms with a fever for 12-24 hours, you need to be treated with antibiotics. In the meantime, here are some at-home remedies to help ease the pain of mastitis:
1) Before breastfeeding, use a warm compress or have a hot shower followed by a gentle breast massage to stimulate easier milk flow. Here is a video for you to learn gentle breast massage.
2) Regular breastfeeding and pumping. Draining the breast of milk is an effective way of finding relief. Attempt different positions to encourage milk flow. Even though you are experiencing pain, please know that your milk is still nourishing and essential for your baby. Try to empty as much milk as possible at feedings. If after each nursing session, you find that your breasts are still quite hard and heavy, you may hand express for a short while.
3) Try different positions to help with milk flow and/or clearing plugged ducts such as “dangle feeding” where you lean over the baby from the top.
4) Pain relievers. Be sure to only take relievers that have been approved by your doctor to ensure they are breastfeeding-safe. Generally, paracetamol is the safest pain reliever for breastfeeding mummies.
5) Cold cabbage leaves after breastfeeding. Cover your breasts with clean, dry cabbage leaves, leaving the nipples uncovered. Allow cabbage to remain for 20 minutes, up to 3 times a day. Proceed cautiously, as exceeding this time limit could decrease milk supply. Discard cabbage after use.
6) Cold compress works great after breastfeeding to temporarily relieve the pain and inflammation.
Mastitis is extremely painful, and it should not be underestimated! If you suspect that you might have mastitis, reach out to an IBCLC as soon as possible.
Know that you are not alone. Mastitis is common and an uncomfortable part of many mummy’s breastfeeding journeys! You WILL heal, and you will be able to continue breastfeeding your little one.
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