Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast. It occurs most often in women who are breastfeeding, but it can affect any woman. Mastitis can be caused by poor milk flow from the breast. When milk builds up in a breast, it leaks into the nearby breast tissue. Infection can also develop when the nipples become cracked or irritated. The tissue can then become infected with bacteria.
Antibiotics can usually cure mastitis. For women who are nursing, continued breastfeeding (or pumping) can help. If mastitis is not treated, a pocket of pus may form in the breast and need to be drained.
Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast that occurs most commonly in breastfeeding women; it can be related to tissue injury, infection, or both. Breastfeeding mastitis is typically caused by bacteria that enter the breast through a cracked or sore nipple.
Signs of infection may include:
Treatment usually involves antibiotic medicines, keeping up milk flow, and measures to relieve discomfort. While they are being treated, most women can safely continue to breastfeed or pump breast milk.
If you have mastitis, you may first notice:
These first symptoms may start after you have reopened a blocked milk duct.
Signs that mastitis is getting worse include swollen and painful lymph nodes in the armpit next to the infected breast, a fast heart rate, and flu-like symptoms that get worse.
The symptoms of mastitis most often appear within 4 to 6 weeks after childbirth.
In some cases, symptoms of mastitis get worse and the breast forms a pocket of pus (abscess) in the infected area.
Thrush (yeast infection) can occur in your baby's mouth and spread to your nipples and breast ducts. You may have a yeast infection if you have:
If you have yeast infection symptoms, both your nipples and your baby's mouth should be checked for thrush.
Thrush can also begin with a sudden start of pain or burning when breastfeeding has been going well without problems.
Mastitis won't go away without treatment. If you have mastitis symptoms, you may need to call your doctor today. Treating mastitis right away helps keep the infection from quickly getting worse and usually eases symptoms after about 2 days.
Be sure to get treatment for mastitis. Delaying treatment can lead to a breast abscess, which can be harder to treat.
Treatment for mastitis usually includes:
If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of pills. The antibiotics won't harm the baby. If treatment doesn't work at first, your doctor may send a sample of your breast milk to a lab to help find out the type of bacteria that is causing the infection.
You can safely keep breastfeeding your baby or pumping breast milk to feed your baby during the illness and treatment. Your baby is the most efficient pump you have for emptying your breasts. Your breast milk is safe for your baby to drink. Any bacteria in your milk will be destroyed by the baby's digestive juices.
Breastfeeding from your affected breast is safe for your baby. If starting with the affected breast is too painful, try feeding your baby with your healthy breast first. Then, after your milk is flowing, breastfeed from the affected breast. If your nipples are too cracked and painful to breastfeed from that breast, hand express or use a breast pump to empty the breast of milk. Try this each time that you can't breastfeed.
Nursing moms sometimes get mastitis when bacteria enter the breast through a cracked or sore nipple. Taking these steps can help prevent mastitis.
Routine breastfeeding prevents bacteria from building up. If you know you'll go more than 4 hours without feeding your baby, arrange to pump.
If you drink something while you breastfeed, it can help you stay hydrated.
When you and your baby are aligned, the baby can latch on to the areola, not just the nipple.
This can help drain all areas of your breast. Try breastfeeding positions such as the Australian hold, the cradle hold, the cross-cradle hold, the football hold, and the side-lying position.
Gradual weaning helps prevent your breasts from getting too full.
Your doctor can usually diagnose mastitis based on your symptoms and by checking your affected breast. Tests usually aren't needed.
You are more likely to get mastitis from breastfeeding if:
Mastitis most often happens when bacteria enter the breast through the nipple. This can happen when a nursing mother has a cracked or sore nipple.
Going for a long time between nursing sessions or not emptying the breast completely may also may also make mastitis more likely. You can try using different breastfeeding techniques. And make sure that your baby is latched on properly when nursing. These steps will help with emptying the breast and avoiding cracked nipples.
Mastitis is a breast inflammation usually caused by infection. It can happen to any woman. But it's most common during the first 6 months of breastfeeding. You can keep nursing your baby. In fact, breastfeeding usually helps to clear up infection, and nursing won't harm your baby.
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
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