Mastitis information at iVillage Pregnancy & Parenting
I have had a lot of pain in one breast, with a patch of redness appearing toward my armpit a couple of days ago. My doctor says I have mastitis. Please tell me what this is and how it will affect nursing.
Question:Debbi Donovan
Debbi Donovan is a Board Certified Lactation Consultant, as well as a retired La Leche League Leader. For more than a decade, Debbi... Read more
Mastitis means inflammation of the breast. It may result from an infection or a plugged duct.
Typically, a breast infection comes on suddenly. The mom has a fever and flu-like symptoms and her breast is usually red, hot and swollen -- often in the upper outer quadrant. Mastitis usually occurs only in one breast (more often in the left breast) and in one particular area.
Mastitis is most likely to occur in the first three months postpartum, with the highest incidence being in the first three weeks. It is important for a nursing mother with these symptoms to seek evaluation from a physician.
It is important to continue breastfeeding while being treated. The infection will resolve more quickly. Antibodies in your milk serve to protect your baby from the bacteria causing the infection.
Several conditions seem to predispose a nursing mom to mastitis: fatigue; stress; plugged duct; an abrupt change in feeding pattern; engorgement; oversupply; tight or underwire bra; cracked nipple.
Recommended treatment is to feed your baby from both breasts. You can begin on the unaffected side first, if this makes you more comfortable. This allows the milk to let down in the affected breast before you begin nursing on that side. If your babies do not feed well from both breasts, use a hospital grade breast pump (which can usually be rented short-term) following feeds. It is best to nurse frequently to keep breasts soft and more comfortable. Moist heat applied prior to and while nursing can help the milk to flow. You can follow feeds with ice applied to the affected area. (Use a cloth underneath ice pack to protect tender skin.)
Bed rest is very important when you have mastitis. Climb in bed with your baby and allow yourself to rest. It is also a good idea to increase your fluid intake at this time. Your physician will prescribe a course of antibiotics. Since not all antibiotics are effective in treating mastitis, they should be chosen carefully and should continue for at least two weeks (Breastfeeding - A Guide For the Medical Profession, Ruth Lawrence, MD, 1994).
Your baby may be fussy while nursing due to the salty taste of your milk rather than a decreased supply. Sodium levels rise in breastmilk during mastitis. Some babies refuse the affected breast. If this is the case, pumping as often as your baby would nurse, will be needed to remain comfortable and to help you heal. Hope you're feeling better soon!
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