Breast infections, otherwise known as mastitis, are fairly common among breastfeeding mothers in the first three months after baby is born. Symptoms can be mild enough that mastitis may pass before the mother is diagnosed.
To some mothers, symptoms of mastitis may feel like a mild case of the flu. However in rare situations, mastitis can worsen and spread over time. Your provider may need to recommend specific treatment to stop the spread of the infection. Mastitis, like other types of infection, can become serious and lead to septicemia. This is a severe complication where the infection spreads throughout the entire body.
In order to prevent mastitis from becoming serious, what should you do if you suspect you may have a breast infection?
Symptoms of Mastitis
If you are breastfeeding and begin to feel a bit under the weather within the first three months, you might want to look a bit further. Here are some signs and symptoms of mastitis:
- Redness, tenderness and warmth in the affected breast
- Localized swelling on affected breast
- Fever
You may also have symptoms of mild nausea or fatigue. If you suspect that you have mastitis, it is always a good idea to contact your care provider as soon as possible to discuss possible treatment.
Treatment for Mastitis
In the past, it was not unusual for a care provider to recommend that the mother wean her baby if she had a breast infection. While emptying the breast is helpful to stop the spread of the infection, weaning your baby is not necessary in most cases. In fact, you should continue to breastfeed your baby while being treated for mastitis.
Although it is virtually impossible to completely empty your breast during the time that you are breastfeeding, your care provider may recommend breastfeeding and pumping as much breast milk as possible from the affected breast. This can prevent bacteria from developing and the infection from spreading. Don't forget that your baby is often one of the best ways to drain milk from your breast! You might find that allowing your baby to nurse as much as possible from the affected breast, followed by pumping after each feeding, may help to get your affected breast as close to empty as possible.
Applying a warm compress to the affected breast for a few minutes before each feed or several times a day and massaging the breast during feedings will help the milk to flow more easily.
A common treatment for mastitis has been antibiotic treatment. However there is currently insufficient evidence to show that antibiotic treatment is effective for all mothers with mastitis. Be sure to talk to your care provider about the best types of treatment for your own symptoms.
Remember that while mastitis is common, it is important to contact your care provider if your symptoms persist or worsen after a day or two.
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