Preventing mastitis
Mastitis usually happens when the breast is not completely emptied of milk. This most often occurs when feeding or pumping is delayed. When milk builds up in a breast, it leaks into surrounding breast tissue, which becomes inflamed and more likely to develop an infection.1 Infection can also develop when nipples become cracked or irritated (usually from improper breast-feeding technique), allowing bacteria to enter the breast.
Help prevent mastitis by using good breast-feeding techniques.
- Breast-feed regularly. Do not delay or skip feedings. Breast-feed at least every 1 to 3 hours or whenever your baby is hungry (feeding on demand). This helps keep the milk ducts empty. In the first few days after birth, you may have to wake your baby every 2 to 3 hours to breast-feed.
- Arrange a time and place to pump or express your breast milk if you have to wait more than 4 hours to breast-feed your baby. See an illustration of pumping or expressing breast milk
.
- Align your baby straight for breast-feeding. This means putting your baby's chest to your chest. The baby should latch on to the areola, past the nipple. Latching on incorrectly, such as only getting the nipple into the baby's mouth, may cause problems. Your nipples may become sore or crack. Also your baby may not empty the breast well. Massage the areola if your nipples are flat, and gently push the nipple outward with your thumb and forefinger. See an illustration of proper latch for breast-feeding
- Alternate which breast you offer first at each feeding.
- Use different breast-feeding positions to drain all areas of your breast. See illustrations of different breast-feeding positions, including the Australian hold
- If you start to have sore or cracked nipples, get help from your doctor or a lactation consultant.
Other tips to help prevent mastitis include the following:
- Air dry your nipples after each breast-feeding session to prevent irritation and cracking.
- Keep an eye on whether using a nipple cream is easing pain from sore nipples and is not causing redness or infection. Nipple creams (such as lanolin cream) may help keep the nipples supple, thus decreasing the risk of infection from dry, cracked nipples. However, recent research suggests that some nipple creams, particularly papaya cream, may introduce bacteria to cracked nipples, increasing the risk of mastitis.2
- Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids, whenever thirsty. Having something to drink while breast-feeding is a helpful way to get enough fluids.
- Get plenty of rest. Ask for help with daily tasks from friends and family members whenever possible.
- Make sure that your bra fits well and isn't tight and restrictive. This is especially important if you become engorged.
- When you are ready to wean your baby, stop breast-feeding gradually. Gradual weaning is best for both of you. It helps prevent your breasts from becoming too full of milk and gives your baby time to adjust to new eating patterns. For more information, see the topic Weaning.
- If possible, avoid using plastic shells for increasing air circulation to the nipple or for using a nipple shield. These breast-feeding aids can block milk flow and increase germs on the nipple surface, thus increasing the risk of mastitis.
| Author: | Amy Fackler, MA Carrie Henley | Last Updated: April 28, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Liisa Honey, MD, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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