Mastitis While Breast-Feeding

Home Treatment

From the time you begin breast-feeding until your baby is weaned, take measures to preventmastitis. For example, learn about different breast-feeding techniques so that you will know how to completely empty your breasts. Mastitis usually happens because a breast is not completely emptied of milk.

If you have symptoms of mastitis, contact your health professional right away. Delaying treatment can lead to an abscess forming in the affected breast. Severe infection can require intravenous antibiotics in the hospital.

Breast-feeding with mastitis

Along with oral antibiotic treatment, adequate emptying of the affected breast helps prevent more bacteria from collecting and may shorten the duration of the infection.

You can safely continue breast-feeding your baby or pumping breast milk to feed your baby during illness and treatment.¹ Your baby is the most efficient pump you have for emptying your breasts. Your breast milk is safe for your baby to drink because any bacteria in your milk will be destroyed by the baby's digestive juices.

• Before breast-feeding your baby, place a warm, wet face cloth over the affected breast for about 15 minutes. Try this at least 3 times a day. This increases milk flow in the breast. Massaging the affected breast may also increase milk flow.
• If possible, continue breast-feeding on both sides. Ideally, start on the affected side; it's critical that you empty this breast thoroughly. If this breast is too painful to start with, try feeding from the healthy breast first. Then, after your milk is flowing, breast-feed from the affected breast until it feels soft. Switch back to the healthy breast and breast-feed until your baby has finished.
• Pump or express milk from the affected breast if pain prevents you from breast-feeding. Nipple pain can be caused by the baby latching on to sore nipples. For more information on pumping or expressing breast milk, see the topic Breast-Feeding.

Self-care measures for mastitis

In addition to taking your prescribed antibiotics and continuing to breast-feed or pump breast milk, there are other steps you can take to make yourself feel better until the mastitis goes away.

• Take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) to relieve your pain or discomfort. You can take ibuprofen (such as Advil) along with acetaminophen to reduce inflammation if necessary.
• Rest as much as possible.
• Apply ice packs to the affected breast to help reduce your pain. Place the ice outside of your bra or clothing. Do not put the ice directly on your bare skin.
• Drink extra fluids.
• If your breasts are overfull (engorged), pump or express a small amount of breast milk before breast-feeding. This will make your breasts less full and may make it easier for your baby to latch on to your breast.
• If pus is draining from your infected breast, wash the nipple gently and let it air dry before putting your bra back on. A disposable breast pad placed in the bra cup may absorb the drainage.

Most women can successfully continue breast-feeding during a breast infection. If mastitis makes it difficult for you to continue breast-feeding while the infection is being treated, remember that emptying your breasts regularly is essential. Don't hesitate to talk to your health professional or a lactation consultant for further help and support.

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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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