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Mastitis is an infection of the breast tissue, which results in pain in the breast, swelling, heat and redness of the breast. If you have mastitis, you may experience fever. Mastitis usually affects women who are breastfeeding, although in rare cases this condition can occur outside of lactation.
In most cases, mastitis occurs in the first three months after birth, but can also occur later during breastfeeding. The condition can bring a feeling of exhaustion and “being run over”, which makes it difficult for you to take normal care of the baby.
Sometimes mastitis confuses the mother as if the baby wants to wean from milk before it really intends to. But if you have mastitis you can continue to breastfeed.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of mastitis may occur suddenly and can include:
• The sensitivity of the breast to warmth or touch
• General weakness and feeling that you are sick
• Swelling of the breast
• Painful or burning sensation that is constant or only during lactation
• Redness of the skin , often in a wedge pattern
• Fever greater than 38.3 C
Although mastitis usually occurs in the first few weeks of breastfeeding, it can happen anytime during breastfeeding. Mastitis usually affects only one breast.
Causes
Mastitis occurs when bacteria enters your breast through a crack or break in the skin of the nipple or through the opening to the milk ducts in the nipple. Bacteria from the skin surface and the baby’s mouth enter the milk ducts and there they can multiply, leading to pain, redness and swelling of the breast as the infection progresses.
Risk factors
Factors that bear an increased risk of mastitis are:
• Dry or cracked nipples, although mastitis can develop without damaged skin
• Previous incidence of mastitis during lactation. If you have experienced mastitis in the past, it will probably develop again
• If you use only one position for breastfeeding, when you can’t properly drain all the milk from the breast
• If you wear a tight bra you can restrict the flow of milk
Complications
Complications that may arise from mastitis are:
Repetition
Once you have had mastitis, it is very likely you will get it again , either because of breastfeeding the same baby or a future child. Delayed or inadequate treatment is usually to blame for recurrent mastitis.
Low milk supply
When milk is not fully discharged from the breast during lactation, low supply of milk may occur. This causes increased pressure on the milk ducts and the leakage into the surrounding breast tissue, which can lead to pain and inflammation.
Abscess
When mastitis is inadequately treated, or if it is related to the low milk supply, collection of pus (abscess) may develop in the breast. An abscess usually requires surgical drainage. To avoid complications, talk to their physician as soon as signs or symptoms of mastitis are developed.
Treatments and drugs
Treatments for mastitis usually include:
Antibiotics
Treatment of mastitis usually requires 10-14 days of taking antibiotics. You may feel better 24 to 48 hours after you start taking antibiotics, but it is important to take the entire dose of the drug to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
Self-help
Rest, continue to breastfeed and drink extra liquids to help your body to overcome the infection of the breast. Empty milk more frequently from the infected breast. If your baby refuses to nurse on the infected breast, use a breast pump or manually empty the milk from the breast.
Adjustments to your technique of breastfeeding
Be sure that your breasts are fully discharged after breastfeeding and that the child is sucking properly. These are some of the key strategies for avoiding mastitis. A doctor can examine your technique of breastfeeding with you or you can send you to lactation specialist for help and support.
If symptoms of mastitis persist after taking antibiotics, make an appointment with a doctor. A rare form of breast cancer (inflammatory breast cancer) can also cause redness and swelling , which may initially be confused with mastitis. A doctor may recommend a diagnostic mammogram, and you may need a biopsy to make sure that you do not have breast cancer.
Prevention
Reduce your chances of getting mastitis with complete drainage of milk from the breast during breastfeeding. Let the child completely empty one breast before switching to the other breast during feeding. If you keep the baby on the other breast for a few minutes, or not at all, the next time you start breastfeeding start with that breast.
Let your first breast you offer to your baby is different from the last feeding, and also alter the position that you use for breastfeeding from one feeding to the next. Make sure your baby is sucking properly. Finally, do not give the baby your breasts to calm down. Babies enjoy sucking and often find peace in sucking the breast, even when they are not hungry