Mastitis and Breastfeeding
Mastitis is an infection of the breasts most commonly found in breastfeeding mothers. A breastfeeding mom with mastitis may feel like she has come down with the flu, as many of the symptoms are similar.
Causes of Mastitis
Mastitis is caused by bacteria that enter your breast through a break, or crack, in the nipple. The bacteria can also enter the milk duct openings via the nipple as well. Bacteria from the baby’s mouth, or from the surface of the mother’s skin, is the likely source.
Mastitis occurs when those bacteria enter the milk ducts and multiply, resulting in pain and swelling of the breast, as well as redness of the breast and weariness.
Symptoms
Mastitis symptoms can vary in severity, often being confused with the flu. A mother with mastitis while breastfeeding may experience amny of the following:
- Swelling of the breast
- Redness of the breast, often around the affected milk duct
- Flu-like symtpoms, including fever above 101 degreen Fahrenheit, and chills
- Tenderness of the breast, sensitive to touch
- A burning sensation or pain while breastfeeding
Treatment
Always consult with your physician regarding treatment for mastitis, or any health condition. Information on treatments relating to mastitis on this site or any healthcare related site should be viewed as an informational resource only, and cannot substitute for the advice of a doctor or physician.
Masitits from breastfeeding can be treated by a physician with antibiotics, hot compresses, and rest. Antibiotics prescribed usually take effect within 48 hours, at which point the mother should start feeling better. It is important to take all of the prescription of antiobiotics for mastitis, to ensure the medicine fully does its job.
Warm compresses can also help keep a constant flow of breast milk, so breastfeeding is as painless as possible.
Should I Keep Breastfeeding?
Simply put, yes. It is important to keep breastfeeding, so that the milk ducts have a chance to empty, which can increase the chance that the mastitis infection will clear up faster. While breastfeeding with a mastitis infection can be quite painful, it is crucial to keep the breast milk flowing to prevent further blockage.
As mentioned above, warm compresses can help relieve some of the pain, making breast milk flow easier. The process of let down reflex can also be further encouraged by warm compresses during a mastitis infection.
Mastitis cannot harm your baby as a direct result of the infection being passed from breast to infant, because in all likelihood, the bacteria that caused the infection were passed from your baby’s mouth to begin with.
However, there is a chance that there may be lower amounts of breast milk produced from the breast affected by mastitis.
Updated: June 2011
