The breastfeeding journey of a young mother is not always easy! Among the possible ailments: mastitis, inflammation of the mammary gland. How to detect it and above all, how to treat it to continue breastfeeding serenely? We tell you everything!
Because no breastfeeding experience is the same from one woman to another, or even from one child to another, you never really know what this unique and intimate experience that is l 'breastfeeding. This is how some mothers can unfortunately develop mastitis, that is to say an inflammation of the mammary gland, which can sometimes be of infectious origin.
What are the symptoms of mastitis?
One of your breasts is particularly painful, with a red, hot area, and you may even have a fever and experience flu-like symptoms? The signs are clear, you probably have mastitis, and rest assured, you are not the only one: many breastfeeding mothers are in your case!
Sometimes mastitis and blocked canals are confused, but if the milk duct becomes blocked and blocks the passage of milk, then you will generally feel a mass and pain under the red zone, and you may not have a fever . If the canal becomes blocked at the nipple, you will also see a white spot on the nipple.
As for engorgement, if it also causes redness and pain, it usually affects both breasts.
In any case, if the situation does not improve within 24 hours, do not wait to consult a doctor or your midwife.
Why can a mom have mastitis?
You had the impression that breastfeeding went smoothly and this mastitis puts everything in question, makes you doubt: do you do it wrong to breastfeed your baby? Be aware that any breastfeeding mother can have one and even several mastitis during her breastfeeding period, and even "expert" women can unfortunately do so. Mastitis, blocked canals and other blisters of milk occur most of the time when lactation is important but the baby is not latching properly. The breast is then not sufficiently drained, the milk is retained and creates a milky stasis.
But other causes can be the cause of mastitis: a tired mom, a bra that is too tight or a poor sleeping position that prevents proper drainage of the breast, cracks or damage to the nipple that allow germs to penetrate… Difficult therefore sometimes to know the cause or causes that caused mastitis.
How to treat mastitis?
As soon as this pain on one of your breasts appears, act quickly to relieve yourself quickly. The first reflex to have is not to stop breastfeeding and to perform the drainage of this painful breast by sucking your baby as much as possible. Is baby not breastfeeding enough to relieve you? So do not hesitate to use a breast pump in addition.
Second advice from midwives and lactation counselors: rest! You know it better than anyone, a mother always tends to do too much and not take enough care of her well-being and health. Priority to you and your baby so that this breastfeeding continues to go well.
And what treatment if mastitis does not seem to heal?
If after 24 hours, despite the rest and numerous breastfeeds in painful breasts, you still do not feel better, you should consult, especially if the pain becomes more acute and if your fever exceeds 38 ° C. Your doctor will then determine if it is possibly an infectious mastitis, different from an inflammatory mastitis, which will then require antibiotic treatment. Rest assured, the antibiotic prescribed will be compatible with breastfeeding, as will the taking of an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen, which can relieve your pain. You will therefore be able to continue draining your breast without any risk for your baby, either in terms of taking antibiotics or infection.
In any case, it is imperative not to wait to consult a health professional, at the risk of seeing infectious mastitis rapidly transform, in rare cases, into an abscess, for which antibiotic therapy will not be sufficient. This abscess is actually a pocket of pus created by the body that cannot fight the infection well enough. It will then be necessary to quickly empty the abscess, sometimes several times, by puncture or by surgical drainage.
Some tips to avoid mastitis
To avoid mastitis as much as possible, but also for breastfeeding to go as smoothly as possible, a breastfeeding mother should ensure that the latch is done correctly and that each feeding is effective in draining the breast and thus preventing infections mammary gland. Do not hesitate to ask a lactation expert for advice on the different possible positions for breastfeeding.
Do not leave even minor pain in the nipples, such as crevices, which could slow breastfeeding, and cause engorgement or infection. Most of the time it is again a bad latch which can be quickly resolved with good advice. So no need to clean your nipples before or after feeding: it will not protect you from infection! And keep in mind that you shouldn't have any pain during breastfeeding anyway, each pain can be resolved, and often quickly, so that you can continue breastfeeding with confidence.
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