How to Treat Mastitis

When a plugged duct turns into mastitis, it is not something that is not to be taken lightly.  How do you know if you have mastitis?  Usual symptoms are an area of your breast that is red and painful along with flu like symptoms such as chills or fever.  

If you experience these symptoms, use this tactic:  Heat, Rest, Empty the Breast

Heat:  Apply hot compresses.  If you don't have a hot compress on hand, use a disposable baby diaper with hot water in it.  This can be re-warmed in the microwave, but test on wrist before applying to breast.

Rest:  Sleep when the baby sleeps and get off your feet as much as possible.

Empty the Breast:  Point the baby's chin towards the affected area.  For example if the clog is more towards your arm, use the football hold.  Pump after every feeding for 5-10 minutes to finish emptying anything the baby leaves behind. You may see some information that says to avoid breast pumps, but this is only if you are using them before softening the breast with the hot compresses.  Use your pump on a fast speed and only the highest suction level that is comfortable.  Do not turn up the suction to an uncomfortable level.

Take ibuprofen such as Advil to relieve pain and reduce swelling.  In addition, Sunflower Lecithin capsules are very helpful.  This supplement help the fat slide off the sinuses of the breast which can help relieve mastitis sooner.  The dosage indicated on thee bottle is one capsule daily.  This dosage is only appropriate for maintenance in moms who have a tendency to get clogged milk ducts.   During a clogged duct or as a mastitis supplement, it is recommended to take 3-4 of these 1200mg capsules daily such as at breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime.

Do not wear an underwire or tight bra.  This can complicate your symptoms. 

If symptoms continue for more than 24 hours, see a physician as mastitis can turn to abscess.

If you are reading this and have a tendency for clogged ducts, you may want to keep Sunflower Lecithin and a good hot compress on hand. If you are still pregnant, you may want a hot compress that does both hot and cold applications for postnatal engorgement as well.  In this case, we recommend the Legendairy Milk Breast-Ease Gel Packs. You can also use these compresses to relive pain but only after feeding or pumping.  Cold can restrict the let-down if you use them before feeding or pumping.

Best wishes for health breasts,

Tanya

Harvesting Colostrum: Antenatal and Postnatal Colostrum Collection

    Harvesting colostrum both antenatally (before birth) and postnatally (after delivery) is a great way to prepare for the unexpected.  Sometimes birth plans do not go to plan and having this liquid gold at your disposal in case of emergency is always a plus especially since colostrum is essential as baby's first immunization, highly concentrated in antibodies and nutrition to boost your baby's immune system.  In addition, if feedings are slow to start, colostrum can maintain your baby's blood sugar levels.  

A colostrum collection kit makes it easy to have the things you need on hand.  While using a breast pump can sometimes cause contractions, a more gentle hand expression is not only safer but more effective in saving every drop. While there are several methods of hand expression found online, research shows that the Marmet Technique is still the most effective so we have included the full instruction sheet below. 

Once you have begun hand expression, start by using the smaller 3ml syringe in the colostrum collection kit to draw up the colostrum direction off the nipple and areola.  If you use a breast pump, it is harder to get the sticky colostrum off the pump parts and valves.  After you have harvested the colostrum, place the syringe(s) into a freezer bag or breast milk storage bag so that you can safely keep them in the freezer.  Babies only need a teaspoon of colostrum per feeding initially so the 5ml syringes included are perfect for feeding. Postnatally, more volume of colostrum may be collected so you may want to express into the 50ml container included in the kit as you can also use the syringes to draw from the container for feeding. 

The Liquid Gold Colostrum Collection Kit includes:

(6) individually wrapped sterile 3ml syringes with caps

(6) individually wrapped sterile 5ml syringes with caps

(1) 50ml/2oz colostrum container with lid (non-sterile - sterilize before use)

If you have additional transitional milk which is a higher volume of colostrum as the mature milk is coming in, there are 10ml syringes, 50ml minifil bottles and 60ml colostrum containers with lids also available to purchase.

Happy Harvesting!

Tanya