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

Treating Breast Infection: Mastitis

When you have an infection after a plugged milk duct called mastitis, you often have, chills, fever, body aches i.e. flu-like symptoms. It feels like a truck ran over you.  Your doctor will most likely prescribe Cephalexin a.k.a. Keflex and dicloxacillin a.k.a. Dycill. The antibiotics, while often necessary for the infection can also make you feel tired. To help you get over mastitis quickly, make sure you are using heat, resting and emptying the breast.

Heat, Rest, Empty the Breast! 

Use a hot compress before nursing and/or pumping. An easy one to use is a disposable baby diaper. Put hot water in it and it can also be re-warmed in the microwave for several uses until it become too saturated which will feel like jelly. Disposable diapers keep their heat in much better than cloth because of the micro-beads which retain the heat.  These are similar to what is found in hot/cold compresses.

Rest as much as you can. You are sick and while you have a baby to take care of, try to stay off your feet and sleep when the baby sleeps.

Empty the breast. The affected area and breast needs extra attention. Nurse in a hold that points the baby's chin towards the plugged area. The baby's jaw and tongue will help draw out the plug. Pump after each feeding for an extra 5-7 minutes to fully empty the breast.

Taking an anti-inflammatory analgesic like ibuprofen a.k.a. Advil is good for reducing the swelling and pain management and is safe for breastfeeding due to the extremely low levels found in breastmilk.

Please ensure you watch for signs of vaginal yeast infection in you or oral thrush or diaper rash in the infant.  Visit our blog post on yeast infections for more information.

Best wishes for pain-free breasts!

Tanya