Mastitis
What is it?
Mastitis is inflammation of the breast tissue, usually caused by a blocked milk duct that hasn’t cleared. This might be as a result of a missed breastfeed, cracked nipples, or breasts not being emptied effectively due to poor attachment. There is often an accompanying infection.
Mastitis is inflammation of the breast tissue, usually caused by a blocked milk duct that hasn’t cleared.
Signs of mastitis
Swollen breasts which are hot and painful, hard lumps, a red patch or streaks on the skin and flu-like symptoms such as tiredness, headache, cold shivers or a raised temperature.
What to do
If you have mastitis, you need to start treatment straight away.
- Get plenty of bed rest.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Apply warmth to the breast before a feed to help the flow, using a heat pack or warm towel.
- Have long hot showers with the water flowing on the affected breast.
- Use a cold pack between feeds to relieve swelling and pain.
- Continue breastfeeding as usual, starting each feed with the sore breast. Make sure you empty each breast at every feed. You may need to express some milk in order to do this.
- Massage your breasts gently while feeding.
- Consider taking paracetamol to reduce the fever and pain.
- If you are concerned, or it does not improve, consult your Child and Family Health Nurse or doctor.
When to seek medical help
If you have a persistent fever, feel unwell and can’t clear a blocked duct within 12 hours, you need to see your doctor, who will usually prescribe antibiotics. If mastitis is not treated correctly, it can become more serious and develop into an abscess (although this is rare).
To help prevent mastitis recurring, seek advice from your Child and Family Health Nurse or lactation specialist.
