Tips to prevent and cure mastitis.

 

Mastitis is probably one of the most distressing problems you may experience when you are trying to breastfeed. You have been surviving so far the sleepless nights, the hard feeding schedule, the countless diaper changes, the boob leaking… when all of a sudden, you want to stop breastfeeding. Why? Mastitis is the answer. In this post, we are going to talk about mastitis while breastfeeding. And I am going to give you useful Tips to prevent and cure mastitis naturally. Ready? Let’s begin.

Tips to prevent and cure mastitis.

Among the symptoms of mastitis you have:

• One of your breasts is engorged.
• There is a slightly red patch that is painful to touch.
• When the baby feeds, it’s incredibly uncomfortable.
• After the feed, your breast feels very sore.
• You dread the next feed, and then you begin shivering.
• May experience flu-like symptoms. You may have hot and cold sweats.
• You have a thumping headache.
• Breast lump.
• Burning sensation, mainly after breastfeeding.
• Fever. (when infection is present)

In most cases, mastitis affects only one breast at a time. So, what causes it?

• Mastitis is a result of incorrect positioning or latching of the baby. Therefore, the milk duct is not drained properly, and as a result, it gets blocked.
• Skipping feeds because you don’t want to feed in public or front other people, or the baby is sleeping, and you do not want to disturb his sleep.
• Bacteria from your skin’s surface or baby’s mouth enter the milk ducts through a crack in the skin of your nipple or through a milk duct opening. And as a result, Stagnant milk in a breast that isn’t emptied provides a breeding ground for the bacteria to grow.

How to naturally relieve a blocked milk duct and prevent a mastitis.

• If you recognize the sensation of a blocked milk duct, you may be able to avoid it progressing into mastitis from the beginning, by gently massaging your breast in the bath or shower.
• Massage downwards towards the nipple. You may feel a small lump which disappears as the duct becomes unblocked.
• You can also try feeding the baby more often and again, massaging the sore area towards the nipple as the baby drinks.
• Another useful technique is to try extracting breast milk with the aid of an electric or a hand pump.

However, if all your efforts are in vain and the duct does not unblock, mastitis will often follow. Mastitis is simply when the blocked duct becomes inflamed and possibly infected.

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What to do if you get mastitis?

You might want to avoid feeding your baby from the affected breast at all, as it is so painful, but let me tell you that this will only make things worse, and you may end up with an abscess on your breast. If this happens, you will need to have the abscess drained by a doctor.

So, what is the best thing to do?

What to do with the breast milk if you have mastitis?

• If you are worried about your baby drinking milk from the affected breast, a good alternative is to extract and dispose of the milk and to feed only from the unaffected side.
• Your body will adapt, and It will continue to supply enough milk for your baby from the unaffected breast.
• And as long as you extract regularly from the affected breast, the milk supply will be maintained.
• You produce breast milk on a supply and demand basis, so there will always be enough. When the infection clears up, you can simply return to your usual feeding pattern.

How to prevent mastitis naturally?

• To avoid a recurrence, make sure you position the baby properly.
• Ensure he is not sucking on just the nipple but that he has a good mouthful of the areola also.
• Try to sit upright, or if lying down, do not lie on the breast.
• Make sure the baby is tummy-to-tummy with you, his nose and mouth facing the breast, and that he is not creating a blockage with his chin or a hand or arms.

When to seek medical attention?

If you do get mastitis and it does not clear up within a few hours, you will probably require an antibiotic, so speak to your doctor as soon as possible.

Make sure to tell him you are breastfeeding so a suitable antibiotic can be prescribed according to your situation.

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Final words with the Tips to prevent and cure mastitis.

As you can see, dealing with mastitis is not fun after everything that we have to go through during childbirth. The main thing you can do to resolve a blocked duct as soon as possible is, with a massage, before the mastitis develops, and becomes infected.

Thankfully mastitis usually clears up completely within a couple of days, so put this in perspective. Don’t give up breastfeeding because you have mastitis. Instead, ensure you don’t get it again; position your baby correctly, feed on demand, and avoid skipping breastfeeds.

I hope this article can help some of you. If you have any experience on this topic, feel free to comment below.

Zadi, xo.

Disclaimer: The medical information on this post is for educational and entertainment use only. Under no circumstances, this information is to replace your doctor’s advice or to treat any disease. For proper care, always visit your doctor.