Mastitis is the name given to any inflammation within the breast. This inflammation can cause a buildup of fluid within the breast that stops the milk flowing because the fluid is putting pressure on the milk ducts, causing them to narrow. This is what causes the milk to stop flowing so freely and can often cause a blockage.
The blocked milk duct is typically the first sign of inflammation building. You may see on your breast:
Hot to touch, red area on the breast
Fever
Feeling unwell
You may feel nauseous
These are all signs of INFLAMMATORY Mastitis. This does NOT require antibiotics.
Bacterial Mastitis (which requires antibiotics) takes at least 24 hours from the symptoms above to develop. HOWEVER, if you use the techniques below to help resolve things as soon as the blocked duct appears, you may be able to stop bacterial mastitis from developing.
How to treat inflammatory mastitis:
Very gentle massage (as soft as you would stroke a cat) and lymphatic massage can encourage the excess fluid to drain.
Ice, NOT heat (heat will make the inflammation worse). Use a cold pack or ice pack for 10 minutes at a time. If you are in an acute flare-up, you can use it for 10 minutes every 30 minutes.
Anti-inflammatory pain relief. This will help reduce the inflammation and provide pain relief for you. Ibuprofen is safe to take while breastfeeding.
Feed often but do NOT pump or feed excessively; this will cause the breast to make MORE milk and you will be stuck in the loop of engorgement and potential for this to keep happening.
Take probiotics - when bad bacteria builds in the breast, it can cause a thick coating to line the milk ducts, causing the narrowing and blockages.
If you are not feeling any better within 24 hours, see your GP. Or if you start to feel worse in this time, seek medical attention immediately. You will need a course of antibiotics for at least 10 days, sometimes up to 14 days to prevent recurrence and abscess formation.
Seek breastfeeding support from your midwife, lactation consultant, health visitor or public health nurse in this time as typically the latch needs improving in these instances.
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