Rp @thepregnancyculture

Rp @thepregnancyculture • • • • • Mastitis is a common disease during breastfeeding and lactation and can effect almost 1 in 3 women. Your breast/ breasts will start feeling hot, heavy and hard, your skin may appear red and shiny and you will feel generally unwell as if you have the flu 🤧 . Mastitis is usually the result of a blocked milk duct that hasn't cleared. Some of the milk banked up behind the blocked duct can be forced into nearby breast tissue, causing the tissue to become inflamed. The inflammation is called mastitis. Infection may or may not be present. . Mastitis may sometimes be caused by a bacterial agent. The perpetrator is usually Streptococci, Staphylococci and/or Corynebacteria. Staphylococcus is considered to be the main infective agent of acute mastitis, effecting approximately 95% of women with mastitis. . If you think you may have mastitis there are a few things you can do:

• Seek medical attention ASAP
• Get a lactation consultant involved
• Rest as much as you can
• Keep the sore breast as empty as possible by feeding your baby often
• Feed from the sore breast first
• Massage the breast gently while your baby feeds
• Apply warmth to the sore breast for up to a few minutes before a feed
• Express if needed, before, after and between feeds
• Cold packs after a feed may help relieve pain and reduce swelling
• Breastfeed often to provide relief . If your symptoms don’t disappear after a period of time you may need antibiotics to treat the bacterial invasion 😕 BUT... Prevention is key:
• Breastfeed often - Eat properly - Drink plenty of water
• Implement a probiotic daily
• Don’t miss/ delay breastfeeds.
• Wake your baby for a feed if your breasts become too full. If your baby doesn’t want to feed you may need to express
• Ensure your baby is attaching well
• Offer both breasts at each feed. If your baby only feeds from one breast make sure to offer the alternate breast at the next feed.
• Express after feeds if your breasts still feel full
• Avoid giving your baby formula feeds or other fluids unless advised to by a midwife, nurse or doctor.
• Avoid pressure on your breasts from clothes or from your fingers whilst feeding