Most of the time, breastfeeding goes smoothly once baby and mother get used to positioning, latching on, and figuring out feeding intervals. But occasionally, the mother’s breasts become troublesome. Fortunately, breast problems are usually short lived and easily fixed with antibiotics or time. Your obstetrician is the one to speak to about your breast concerns. Here’s some information on problems that may affect breastfeeding moms.
Mastitis is an infection of the breast, and it is usually accompanied by a fever. One area of the breast becomes red, swollen, firm, and tender. If you have symptoms that resemble mastitis, you should see your doctor so that you can start antibiotic treatment to get ride of the infection.
It is helpful to continue breastfeeding when you have mastitis. This relieves pressure on the sore area. No harm seems to come to babies who continue to breastfeed from a mom who has mastitis, although they may swallow some bacteria in the breast milk. Pumping and discarding milk is another option to relieve your breast pressure, but it is usually best for the baby to breastfeed. It is also helpful to make sure you have a bra that fits well and provides support, and it is helpful to use ibuprofen to relieve pain.
Some women who think they have mastitis but do not have a fever may have a separate problem, a plugged milk duct. This can also cause a firm tender area, but it is usually less red and doesn’t cause a fever. Do not delay seeing your doctor if you think you may have a plugged milk duct instead of mastitis; an expert needs to examine your breast. A plugged duct can sometimes be emptied more easily if you use a warm compress on the breast or take a warm shower after breastfeeding, and then massage the tender area. Massage of the breast is not recommended until a doctor has reassured you that your problem is a plugged duct instead of mastitis.
If both breasts are painful at the same time, your problem is probably not mastitis. Instead, you may have engorgement, or very full breasts. Frequent breastfeeding is the best solution, or breastfeeding followed by warm showers that can help residual milk to exit the breast. Some women find that cold compresses help to relieve discomfort from engorgement, although cold packs do not empty the breasts of their milk.
Hopefully, you will be spared these complications, but remember these issues should not cause you to discontinue breastfeeding and are usually short lived.
Have you experienced these problems? Do you have any tips for women trying to breastfeed through these situations?
Dr. Victoria McEvoy graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1975 and is currently an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at HMS. She is the Medical Director and Chief of Pediatrics at Mass General West Medical Group. She has practiced pediatrics for almost thirty years. She has been married to Earl for thirty six years and raised four children. She currently enjoys writing, traveling, reading, almost all sports, and spending time with her two grandsons.
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Comments: 4
I have actually had to have my LC's go to bat for me to tell the docs what was really wrong... when it came down to it, the LC was right... not all the time, but when it comes to breastfeeding they really do know their stuff and work well with physicians...
After my 4th bout with mastitis I took matters into my own hands and began a daily regime of lecithin to prevent mastitis. Worked like a charm. I had a serious oversupply of milk (at my peak, I was making 100oz in a 24 hour period), and clogged ducts were common. Once I got on my lecithin, the clogged ducts disappeared, which meant no mastitis. Heaven.
For women with oversupply who get clogged ducts, I highly recommend the Gerber breast packs. They're simply round gel-packs with holes cut in the center for your nipples. You can either heat or cool them: use them cold to help with engorgement as your milk comes in (or when you're weaning), or pop them in the microwave for 15 seconds to warm them and then place in your bra to help break up clogged ducts. They were a lifesaver. Lecithin 3x a day helps the fatty hindmilk pass more easily through your ducts, and can get rid of many cases of clogged ducts.
Happy nursing!