Mastitis is a common breast infection that usually occurs while breastfeeding. The infection can start in different ways. Unfortunately you cannot prevent mastitis from happening. However you can do certain things to reduce the chances of getting mastitis. In this blog you can read about things you can do to reduce the chance of getting mastitis.
How do you get mastitis?
Often mastitis is caused by a plugged milk duct. When a blocked milk duct prevents milk flowing, milk backs up in the duct and that can cause an infection. The symptoms of that infection can include feeling a hard patch in your breast, or that part of the breast can feel warmer than the other parts of your breast, and it could show by looking more red than the other parts.
How do I prevent plugged milk ducts?
* Wear a bra that is the right fit and that is not too tight
* Make sure your breasts don't have a crease in them when you are feeding
* When you are feeding, do not squeeze or touch your breast
* Try to change positions every feed (see picture below)
* Do not keep your breast from touching your newborns nose with your finger
* Make sure your baby empties your breast when drinking
* Massage your breast while having a shower
* When you feel a hard patch in your breast, massage it while feeding
* When you decide to stop breastfeeding, do it gradually and not at once
What do I do when I feel a hard patch in my breast?
Give it all your attention and make it your priority to massage it away. When you massage your breast during a shower make a circle motion with your three middle fingers on the patch. Do it very gentle when it hurts, when it feels ok you can give it some more pressure. When you notice the patch during feeding, use the flat bit of your thumb. Start pushing with your thumb behind the hard bit in your breast and keep pushing towards your nipple. Do this multiple times (only towards your nipple) the whole feed or until you feel the hard bit is gone. With these actions, you are stimulating the milk duct to empty.
Why do I need to change positions during feeding?
It is advisable to change baby's position after every feed because some milk ducts don't empty well when you are feeding in a certain position. When you change the feeding position, you have a better chance of being able to empty them and you will prevent them from plugging.
Here are some different feeding positions you could use. You do not need a special breastfeeding pillow for these positions, you could use your own pillow from your bed.
After you have put your newborn in the right position, make sure that your baby latches on well just like the picture here. Latching on is so important because this also helps to clear out all the milk ducts. It is the best way for your nipple and your baby will get most out of your breast. Please remember that as soon as the baby has latched on, remove your hand and do not use any of your fingers on your breast to help your baby.
What if the hard patch does not go away?
When you have tried to massage the hard patch in your breast and you have been trying to empty the milk duct while feeding (or during expressing) and it doesn't empty, you should seek medical advice. If you start to get a fever, the infection has started to develop thusfar that you will need medicine to cure the infection. Do not stop feeding your baby, you will need to keep the milk flowing either via breastfeeding or expressing.
Important note: when you have developed a fever and you think it is caused by an infection in your breast, please seek medical advice immediately.
If you have any more questions about breastfeeding, mastitis or our service in general please do not hesitate to contact us, we are more than happy to help you out with anything.
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