What is Mastitis?

Mastitis is a condition that is common only among breastfeeding mothers. It is characterized by infected and inflamed breasts and can affect one or both breasts. It is a common condition among breastfeeding mothers, such that studies showed that about 1 in 10 breastfeeding mothers might have mastitis. Thus, if you experience it as a breastfeeding mother, you should not be scared. Rather you should keep breastfeeding your baby and also treat the condition properly.

You may be surprised at the “keep breastfeeding your baby” part or wondering how on earth you should keep breastfeeding despite the infection and inflammation in your breasts. You may even get confused as to whether or not the infection will be passed to your baby if you keep breastfeeding. Yes, all your concerns are valid, your fears about it will be allayed, and all your questions will be answered in this article. However, before that, it is important to note that continuing with breastfeeding can help your mastitis heal faster. Hence the “keep breastfeeding your baby” clause. In other words, it is best to continue breastfeeding unless a medical professional advises against it, but this depends largely on the severity of your condition or on the drugs that are administered.

This article is packed with the possible causes of this breast infection, symptoms to look out for, and how you can treat it at home.

Causes of Mastitis

Infection of breast milk and inflammation of some parts of the breasts are the major causes of mastitis. However, other factors can trigger the condition. Some of these factors include;

• Excess pressure on the breasts, either as a result of tight-fitting clothes or constant lying face down while sleeping
• Early weaning of children can also cause breast milk to accumulate and get infected if it is not sucked for a long time, thereby leading to inflammation and, finally, mastitis.
• An extreme level of stress has also been discovered to trigger mastitis
• Skin irritation and infection contribute to factors that trigger mastitis.
• Coupled with these, when excessive breastfeeding occurs, and the nipple skin begins to crack, such nipple cracks can pave the way for bacterial infections that can enter the breast skin and cause mastitis.

Thus, to prevent mastitis as a breastfeeding mother, you should avoid stress, wean your baby at the right time, avoid excess pressure on your breasts and maintain a healthy skin routine to prevent skin infections and irritation. With these, you should have a lactating period free of mastitis.

The question now is, how do you identify mastitis? What are the symptoms to look out for when checking your breast for mastitis? This leads to the other part of this article.

Symptoms of Mastitis

• Reduced production of milk in one or both breasts, depending on which of them is affected
• Warmth in the breasts
• Painful breasts
• Nipples that are sensitive to touch
• Nipple discharge
• Fever
• Aches in some parts of the body
• Lumps in some parts of the breast tissues

If you notice any of these symptoms as a breastfeeding mother, it means you have mastitis. You should follow the “keep breastfeeding” directive above as it will help resolve your condition faster, or you can adopt one of the natural remedies in this article. If after trying both of these methods, the mastitis continues or worsens after about 48 hours, you should report to the hospital to get proper medical attention and prevent complications for both you and your baby.

However, some breastfeeding mothers did not have to visit the hospital to get rid of their mastitis. You can also try out the natural methods they used in treating mastitis.

Home Remedies for Treating Mastitis

Massage

Whenever you feel like the milk fuck is blocked or you notice any form of a lump in your breasts, you should massage that part of your breasts gently. Experts have advised that the best time to do this breast massage is at the very point of breastfeeding your baby. Thus, while your baby suckles, try to massage your breasts. They have also suggested that massaging your breasts while in the shower can also help, but that is if you are comfortable with it.

The most effective way of massaging the breasts is by beginning with the affected area of your breasts and massaging it down towards your nipples. All you need to do is locate the lump or area of your breasts that hurt and massage the area down to your nipple. Do this every time and watch out for improvements.

Heat and Cold Compress

Both heat and cold compress have proven to be effective in relieving mastitis symptoms. Breastfeeding mothers who experienced mastitis reported significant improvement each time they used heat and cold compress in their breasts to get rid of their mastitis symptoms. It is important to note that heat and cold compress should not be used at the same time.

They are most effective when they are used at different times. The best one to begin with is a heat compress. This helps release and open up blocked milk ducts and helps make breastfeeding easier, while on the other hand, applying a cold compress later will help reduce any swelling that may result from breastfeeding.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is an essential oil that is perfect for getting rid of the inflammation that comes with mastitis. Studies have shown that applying tea tree oil on the inflamed part of the skin can help improve the inflammation faster and more effectively than some medicated creams. However, because tea tree oil is an essential oil, it has to be diluted first with a carrier oil like jojoba oil, olive oil, or coconut oil to prevent skin irritation.

Also, even after diluting it, you should conduct a patch test with the dilute oil on the part of your skin to make sure your skin does not react to it. If after a few minutes of conducting the patch test you notice no skin reactions, you can go ahead and apply the oil on the inflamed parts of your breasts.

Tea tree oil can be dangerous when consumed orally. Thus, washing your breasts thoroughly with water and soap before breastfeeding your baby is important.

Constant Breastfeeding

You may be wondering if your breast milk is still safe for your baby if you have mastitis. Yes, medical experts have confirmed that breast milk is safe for babies even if their mothers have mastitis. This is on the one hand. On the other hand, constantly feeding your baby, especially the affected breasts, can help you get over the infection faster than you expect. This is because the baby’s frequent suction will help unclog clogged milk ducts.

Thus, no matter how uncomfortable it may be, ensure that as much as you breastfeed with the breast that is not affected, you also breastfeed with the affected one. It will help you heal faster. This will help milk force its way through the ducts and help you maintain a constant flow of milk, thereby releasing the blocked milk duct.

Cabbage Leaves

One of the best ways of applying a cold compress to your inflamed breasts is by placing cool cabbage leaves on your breasts. Studies have shown that cabbage leaves help improve different breastfeeding conditions, and mastitis is not an exception. Cabbage leaves are packed with natural anti-inflammatory properties that help eliminate inflammation in the affected breast area. The coolness of the leaves also soothes the inflammation and helps you forget the pain that comes with it.

All you need to do is get some cabbage leaves, put them in your refrigerator to cool a bit, then place them on your breasts and lie on your back. Leave the leaves on your breasts for as long as you are comfortable with them there. You can repeat the process two times a day with constant massage, heat compress, and frequent breastfeeding to achieve maximum results.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking enough water when you are breastfeeding is important. This is because it will help you maintain a better supply of milk and ensure the constant flow of milk, which can also help unclog clogged milk ducts. You can drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Experts have suggested that drinking up to 13 cups of water daily is best for breastfeeding mothers. This is because it will be enough to keep them hydrated on the one hand and prevent or improve mastitis due to its ability to boost the free flow of milk through the milk ducts.

Conclusion

Mastitis is common among breastfeeding mothers, so you should not be worried sick if you experience it while breastfeeding. All you need to do is adopt one of the home remedies in this article as first aid and report at the hospital for expert advice, especially if your condition does not improve.