Mastitis during breastfeeding: types, symptoms and treatment

Mastitis is a frequent picture during breastfeeding, which represents an important cause of abandonment. It is essential to know how to recognize the first symptoms to act safely and effectively, and thus be able to continue enjoying breastfeeding without pain or additional complications.

We tell you everything you need to know about mastitis, the most common types that exist and what treatments it has.

Acute mastitis

Traditional mastitis or acute mastitis has an incidence of between ten and 15%, and although it usually occurs during the first three months postpartum, it can happen even when breastfeeding is perfectly established. It is produced by the blockage of a duct that has been infected.

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It is important to know that Mastitis does not harm the baby, although it could reject the breast because the taste of milk changes and becomes more salty. If this happens, the help of a breast pump is essential.

Symptom

The main symptoms are inflammation and pain. The chest feels hot, small lumps caused by blockage of the ducts are palpated, and reddened areas appear. It is also common to feel chills, muscle and joint pain and fever above 38.5º.

Treatment

As soon as the first symptoms appear we must increase the frequency of the shots, because our baby will be the one who best helps us to empty the chest and relieve congestion.

As we can read in this article on e-lactancia.org, the application of local heat briefly before the shots, and cold packs later to reduce pain. However, the recommendations in this regard are not clear, so It is advisable to consult previously with a lactation expert.

Massaging the chest by performing a softening inverse pressure, ensuring proper rest and hydration, opting for non-tight bras and taking analgesia compatible with breastfeeding for discomfort, are other measures that we can take to relieve symptoms.

If 24 hours later the mother does not feel improvement or worsens, it is important that she go to the doctor immediately, as a badly treated mastitis can end up leading to other major problems.

Subacute Mastitis

Subacute mastitis are the most frequent but the least diagnosed, because there is great ignorance about them. Like acute mastitis, this type of mastitis also occurs due to a proliferation of bacteria that colonize the chest in a habitual way, although its symptoms differ from the previous ones.

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Symptom

The Symptoms of this type of mastitis are not visible, hence the complexity that sometimes involves its diagnosis:

  • Pain when breastfeeding that is not caused by a bad grip.
  • Sensation of cramps or punctures when the milk rises or during the feedingto . Some mothers refer to it as "crystals or pins sticking." This pain can radiate to the back and armpit.
  • Burning sensation in the chest.
  • Sometimes milk pearls may appear, which indicate that the duct has become blocked.

Treatment

If you are experiencing this type of pain, the first thing you should do is consult a lactation doctor or a midwife so that I made you a milk culture. The analysis will reveal the type and count of the bacteria involved, and an appropriate antibiotic treatment may be applied, the most common being ciprofloxacin and sulfa drugs (not amoxicillin).

Among the recommendations advised by Pilar Martínez, lactation consultant and IBCL are:

  • Do not use the milk itself to cure sore nipples, as the infection could spread further.
  • The aerators for nipples and hydrogel discs They usually relieve symptoms.

Some women say they improve with the use of probiotics, although some experts believe that more studies should be carried out on their efficacy and their cost-benefit ratio to really know the role they would have in the treatment of mastitis and breast pain.

Repeating Mastitis

Between seven and 12% of women with mastitis suffer from repeated mastitis. In general, these cases are due to the use of inappropriate antibiotics during an earlier acute mastitis. The recommended is perform a breast milk culture to determine which bacteria is causing mastitis, and thus succeed with the use of the correct antibiotic.

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Video: Mastitis: Recognition and Treatment (March 2024).