Common Post Pregnancy Problem - Mastitis
I felt horrible. I had a high fever, and flu like symptoms. My infected breast hurt and was inflamed. Once I realized what I had, I headed straight to the doctor. The doctor confirmed that I had mastitis and prescribed an antibiotic. Without an antibiotic, mastitis will not get better. When being prescribed a medication while nursing, you should ask if the medicine is safe for a nursing mother. Some medications can pass through the breast milk to your baby.
Mastitis can be caused by bacteria entering the body through sore and cracked nipples. Nursing mothers who don't empty the breast while feeding are more likely to get mastitis. If your baby doesn't empty the breast, use a breast pump to finish emptying the breast. When the breast milk sits in the breast tissue, it can allow bacteria to grow, causing an infection. Women who have had mastitis before are more likely to get it again.
Mastitis is not harmful to your baby. You can continue to nurse your baby as long as the antibiotic you are prescribed is safe for your baby. If you decide not to nurse while you are fighting the infection, you should still continue to pump your breast milk. Pumping will not only help you get over mastitis faster, but will also ensure that you have a good supply of milk for your baby when you resume breastfeeding. Nursing and pumping while you have a mastitis infection can be painful, but emptying the breast tissue will help your body fight the infection.
It is important to drink lots of water and get plenty of rest while treating a mastitis infection. If you suspect that you have a plugged milk duct, you should massage the breast, and use a warm, wet cloth to open the plugged duct. Ignoring a plugged milk duct can easily lead to a mastitis infection.
Sources:
Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mastitis/DS00678
Published by Katie Sharp-Dierks
Katie Sharp-Dierks has been writing ever since she could pick up a pen. A mother of two, she is devoted to both teaching and learning. Katie has a wide variety of interests which include all parenting issues... View profile
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