Introduction
Mastitis is inflammation of the breast tissue. It can occur in women who are breastfeeding. This can make breastfeeding painful. Mastitis will sometimes go away on its own. Your health care provider will help determine if treatment is needed.
What are the causes?
This condition is often associated with a blocked milk (lactiferous) duct, which can happen when too much milk builds up in the breast. Causes of excess milk in the breast can include:
Poor latch-on. If your baby is not latched onto the breast properly, she or he may not empty your breast completely while breastfeeding.
Allowing too much time to pass between feedings.
Wearing a bra or other clothing that is too tight. This puts extra pressure on the lactiferous ducts so …show more content…
Swelling of the glands under the arm on the same side.
Fever. This may or may not accompany mastitis.
If an infection is allowed to progress, a collection of pus (abscess) may develop.
How is this diagnosed?
This condition can usually be diagnosed based on your symptoms and a physical exam. You may also have tests, including:
Removal of pus from the breast by applying pressure to the area. This pus can be examined in the lab to determine which bacteria are present. If an abscess has developed, the fluid in the abscess can be removed with a needle. This can also be used to confirm the diagnosis and determine the bacteria present. In most cases, pus will not be present.
Blood tests to determine if your body is fighting a bacterial infection.
Mammogram or ultrasound tests to rule out other problems or diseases.
How is this treated?
This condition will sometimes go away on its own. Your health care provider may choose to wait 24 hours after first seeing you to decide whether treatment is needed. If treatment is needed, it may include:
Antibiotic medicine to treat a bacterial infection. This is usually taken by mouth.
Medicine for …show more content…
If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
General instructions
Do not wear a tight or underwire bra. Wear a soft, supportive bra.
Increase your fluid intake, especially if you have a fever.
For breastfeeding:
Continue to empty your breast. Your health care provider can tell you whether this milk is safe for your infant or needs to be thrown out. You may be told to stop nursing until your health care provider thinks it is safe for your baby. Use a breast pump if you are advised to stop nursing.
Keep your nipples clean and dry.
Empty the first breast completely before going to the other breast. If your baby is not emptying your breasts completely for some reason, use a breast pump to empty your breasts.
If you go back to work, pump your breasts while at work to stay in time with your nursing schedule.
Avoid allowing your breasts to become overly filled with milk (engorged).
Contact a health care provider if:
You have pus-like discharge from the breast.
You have a
Mastitis is inflammation of the breast tissue. It can occur in women who are breastfeeding. This can make breastfeeding painful. Mastitis will sometimes go away on its own. Your health care provider will help determine if treatment is needed.
What are the causes?
This condition is often associated with a blocked milk (lactiferous) duct, which can happen when too much milk builds up in the breast. Causes of excess milk in the breast can include:
Poor latch-on. If your baby is not latched onto the breast properly, she or he may not empty your breast completely while breastfeeding.
Allowing too much time to pass between feedings.
Wearing a bra or other clothing that is too tight. This puts extra pressure on the lactiferous ducts so …show more content…
Swelling of the glands under the arm on the same side.
Fever. This may or may not accompany mastitis.
If an infection is allowed to progress, a collection of pus (abscess) may develop.
How is this diagnosed?
This condition can usually be diagnosed based on your symptoms and a physical exam. You may also have tests, including:
Removal of pus from the breast by applying pressure to the area. This pus can be examined in the lab to determine which bacteria are present. If an abscess has developed, the fluid in the abscess can be removed with a needle. This can also be used to confirm the diagnosis and determine the bacteria present. In most cases, pus will not be present.
Blood tests to determine if your body is fighting a bacterial infection.
Mammogram or ultrasound tests to rule out other problems or diseases.
How is this treated?
This condition will sometimes go away on its own. Your health care provider may choose to wait 24 hours after first seeing you to decide whether treatment is needed. If treatment is needed, it may include:
Antibiotic medicine to treat a bacterial infection. This is usually taken by mouth.
Medicine for …show more content…
If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
General instructions
Do not wear a tight or underwire bra. Wear a soft, supportive bra.
Increase your fluid intake, especially if you have a fever.
For breastfeeding:
Continue to empty your breast. Your health care provider can tell you whether this milk is safe for your infant or needs to be thrown out. You may be told to stop nursing until your health care provider thinks it is safe for your baby. Use a breast pump if you are advised to stop nursing.
Keep your nipples clean and dry.
Empty the first breast completely before going to the other breast. If your baby is not emptying your breasts completely for some reason, use a breast pump to empty your breasts.
If you go back to work, pump your breasts while at work to stay in time with your nursing schedule.
Avoid allowing your breasts to become overly filled with milk (engorged).
Contact a health care provider if:
You have pus-like discharge from the breast.
You have a