Treating Mastitis

Breastfeeding is the healthier option, and a great way for a mother to bond with her newborn baby. Even if your baby latches correctly, it is still possible to suffer from mastitis. Mastitis causes is an inflammation of the breasts. It can cause swelling and pain. Your breasts may even become red in color. This condition will not go away on its own, so it is important that you get treatment as soon as possible.

The first thing you need to do to treat mastitis is express more milk. One of your milk ducts may be blocked, and this is a great way to try and unblock it. If your baby isn’t hungry, use a breast pump to express the milk. Extra breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer for later.

Another way to relieve the pain of mastitis and help get rid of it is to stand in a hot shower, or place a hot wash rag over your affected breast. Let the hot water work on your mastitis for 15 minutes. Then express the milk with a breast pump. The heat will make the milk flow with ease.

Make sure you get lots of rest and don’t sleep or lay on the inflamed breast. If you don’t start feeling better after a day or two, it is important that you contact your physician. He will prescribe a round of antibiotics for you that will get rid of the mastitis.

If you don’t take steps to treat the mastitis right away, you risk developing an abscess. Abscesses need to be drained in the doctor’s office in addition to taking a course of antibiotics.

Other mastitis symptoms to watch out for include a fever and fatigue. Again it is important that you get rest so that your body can work on healing itself. Fevers can be treated with acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

There are a few things you can do to try and prevent mastitis from ever occurring. First, never skip a feeding. If you aren’t around your baby at feeding time, make sure you at least express the milk with a breast pump. Second, keep your breasts from becoming cracked and dried out. You may want to use all-natural moisturizes, aloe, or even a cabbage leaf to accomplish this. Seriously, putting a cabbage leaf in your bra in between feedings can keep your nipples from becoming cracked and dry.

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