Causes, signs and symptoms of mastitis in a nursing mother

Mastitis is an inflammatory process in the mammary gland. This pathology worries almost 6% of young mothers. As a rule, this happens in the first 3 months of the child's life, but cases are not excluded that in the future this can happen again.

Causes of ailment

As a rule, this disease develops as a result of milk stagnation in the mammary glands. This is due to uneven emptying. For example, when a woman feeds only one breast for a very long time. Also mastitis in a nursing mother (see photo below) can develop if the baby is not correctly applied. Or with an unsuccessfully chosen bra that squeezes the mammary glands.

Symptoms of mastitis in a nursing mother

As already mentioned above, the first and the main sign of the disease is stagnation of milk, which is most often manifested by a significant increase in body temperature. With the progression of the disease, the following symptoms of mastitis in a nursing mother may appear:

• chills;
• insomnia;
• Pain, and sometimes swelling of the breast in the region of stagnation.

Thus doctors subdivide this disease into two types - simple lactostasis and serous mastitis. In the first case, when measuring the temperature of the body, you can find that it will be slightly higher from the side of the sick chest. In the second case, there is a diffuse temperature in the nursing mother (mastitis serous). With lactostasis, after expressing a sick breast, the condition of a woman will improve. But with serous mastitis, relief comes after a certain period of time.

Treatment

If the symptoms of mastitis in a nursing mother have confirmed this diagnosis, then, as a rule, the doctor prescribes antibiotics and pain medications (Paracetamol or Ibuprofen). At the same time, some advise to stop breastfeeding the baby for a while, especially if this process brings strong painful sensations. In this case, do not forget to express the milk.

Prevention

In order to avoid symptoms of mastitis in a nursing mother, the first thing she needs to do is put the baby on demand. It is desirable that in the hospital they are from the very first minutes were together. Also worth taking into account and a bra, which in no case should squeeze the mammary glands. The output will be the purchase of a special product for nursing mothers. As a rule, it has wide straps and opening cups, which give free access to the chest.

Some advise to wash each breast with soap before each feeding. But recently doctors began to hold the opinion that this procedure only washed off the protective layer of lubrication of the mammary glands, which can lead to the cracking of the nipples. If they have already appeared, it is necessary to lubricate them with sea-buckthorn oil or special ointment after every application, even on a small time.

If you feel that the baby has badly emptied the chest, discard some milk. But do this until the last drop, as it was advised before, is not worth it. It is enough that you feel relieved.