Mastitis is an infectious inflammation of the breast. Mastitis associated with breastfeeding is called lactation and is more common in primiparous mothers.
Causes of mastitis
The main cause of mastitis in a nursing woman is a decrease in immunity. Against this background, any disease, from chronic pyelonephritis to mild cold, can provoke an inflammatory process in the mammary gland. Infection can penetrate the body and through the cracks in the nipples, which appear when the child is incorrectly applied to the chest. Stagnation of milk (lactostasis) can also provoke the development of mastitis.
How to identify mastitis?
There are three stages of the disease: serous, infiltrative and purulent.
The initial, or serous, stage of mastitis can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- a sharp increase in temperature to 38-39 degrees Celsius;
- chills;
- pain in the mammary gland;
- redness of the skin above the affected area.
With the infiltrative form of mastitis, you may be troubled:
- general intoxication of the body (weakness, influenza state);
- dense painful abscess (infiltrate) in the affected mammary gland;
- the increase and soreness of the lymph nodes in the armpits;
- a bad outflow of milk.
Signs of purulent mastitis, the most severe form of inflammation, are:
- bright red or bluish skin above the abscess;
- edematous and painful chest;
- softening of tissues in purulent foci;
- chills and fever to 40 degrees Celsius;
- influenza state;
- milk with purulent discharge or unevenly colored (on a white background, dark purulent veins are visible).
Important! Sometimes a purulent form of mastitis can develop and at a low temperature.
Treatment of mastitis in lactating women
If you suspect a mastitis, you need to see a doctor - a surgeon, a specialist in breastfeeding or a gynecologist. You will be offered to take tests (microbiological study of milk, a general analysis of blood and urine) and prescribe a course of antibiotics and physiotherapeutic procedures (UHF, UV irradiation). In the case of purulent mastitis, an operation is performed.
Breastfeeding with mastitis
At an early stage of the disease, breastfeeding is necessary to prevent milk stagnation. When infiltrative form should consult with a doctor and pick up medications that are compatible with breastfeeding.
With purulent mastitis, it is necessary to stop breastfeeding for a while, continuing to express the milk with your hands or breast pump. In some cases, you may be advised to suppress lactation.
Prevention of mastitis
In the first weeks of the baby's life, observe the following simple rules that will help prevent lactation mastitis:
- Make sure that during the feeding the baby is properly
seized the nipple (along with the areola), and his chin was pointed toward the stagnation of milk. - Feed the baby on demand. If the milk is too much, decant.
- A daily shower and washing your breasts with clean water before each feeding will help prevent infection. Do not often use soap - it dries the tender skin of the nipples and can trigger the appearance of cracks.
- If the nipples have cracks, after feeding, lubricate them with sea buckthorn or dog-rose oil. Well wound healing cream Bepanten. You can treat the affected area with a green (be careful - it dries the skin).
- Eat right: in your diet should be a lot of fruits and vegetables (of course, compatible with breastfeeding).
- Try not to start the disease, start treatment in time and bring it to the end.