Mastitis - a fairly common complication of the postpartum period, occurs as a result of infection in the mammary gland from the environment through nipples or from another inflammation focus through lymphatic or milk ducts. However, for the inflammatory process to acquire an acute character, some bacteria are not enough, yet favorable conditions for their dwelling are needed. As it is impossible, by the way, milk stagnation is suitable for this.
Lactostasis - the so-called stagnation of milk in medical practice, is quite understandable for a young mother. In view of the unchanged feeding process and the lack of time and experience to express the milk stagnant, forming an excellent environment for the growth and reproduction of bacteria. If the time is not taken to eliminate it, within 3-4 days a nursing mother may have the first signs of mastitis.
Signs of mastitis during feeding
As a rule, signs of mastitis in a nursing woman can not remain unnoticed. First of all, a young nursing mother notes the pain in her chest, the fever, the difficult pumping, which is accompanied by a strong pain syndrome, all these signs indicate the initial stage of mastitis. Then, in the absence of treatment, a woman's condition worsens:
- In the inflamed gland, a limited compaction is felt, the skin under which becomes red and hot to the touch;
- pumping is extremely difficult or even impossible;
- all these moments are accompanied by general weakness, chills, headache;
- if the mastitis gets purulent, then its symptoms in nursing mothers are the allocation of pus from the nipple, palpitations, enlarged lymph nodes, and a cyanotic skin tone in the place of pus accumulation.
At the first suspicion of mastitis during feeding , a woman should seek medical help, as this disease endangers not only successful breastfeeding, but also the health of the mother and the child as a whole.