Mastitis
Often mastitis is caused by clogged milk ducts which haven't been cleared and become inflamed. Sometimes it can come on without you even being aware that you had blocked ducts.
If you have blocked ducts and you are unable to clear them it's helpful to be aware of how you are feeling. This infection can come on very quickly and the symptoms are usually flu like. So if you have any aches and pains and if you're feeling feverish see a doctor, they may give you antibiotics to clear the inflammation.
I developed a breast infection while I was weaning my eldest. I didn't plan on weaning but I started a new job and had to travel interstate for training. I was stuck on flights, in taxis, and courses with colleagues so I was unable to express or feed for about 14 hours a day for 3 days straight. I developed blockages everywhere, even right up near my armpits.
I remember being told that the best treatment of mastitis was to continue to breastfeed. My first thought was "I can't feed old milk to my baby!!" I imagined the clogged breast milk to be the same as cows milk that had been sitting on the bench for a few days…Yuck!
But I found expressing painful and I really wanted to feed my son...anything to empty my sore, stretched, and extremely full breasts. So it was a relief to be told by my doctor that the milk in the blocked ducts was perfectly normal and fine for him to drink. It may have tasted a little more salty than usual but he didn't mind at all.
Not all babies like the salty taste though, so if you find that your baby refuses your breast the taste might be why. Instead of feeding more frequently you can try to hand express in the shower or while applying a warm cloth to your breast. This can help with let — down or milk flow and make expressing at this time a little easier.
How to Treat Mastitis
• Try to clear out as much milk as possible from the affected breast can help to clear the clogged milk ducts and treat the mastitis. Please keep in mind that it may take a few feeds to do this. If you can, it may help to offer your baby the breast more often than you normally would. Often your baby's sucking is more effective at removing milk from your breast than any form of expressing. I found that it took a few days for the pain to go away completely and a few feeds before I felt any improvement in my breast.
If you are expressing to relieve mastitis, you may need to continue expressing until you have emptied the affected breast as much as possible. Massaging your breast from the outside in — towards the nipple — before or while expressing can help.
• Changing my baby's position also did wonders. Positioning your baby so that his or her chin is massaging the blocked duct can help to clear it. If this isn't possible then you can try gently massaging behind the blockage to help the milk flow towards the nipple. Try and encourage a let—down by relaxing with music, candles, and even by focusing on your breathing, this will help your milk to flow so that more is removed from your breast.
Feeding in positions that make the milk flow towards the nipple can also help. You can try sitting forward, lying on your side so the flow moves away from the blockage, or feeding so that your baby is lying on his or her back while you lean above them.
• Whenever you experience painful breastfeeding or you have sore breasts it's a good idea to check the fit of your bra and clothing. Some types of bras or feeding tops can put pressure on the breasts and removing them for a few days can help to clear the blocked duct.
• Lastly, if you think you have mastitis or a very blocked duct, see your doctor and get lots of rest. Take your baby to bed with you if you need to and put everything else on hold. Sometimes hurried feeds where the breast is not drained properly can be the culprit and I know we all have 101 things to get to but try to make taking care of yourself a priority.
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