MemorialCare - Your Guide to Postpartum and Newborn Care

MASTITIS Mastitis can be caused by inflammation or bacterial infection. Bacterial mastitis may produce painful breast abscesses that need to be drained and is typically treated with antibiotic medication.

Bacterial mastitis If your condition is diagnosed as bacterial mastitis, your health care provider may prescribe antibiotics to resolve the infection. If you take antibiotics, remember to: • Take pills as directed until they are gone • Let your provider know if you are not better in 2 to 3 days • Tell your baby’s health care provider you are being treated for bacterial mastitis

Signs & Symptoms • Hard lumps on breasts that are tender or warm to the touch • Onset of flu-like symptoms, including fever and chills • Red marks on the surface of the breast • Rapid heart rate

CONSIDERATIONS

If you are diagnosed with mastitis, experts recommend that you DO NOT: • Aggressively massage your breast • Use any type of massaging device on your breast

TREATMENT If you think you may have mastitis call your health care provider. Here are some things to try at home to relieve your symptoms:

• Soak your breast in any substance • Apply any type of heat to your breast • Express milk unless you miss a feeding

Apply ice packs between feedings

SORE NIPPLES Your nipple should look the same before and immediately after breastfeeding your newborn—never flattened, creased, or pinched. It’s normal to experience mild nipple tenderness or latch-on pain during the first few days. Nipple tenderness • Typically peaks around day 3 or 4

Wear a supportive, well-fitting bra

• Usually improves by day 7 • May feel like chapped skin Latch-on pain • Lasts about 30 seconds into the feeding • Usually described as mild pain or discomfort • Should not continue through entire feeding • Should not occur between feedings

Take ibuprofen or naproxen

When to get help Never assume that any discomfort is “normal” when you’re breastfeeding. And don’t let another person tell you everything looks fine when your instincts tell you it’s not. Above all, don’t feel bad or be hard on yourself.

Ask your lactation consultant about lymphatic drainage

Signs & Symptoms

Tell your lactation consultant immediately if: • Nipples appear flattened, creased, or pinched • You see cracking, bleeding, or other nipple damage

• Pain continues through an entire feeding • You experience pain between feedings • Your pain lasts longer than 7 days • Your skin is damaged, cracked, blistered, or bleeding

Rest on your back to drain swelling into lymph nodes

If your symptoms don’t improve within a few days, tell your health care provider.

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Your Guide to Postpartum and Newborn Care