What to do if you have mastitis during breastfeeding

Mastitis is a common inflammatory problem in women's breasts. It is mainly caused by bacterial infection. However, if a woman develops mastitis during lactation, it will affect the quality of milk, so it should be taken very seriously. Because the quality of the mother's milk is closely related to the baby's physical health, any physical problems with the baby will make the mother very worried. What should a woman do if she develops mastitis during breastfeeding?

There are many types of mastitis, among which lactation mastitis is a common type, which is mostly caused by staphylococcal infection, and staphylococcal infection is mostly related to postpartum milk accumulation and milk duct obstruction. If lactation mastitis is not handled and treated in time, the mother's breasts may become festering, the internal tissues may be damaged, and in severe cases, breast atrophy may occur. So what to do about mastitis during lactation?

If you are diagnosed with lactation mastitis, you should take the following measures:

1. Local hot compress: This method can promote the smooth discharge of milk. If the local swelling is obvious, 25% magnesium sulfate hot compress can be used. At the same time, the patient should massage along the base of the breast to the nipple for 8 to 10 minutes every 3 to 4 hours, and try to squeeze out the milk or use a breast pump to express it.

2. In the early stage of mastitis, breastfeeding does not need to be stopped if the symptoms are mild.

3. Treatment of mastitis during lactation For chronic mastitis with a course of more than 6 to 10 days, intravenous penicillin-like drugs can be added for systemic anti-inflammatory treatment, which can usually be cured within 1 to 2 weeks.

4. For those who develop abscesses due to mastitis during lactation, surgical incision and drainage are performed, and the patients will be cured within 2 weeks after drainage.

In addition, prevention of adenitis is more important than treatment. Avoiding milk stasis, preventing nipple damage, and keeping nipples clean are the key to preventing acute mastitis during lactation.

If the nipple is retracted, it should be gently squeezed out and cleaned; the nipple can be cleaned with 3% boric acid water before and after breastfeeding; develop the habit of regular breastfeeding; try to let the baby suck out all the milk after each breastfeeding; the milk should be sucked out completely during each breastfeeding, and if it cannot be sucked out completely, it can be squeezed out by massage or sucked out with a breast pump; if the nipple is damaged or cracked, breastfeeding should be temporarily performed, the milk should be sucked out with a breast pump, and then breastfeeding can be resumed after the wound heals.