What are the symptoms of postpartum mastitis fever?

Some mothers will experience mastitis after giving birth, and mastitis will cause changes in the body's internal environment and lead to fever, so mothers need to know what symptoms this condition will have. Breast fullness, tenderness, body temperature exceeding 38.5 degrees Celsius, etc., these are common symptoms of mastitis fever, so everyone should pay more attention.

Symptoms of mastitis include

(A) Stasis mastitis: occurs in the early postpartum period (usually about 1 week after delivery). Because first-time mothers lack experience in breastfeeding, it is easy for milk to stagnate and not be emptied on time. Postpartum mastitis patients feel varying degrees of pain and swelling in both breasts and have a moderate rise in body temperature (around 38.5°C). Examination of the breasts reveals fullness, a slightly reddish surface (congestion), and tenderness, but the symptoms usually disappear after the milk is expressed, so it is generally not considered to be true mastitis. However, if not treated in time, or if the nipple is small and is broken by the newborn's strong sucking, the retained milk and sweat may be contaminated by purulent bacteria, which can easily lead to symptoms of postpartum mastitis. Therefore, excess milk secretion must be drained out and nipples must be kept clean.

(ii) Suppurative mastitis: Suppurative mastitis is mostly caused by infection of staphylococci or streptococci through ruptured nipples. As mentioned earlier, if milk stasis after delivery is not emptied in time, it can easily cause infection and lead to postpartum mastitis. After bacteria invade the mammary ducts, they continue to invade the parenchyma, which can cause various types of suppurative inflammation.

Six key points to prevent postpartum mastitis

1. Acute mastitis caused by milk stasis during lactation should be actively treated in the early stages. Proper breast massage plays an important role in unclogging milk ducts, expelling fermented bean curd, reducing swelling and dispersing lumps. Prompt treatment of infection associated with nipple cracks.

2. If the course of the disease exceeds 10 days, the breast skin is bright red, the fever persists, the pain worsens, the center of the lump becomes soft, and there is a sense of fluctuation when pressed, then it has become purulent. Drainage should be timely to avoid the occurrence of cystic fibrosis.

3. Women in the late stages of pregnancy should wipe their nipples with 75% alcohol or wash them with warm water to enhance the flexibility and resistance of the breast skin. Squeeze out the fat plug in the milk duct. For those with inverted nipples, they need to squeeze out the nipples with their hands and correct them by massaging and pulling before pregnancy.