A small abscess grew on the areola

A small abscess grew on the areola

After a pregnant woman gives birth to a baby, it is the stage of breastfeeding the baby. During this process, the mother should rest more and pay attention to diet adjustment, so that the weak body after delivery can recover as soon as possible. Of course, the breast milk will be sufficient and nutritious, and the baby will grow fast and healthy after eating it. In the process of breastfeeding the baby, some mothers will find a boil on the areola and feel pain. This is a manifestation of mastitis.

1. Bacterial infection

Mastitis during lactation is most often acute mastitis, the main pathogen of which is Staphylococcus aureus and less commonly Streptococcus. There are four ways that bacterial infections can enter the body:

(1) Direct invasion through the milk duct: This is a direct route for bacteria to invade the milk, which is prone to infection due to milk congestion and retention. Because retained milk is easy to decompose, the decomposition products are acidic, which not only irritates the mammary ducts but also serves as a good culture medium for bacterial reproduction.

(2) Entering through small wounds or cracks on the nipples: If there are wounds or cracks on the mother's nipples, these places are easy for bacteria to enter, invading the breast interstitium through the lymphatic vessels and forming cellulitis.

(3) Other parts of the body: Pathogens that infect other parts of the mother's body during the postpartum period can circulate through the blood and cause breast infection.

(4) Retrograde ductal infection: Another route of infection is that pathogens in the baby's body (such as oral and nasopharyngeal infections) directly invade the mammary lobules along the mammary ducts during breastfeeding, grow and multiply in the stagnant milk, and cause breast infection.

2. Nipple cleft

When the nipple is injured and cracked, or the nipple is chapped, these methods can lead to mastitis.

(1) Nipple cracks: This is usually caused by incorrect breastfeeding posture, the baby not sucking the nipple and most of the areola in the mouth, and breastfeeding on one side for too long.

(2) Poor nipple care: Pregnant mothers neglect nipple care and fail to clean their nipples regularly, which causes the epithelial tissue to become fragile and the nipple skin epidermis to become weak and easily damaged. Since it is the first time for a new mother to breastfeed, the nipple skin has weak resistance and is easily damaged by the baby's sucking, causing milk congestion and bacterial invasion, leading to mastitis.

(3) Breast trauma: If the nipple is injured, it is easy to damage the tissue, for example: a sudden impact or being kicked by an older child.

3. Milk stasis

(1) The milk is not completely sucked out: First-time mothers have no experience in breastfeeding and have a lot of milk. The baby often cannot suck out all the milk, causing excess milk to accumulate in the glandular lobules, which is conducive to the growth and reproduction of bacteria.

(2) Nipple hypoplasia: If primiparas do not clean their nipples regularly during pregnancy, the epithelium will become fragile. If the baby sucks for too long, the nipple epidermis will become soft and prone to cracking. When cracking occurs, the baby's sucking will cause severe pain to the mother, affecting adequate breastfeeding. The breasts will not be easily emptied, and milk will easily accumulate. In addition, if the nipples are underdeveloped, short, flat, small, or inverted, milk is more likely to accumulate.

(3) Breasts are too full: During lactation, breast milk is not discharged smoothly and accumulates in the breasts, leading to mastitis. For example, if the breasts are large, they tend to droop, making it more difficult for the milk in the lower part to flow out.

4. Milk duct obstruction

(1) It is common in secondary milk stasis. The main causes are incomplete emptying of the breast, irregular and frequent breastfeeding, and local pressure on the breast. Milk stasis is also common in people with nipple hypoplasia (such as inverted nipples), which affects breastfeeding.

(2) For first-time mothers, their breast milk contains a large amount of exfoliated epithelial cells, which can easily cause blockage of the milk ducts and aggravate milk congestion. Milk stasis reduces the vitality of breast tissue, creating conditions for the growth and reproduction of invading bacteria. If it is not cleared in time, mastitis will occur.

<<:  A pustule on the nipple

>>:  How long after taking the medicine for trichomoniasis can I have sex?

Recommend

Contractions every two to three minutes

Contractions every two or three minutes are a sym...

Allergies can also be fatal. Do you know how to prevent and treat them?

Author: Wang Changyuan, Chief Physician, Xuanwu H...

How many months does it take to be considered menopausal?

When people reach the age of 40, problems start t...

How long after sweating during confinement can I go out?

Generally speaking, women will be seriously injur...

Can I apply for a health certificate while I am menstruating?

The purpose of applying for a health certificate ...

Image sharing service WeHeartIt receives over 600 million page views per month

Pinterest and WeHeartIt unique visitor growth Pin...

How many days during the normal ovulation period is it easy to get pregnant

Everyone knows that if a woman has sex during her...

Can I eat watermelon when I am 2 months pregnant?

With the arrival of summer, the weather is gettin...

What is the cause of back pain and lower abdominal pain in women?

Low back pain and lower abdominal pain are very c...

What to do if you have a bad taste in your mouth during early pregnancy

After getting married, many couples want to get p...

What factors cause early and scant menstruation?

Every woman will have her period one day. The arr...

What causes thick uterine wall? Estrogen is to blame

The thick uterine wall in women is an abnormal ph...

What is the cause of the blood in the vagina?

Normally, leucorrhea should be a colorless, odorl...