What to do with congestive mastitis?

Acute mastitis is a common problem during lactation, and the impact and pain it causes to women are relatively large. Therefore, we must pay attention to the correct improvement and prevention methods in life, pay attention to breast cleanliness and hygiene, correct breastfeeding, and promptly deal with nipple fissures.

1. Breast hygiene during pregnancy: In the last two months of pregnancy, frequently scrub the nipples with soapy water or clean water; or apply 70% alcohol (or liquor) to the nipples and areola with a cotton ball to enhance the resistance of the nipples. Because alcohol can remove oil, long-term use can reduce the secretion of areola glands and sebum, causing nipple dryness and cracking, so it cannot be used for a long time.

2. Correct inverted nipples: Try to correct inverted nipples in the second trimester of pregnancy. You can use a small wine cup to cover the nipple and secure it with a cloth strap. Or use a breast pump, 1 to 2 times a day. You can also massage your breasts or pull them with your hands frequently.

3. Correct breastfeeding: You should feed from both breasts alternately each time you breastfeed, and keep changing the baby-holding posture to fully empty the milk ducts.

4. Keep milk discharge unobstructed. Milk congestion is an important factor in the onset of the disease, so breastfeeding should be done regularly and the remaining milk should be discharged after breastfeeding. You can use a breast pump or hand massage to express the milk. In order to prevent the milk from becoming too thick and causing curdling to block the milk ducts, breastfeeding women should be encouraged to drink soup and water frequently.

5. Treat nipple cracks in time. Nipple cracks can cause pain and affect breastfeeding. You can grind half of Phellodendron chinense and half of Angelica dahurica into powder, then mix it with sesame oil or honey and apply it to the affected area. Or apply bismuth subcarbonate ointment (4g of bismuth subcarbonate powder, add 6mg of vegetable oil), or apply benzoin tincture, and use a breast pump to extract milk to feed the baby.

6. Strengthen the baby's oral care. Pay attention to the cleanliness of the baby's oral cavity. You can gently wipe the baby's oral mucosa and teeth with clean water 1 to 2 times a day; do not let the baby sleep with milk.

7. Indications for weaning: If the patient has a high fever or abscess formation, breastfeeding should be stopped and weaning should be performed on one or both sides to prevent the infected milk from affecting the baby. Before weaning, you can use 30g of raw hawthorn, 30g of raw malt, and 15g of loquat leaves, decocted as tea; or 5mg of diethylstilbestrol, 3 times/d, orally; or 2mg of benzoyl estradiol, 2 times/d; intramuscular injection or 30ml of 50% magnesium sulfate taken all at once, both until the milk is weaned. Put 60g of Glauber's salt into a gauze bag and apply it to the breasts, changing the bag when it gets wet. Place it on one breast to wean only that breast.