Can I breastfeed if I have mastitis? Parenting experts tell you the answer

Mastitis is not a serious disease. As long as the correct treatment is adopted, it can be cured within a period of time. It is worth mentioning that if a woman suffers from mastitis while breastfeeding, she can continue to breastfeed her child without worry, as mastitis will not affect breastfeeding.

1. Can I still breastfeed if I have mastitis?

For new mothers suffering from postpartum mastitis, they can take self-care measures such as hot compresses and massages. Generally, they can recover in about a week after going to the hospital for treatment. Since mastitis only infects breast tissue and has nothing to do with breast milk, it will not be transmitted to the baby and you can continue breastfeeding.

If there is only local redness and swelling, the mother can apply hot compress to the red and swollen area before breastfeeding, and rub the lumps apart, and then apply ice compress after feeding. If the nipple is infected or broken, it should be wiped with breast milk or nipple ointment prescribed by the doctor. To prevent your baby from getting the ointment, apply the ointment after feeding, or clean the nipple with clean water before feeding.

2. Can I still breastfeed if I have mastitis during lactation?

Breastfeeding women need to pay attention to the cleanliness of their breasts. If they have symptoms of breast pain, they can use a hot towel to apply heat to relieve local symptoms. However, regardless of whether they are feeding their children or not, the milk in the breasts should be sucked out, otherwise it will increase the inflammatory response and may even easily form abscesses.

If breastfeeding women continue to breastfeed their babies, they should be careful not to take anti-inflammatory drugs indiscriminately, because these drugs are likely to affect the quality of the patient's milk and are not conducive to the normal development of the child. After breastfeeding, they should ensure the cleanliness of the nipples, change underwear frequently, and avoid strong squeezing of the breasts.

Lactating women who suffer from mastitis can consider undergoing a comprehensive examination and treatment after the end of breastfeeding. Mastitis can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy. If an abscess has formed, drainage surgery is also required to avoid damage to the surrounding healthy breast tissue!

Can I still breastfeed if I have mastitis during lactation? Patients with mastitis should also pay attention to a light diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and drink more water, which will help promote the body's metabolism and better treat inflammation. They should also pay attention to eating more fruits and vegetables!

3. During this period, the key to treatment is to unclog the milk ducts and drain the stagnant milk by squeezing or pumping with a breast pump. You need to drink plenty of water, eat a light diet, and antibiotics are generally not used. In the early stages of milk stasis, especially within 4 to 5 hours of its occurrence, the accumulated milk has not yet deteriorated and you can safely breastfeed with the affected breast. A baby's sucking is very powerful and is an excellent way to unclog milk ducts. Breastfeeding not only feeds the baby, but also treats the mother's mastitis. As the congestion time increases, the milk will become more and more viscous, and the color will slowly turn to light yellow or light yellowish green. The milk at this time contains bacteria and pus, but it is not toxic, and a healthy baby will not get sick if he drinks a small amount of this milk. However, if the baby is weak and sick, or the parents cannot accept feeding the baby with such disgusting milk, they can try to drain the congested milk by squeezing, pumping with a breast pump, or using a probe to clear the milk ducts before breastfeeding the baby. In short, patients with mastitis at this stage can continue breastfeeding, either on the healthy or affected breast.