What is mastitis? The details are here

Mastitis is one of the common diseases among women, which is more common in lactating women. It is generally divided into acute mastitis and chronic mastitis. However, no matter which type it is, it has a great impact on women's health, so female friends must pay attention. Let us learn about mastitis in detail below.

The main causes of mastitis

1. Milk stasis: Milk stasis is conducive to the growth and reproduction of invading bacteria. The reasons are: ① Nipple fissures, due to nipples that are too small, too large, short and flat, or inverted, due to incorrect breastfeeding posture, the baby does not suck the nipple and most of the areola in the mouth, and the breastfeeding time is fixed on one side for too long. ② There is too much milk and it is not completely emptied. The mother fails to empty the excess milk in the breast in time. ③ Blockage of milk ducts, inflammation of the milk ducts themselves, tumors and external pressure, fibers falling off the bra can also block the milk ducts or collision by external force.

2. The diet is too greasy and you eat too much milk-inducing food. Within 7 days after delivery, when the milk ducts are not completely unobstructed, you must not eat milk-inducing food to avoid milk blockage and mastitis.

3. Bacterial invasion: When the nipple is inverted, it is difficult for the baby to suck milk, which can easily cause damage around the nipple, and it is the main way for bacteria to invade along the lymphatic vessels and cause infection. In addition, if babies often sleep with the nipple in their mouths, the inflammation in their mouths may directly invade and spread to the milk ducts, and then spread to the breast interstitium and cause purulent infection. The most common pathogenic bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus.

Acute mastitis is divided into three stages

Early stage: Acute mastitis begins with fullness, pain, redness and swelling of the breasts, which worsens during breastfeeding, poor milk secretion, breast lumps, or no redness of the skin, or accompanied by high fever, general discomfort, poor appetite, chest tightness and irritability, etc.

Suppurative stage: The local breast becomes hard and the lump gradually increases in size. It may be accompanied by high fever, chills, general weakness, dry stool, rapid pulse, ipsilateral lymph node enlargement, and increased white blood cell count. An abscess may often form in 4-5 days. The breast may be throbbing, the local skin may be red, swollen and translucent, the center of the lump may become soft, and there may be fluctuation when pressed. If it is a deep breast abscess, the whole breast may become swollen, painful, and have a high fever, but the local skin redness, swelling and fluctuation are not obvious. Sometimes there may be several abscess cavities in one breast at the same time or one after another.

Late ulcer stage: Superficial abscesses can often penetrate the skin, forming ulcers or milk overflowing from the wound and causing milk leakage. Deeper abscesses can penetrate into the fat between the breast and pectoralis major muscle, forming a retrobreast abscess. In severe cases, sepsis may occur. Acute mastitis is often accompanied by enlarged and tender axillary lymph nodes on the affected side; the total white blood cell count and neutrophil count increase.

How to prevent mastitis

1. Learn more about breastfeeding before delivery, and learn breastfeeding techniques and postures; the breastfeeding posture must be correct.

2. Eat a light diet and don’t blindly pursue high-fat, high-protein milk-inducing soups.

3. If the baby has not sucked for more than 3 hours, the breasts will be very swollen and you need to remove some of the milk; especially at night, in order to pursue a full night's sleep, do not breastfeed the baby.

4. Don't wear underwear that is too tight, don't compress the breasts when sleeping, and never sleep on your stomach, because I got mastitis twice because of sleeping on my stomach.

5. Avoid collision with external forces and do not let the baby's head or feet kick the mother's breast.

6. Pay attention to the hygiene of your baby's mouth and nipples, and keep your baby's mouth clean every day.

7. Maintain a good mood and a happy mood. Don't let your baby fall asleep with the nipple in his mouth.

If you have mastitis, do not blindly apply hot compresses or rub your breasts vigorously. You can let your baby suck more. Be sure to ask a professional for guidance.