Can You Get Rid of Mastitis On Your Own?

Susan woke up with fever and chills. She had given birth to her first child three days ago and thought that breastfeeding was going well. Unfortunately, these new symptoms seemed to indicate that maybe it wasn’t going so well after all.

After taking a moment to collect herself, she reached over to snuggle her new baby. Her little one had begun to stir in the bassinet by her bedside. Susan had taken a breastfeeding class before her child was born and remembered what the signs and symptoms of mastitis were. She knew that it was okay to feed her baby from that breast and that she could begin treating her symptoms herself at home.

Definition of Mastitis

Mastitis is a common issue among breastfeeding mothers. Not only did Susan have fever and chills, but she also had a wedge shaped area of her right breast that was fire engine red. A red and/or sore breast is one of the signs of mastitis. It typically begins with mild redness and tenderness in a specific area of the breast. If left untreated mild inflammatory mastitis can go on to develop into a more severe infection that affects a larger portion of the breast tissue.

Another important thing to know about mastitis is its root cause. As our understanding of this condition has evolved, we now know that inflammation is the cause of this misery. The inflammation of the breast starts when the breast is not properly emptied. When the milk ducts are overly full, breast milk will leak out into the surrounding tissue and lead to a cascade of inflammation. According to the latest mastitis protocol from the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, this type of breast infection is a spectrum.

Mastitis can occur at any time during breastfeeding, but is commonly occurs:

• After your milk first comes in
• When your baby suddenly is eating less often (sleeping through the night)
• As you begin to wean your baby from the breast

Signs and Symptoms of Mastitis

As we looked at earlier, mastitis is a continuum of symptoms that begins with breast inflammation. Susan was in the early stages of this process when she began treating her symptoms.

Breast inflammation typically begins with localized pain and redness. If left untreated, it may progress to a bacterial infection that affects a larger portion of breast tissue.

A mother experiencing lactational mastitis may observe breast lumps or areas of the breast that are full of milk. An infected breast is typically painful and sore to the touch, and feeding from an infected breast may not be comfortable.

In addition to breast pain and redness, a breast infection can also cause flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and a general sense of discomfort. These symptoms may indicate mastitis.

What Causes Mastitis?

Mastitis symptoms begin when there is inflammation present in the breast. This process occurs when the body releases chemicals that trigger an immune response to fight off infection or heal damaged tissue.

A trigger for this inflammation is an interruption in milk flow out of the breast.

Causes of milk stasis inside of the breast:

• Oversupply
• Feeding a baby who is not transferring milk well
• Supplementing with formula without pumping
• Weaning your baby too quickly

When this milk does not move out of the breast, this sets off a cascade of inflammation. 

Treatment Options

You can begin the treatment for mastitis at home on your own, just like Susan did. When you first notice a sore lump in your breast, you should begin to treat the localized breast inflammation with:

• High dose anti-inflammatory medicine (over the counter medications)
• Cold pack, cold compress or ice pack after feedings
• Sunflower Lecithin Supplements

If the signs of breast inflammation don’t improve after about 24 hours of this supportive care, you should involve your lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist.

In addition to the above steps, make sure to get as much extra rest as possible. Also, be sure to drink plenty of fluids.  Rest can be difficult when you have a newborn baby, so try to prioritize rest over chores and other tasks around the house. Take care of the baby, breastfeed, and make sure to rest.

Also, continue to breastfeed on demand or pump as per your usual schedule. Empty your breasts as usual and do not add in extra sessions. Overstimulating your breasts can increase your milk supply and continue to exacerbate the problem.

Potential Complications

When you are in these early stages of mastitis treatment, avoid excessive massage of your breasts. You can do light lymphatic massage that is more of a sweeping motion instead of firm pressure in a circular motion. Over exuberant massaging can lead to a breast abscess which is a collection of pus inside the breast tissue.

Rarely, you can become very sick and require hospitalization due to this bacterial infection of the breast. You will be admitted to the hospital for extra fluids and IV antibiotics and pain medication.

Another complication of mastitis can be a decrease in your breast milk supply. Most of the time, this is just a temporary dip in your supply.

When to Seek Care from a Medical Professional

Most of the time you can safely treat the initial inflammation of breast tissue on your own with the things that we have discussed. 

However, if your symptoms progress despite this supportive care, you are vomiting or you develop a fever, it is advisable to call your breastfeeding specialist. It is most wise for your healthcare professional to see you in person and perform a physical exam to assess your symptoms and decide on the best treatment. 

Another important consideration to keep in mind is the signs and symptoms of mastitis overlap with some of the signs of inflammatory breast cancer. Although the risk of breast cancer is rare in breastfeeding mothers, it can be easily missed if no one is paying attention. 

This article is for information purposes only. It is not to be interpreted as medical advice.

© 127 Pediatrics, April 2024

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