Lactational mastitis occurs mostly in the first two months after delivery, and often recurs, persists, and even develops into breast abscess. There are many misunderstandings in the treatment of lactating mastitis, such as the abuse of antibiotics and premature cessation of breastfeeding, etc., which have a certain impact on the physical and mental health of lactating mothers and the growth and development of children.
What is lactation mastitis?
Lactational mastitis is inflammation of the mammary glands caused by milk stasis not eliminated in time or bacterial invasion of damaged nipples in lactating women. It may be accompanied by or without bacterial infection, with or without redness, swelling, heat and pain in the breast area. It may also be accompanied by general malaise such as fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms.
Why do breastfeeding patients suffer from mastitis?
The main causes of lactation mastitis are milk stasis, infection caused by cracked nipples, and poor postpartum body resistance of women.
The causes of milk stasis include congenital nipple dysplasia, too little sucking by the baby, excessive lactation and excessive milk secretion.
Cracked nipples are mainly due to improper feeding, baby bites, etc. to form open wounds, bacteria enter the nipples and reproduce, leading to lactation mastitis. Poor local hygiene of the nipple is also one of the important reasons.
What are the symptoms of lactation mastitis?
Lactation mastitis is clinically divided into milk stasis type and acute inflammation type of mammary gland.
Milk stasis mastitis is manifested by local swelling, pain, and induration of the breast, and the skin temperature does not rise significantly. The patient has no symptoms such as fever or chills, and the blood test is generally normal.
Acute inflammatory mastitis is characterized by local redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the breast, accompanied by generalized fever, and blood routine generally has an increase in white blood cells, neutrophils, and C-reactive protein.
What are the treatments for breastfeeding mastitis?
For breastfeeding mastitis, in addition to milk removal, antibiotic treatment is also required. During the whole treatment period, try to avoid dietary lactation, recommend a light diet, and keep the nipples hygienic. Ensure adequate rest for breastfeeding mothers, and appropriate rehydration, use of painkillers and psychological counseling.
How are antibiotics used?
The antibiotics that can be used for acute inflammatory mastitis are penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotics. However, some of the antibiotics accumulated in lactating women will enter the milk, which may affect the number of probiotics in the baby’s intestines. When using these two types of antibiotics, it is necessary to observe whether the baby has diarrhea symptoms. If the baby has severe diarrhea, it is necessary to stop breastfeeding or switch to other types of antibiotics.
Antibiotics that are strictly prohibited during breastfeeding include tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and chloramphenicol. Once used, breastfeeding should be stopped immediately.
In rare cases, when inflammation has involved the entire breast, breastfeeding should be withdrawn and breastfeeding discontinued to better control the infection. If a breast abscess forms, consider incision or puncture drainage.
Can I continue breastfeeding if I have mastitis?
Although breastfeeding suffers from mastitis, as long as no breast abscess is formed, the patient should be encouraged to continue breastfeeding with the affected side during the course of treatment, and feeding on the healthy side will not be affected.
Studies have shown that continuing to breastfeed during breastfeeding with mastitis not only does not cause health damage to the baby and mother, but also helps the health of the baby and mother. Because the type and quantity of immune cells and cytokines in the milk of breastfeeding mastitis patients increased. Such changes both help the mother’s own defense against breast infection and help activate the baby’s immune system.
If it is difficult to feed due to damaged breasts, or the baby’s sucking cannot relieve breast symptoms at all, or if you are too worried that continuing to feed will cause the baby to get infected, you can also choose to manually express the milk or use a breast pump to maintain the normal secretion of milk.
Breastfeeding mastitis often occurs. Breastfeeding mothers should face it with a positive and optimistic attitude, identify breast changes in time, seek medical treatment as soon as possible, and take corresponding measures. In the process of treating mastitis during lactation, follow the doctor’s advice and use scientific methods to treat it. Not only will it not affect your own health and the health of your baby, but you can also promote the recovery of the breast and the healthy growth of your baby by continuing to breastfeed.