For many moms, breastfeeding is a special time, and a chance to bond and connect with your newborn. However, some moms may experience breastfeeding challenges due to mastitis, and this painful condition can turn a wonderful time into a difficult one. Learning about mastitis and how to prevent it can help you avoid this common issue or catch it early.
What Is Mastitis?
Mastitis is the inflammation of breast tissue that commonly affects breastfeeding women, often in the first few months after giving birth, and can sometimes cause an infection. Signs of mastitis are swelling, warmth, pain, and redness in and around the breast.
What Are The Most Common Causes Of Mastitis?
Mastitis usually develops when milk becomes trapped in the breast. Common causes of mastitis include:
Blocked Milk Ducts
One of the most common causes of mastitis is a blocked or clogged milk duct. A milk duct is a tiny tube that carries milk from the glands to where it's made to the nipple, and when a duct doesn’t drain properly when breastfeeding, pressure can build up, and milk may leak into the surrounding tissue. This pressure triggers your body’s natural response, making your breast feel swollen and inflamed.
Milk Stasis
Milk mastitis can happen when milk sits in the breast for too long. This could happen because:
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Your baby isn't feeding frequently enough
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You skip feedings
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Your breast doesn't empty completely during feedings
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You're producing more milk than your baby needs
Bacterial Infection
Bacteria, often from your skin or your baby’s mouth can sometimes enter the breast through a small crack or sore on the nipple. If milk is also stuck in a blocked duct, the bacteria can cause an infection; the most common mastitis bacteria is called staphylococcus aureus (staph aureus).
It’s important to know that even if your nipples look fine, bacteria can still grow in milk that isn’t flowing properly. This is why you need to make sure your breasts are fully emptied during each feeding to help prevent mastitis.
Trouble With Latching
The way your baby latches makes a big difference in how effectively milk is removed from your breast. If your baby has difficulty sucking the milk out of the breast or doesn’t latch correctly, it can make it harder to fully drain the milk. Any leftover milk can cause ducts to become blocked and potentially lead to infections.
Other Factors That Could Cause Mastitis
These other factors can make you more prone to mastitis:
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Pressure On The Breasts: Tight bras or restrictive clothing may put pressure on your milk ducts, making it harder for milk to flow.
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Previous Mastitis: Women who have had mastitis before are at higher risk of developing it again.
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Fatigue: Being overtired and run down can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to infections.
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Nursing In The Same Position: Nursing in the same position each time may prevent some milk ducts from fully emptying, so it’s important to switch positions to help drain the breasts fully.
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Weaning Too Quickly: Weaning too quickly can cause milk to build up in the breast, increasing the risk of blockages, inflammation, and mastitis.
How To Prevent Mastitis
Prevention is the best way to manage mastitis. By following these tips, it can reduce your risk and make breastfeeding more comfortable and enjoyable.
Position Your Baby For A Proper Latch
A good latch is key to breastfeeding successfully and a big part of preventing mastitis. When your baby latches properly, they can empty the breast fully which helps prevent blockages and discomfort. But how do you know if your baby is latching properly? Signs they’re latched good are:
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Your baby’s mouth is wide open and their lips are flared outward like a little fish
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Their chin is touching your breast
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You should feel a gentle tugging, not sharp pain or pinching
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Your baby’s cheeks look round and not sucked in
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You can hear or see your baby swallowing milk
If you're unsure about your baby's latch or experience nipple pain, consult a lactation consultant. They can offer personalized guidance and techniques to improve your latch. You can search for a lactation consultant through the United States Lactation Consultant Association or The Lactation Network.
Feed Whenever Your Baby Wants & Make Sure Your Breast Empties
Allow your baby to feed whenever they show signs of hunger, and let them finish one breast completely before offering the other. This keeps milk flowing and reduces the risk of blockages. If your baby doesn't fully drain a breast, you can use a breast pump to express the remaining milk.
Vary Feeding Positions
Different nursing positions help drain different areas of the breast. Rotate between cradle hold, football hold, and side-lying positions throughout the day to ensure all milk ducts empty properly.
Manage Engorged Breasts
If your breasts become overfull and uncomfortable, nurse your baby or pump to relieve the pressure. Ice packs after feeding can reduce swelling, while warm compresses before feeding can help milk flow more easily.
Prioritize Self-Care
Caring for a newborn is both tiring and exciting, but you also need to make time for your own self-care. Get as much rest as possible, stay well-hydrated to help support healthy milk production, and eat nutritious meals to keep your energy up and your immune system strong.
Mastitis can be painful and frustrating, but it doesn’t have to affect your breastfeeding journey. Focusing on a good latch, frequent feedings, address any breast concerns, and seek guidance from a lactation consultant if you’d like help. Catching and treating mastitis early helps you get back to enjoying this special bonding time.
Disclaimer: As always, our content is based on personal experience and is not medical advice. Please consult your doctor and health team for medical advice.
FAQs
What Steps Can I Take To Prepare For Breastfeeding While Traveling?
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Keep your stress levels in check. Increased stress levels, especially around the holidays, can be one of the main causes of blocked ducts and mastitis.
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Blocked ducts: One of the first signs of plugged ducts are sore lumps in the breast. These lumps form when your milk does not drain properly and creates a build-up. Management for plugged ducts usually includes pain control with Ibuprofen, a warm compress on plugged duct site prior to breastfeeding or pumping, or a breast massage. For a massage, I recommend that you apply pressure and massage pushing plugged areas towards the nipple while the baby is feeding or while pumping.
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Mastitis can cause fever, nausea, vomiting, yellowish discharge from the nipple, and tender, warm breasts. If only one of your breasts is affected, keep feeding on the other breast to maintain milk flow and create some drainage. Similar to a fungal infection, warm compresses, a good bra, and massages can help your breast recover from mastitis.
What Are Top Feeding Tips For Infants?
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Initiate breastfeeding in the first hour of life. Skin to skin contact gives you and your baby the best start to breastfeeding.
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Formula does not negate all of the benefits of breastmilk. If your baby is getting any amount of formula, they are still getting all of the benefits of breastmilk.
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Breastfeeding doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Combo feeding (a balance of breastmilk and formula) has saved many feeding relationships!
What Are Some Tips For On-The-Go Breastfeeding?
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Feed your baby however you need to, wherever you need to, whenever you need to. Your baby’s needs should take precedence over everyone else’s opinion of you!
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A hand pump is such an underrated breast pump. It is easy to transport and a great option if you don’t like nursing at the breast in public.
What’s The Best Advice For A New Mom Adapting To A Pumping/Feeding Routine?
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When adapting to a new routine, ounces pumped and fed matter more than the time at which you are pumping and feeding. Holiday travel and events can throw off your normal feeding and pumping sessions but try not to sweat it. If you miss a feed or a pump, just add in another pumping session at some other point during the day to protect your supply.
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No one is offering to go home with you and feed your baby in the middle of the night, so be an advocate for your own schedule to keep your family on track! It’s ok to say no to events that really don’t work well for your family.
What Are Some Tips For Transporting Milk While Traveling?
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It is important to keep in mind that when traveling on a plane, diaper bags, pumping bags, and bags with breastmilk or formula bottles do not count towards your carry-on bag allotment.
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You can take as many ounces of breastmilk or formula through security, but anything in liquid form has a right to be tested by TSA.
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Be sure to inform the TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process that you are carrying formula or breast milk to save yourself from any extra hassle.
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Feed your baby however you need to, wherever you need to, whenever you need to. Your baby’s needs should take precedence over everyone else’s opinion of you!
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A hand pump is such an underrated breast pump. It is easy to transport and a great option if you don’t like nursing at the breast in public.