, where you’ll find plenty of resources to support and guide you throughout your journey as a new parent.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat are the effective treatments for mastitis?<\/h2>\n
Don\u2019t worry: most treatments for mastitis are easy to implement and generally very effective, not to mention natural<\/strong>. You can:<\/p>\n\n- Empty your breasts by nursing your baby as often as needed, starting with the unaffected breast,<\/li>\n
- Use gentle massage (deep massage, pumping, or vibrations can make it worse),<\/li>\n
- Position your baby so their chin is pointing toward the red area,<\/li>\n
- Gently massage the breast during feeding,<\/li>\n
- Relieve tension in the shower until your breast feels comfortable,<\/li>\n
- Apply chilled cabbage leaves, cold compresses (like water-soaked diapers frozen into \u201cice packs\u201d), or clay poultices,<\/li>\n
- Rest and stay hydrated,<\/li>\n
- Apply heat before nursing and cold afterward,<\/li>\n
- Avoid lactogenic foods or breastfeeding teas,<\/li>\n
- Gently massage your breasts before feeding to soften them,<\/li>\n
- Take paracetamol to reduce fever if needed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
One of the best remedies for mastitis is spending a day in bed with your baby, offering the breast as often as possible!<\/strong><\/p>\n\u2755Mastitis can make breastfeeding painful<\/strong>. The key is to avoid a vicious cycle: the less your baby feeds, the less your breast is drained, and the harder breastfeeding becomes.<\/p>\nIf these methods don\u2019t work, if symptoms are too uncomfortable, or if mastitis lasts more than 24 hours: consult a doctor<\/strong>. They may prescribe pain relief or anti-inflammatories.<\/p>\nAs always, avoid self-medicating<\/strong>. Talk to a healthcare professional before starting any treatment.<\/p>\nWhen should you see a doctor for mastitis?<\/h2>\n
If mastitis doesn\u2019t improve after 24 hours of home care, consult a doctor.<\/strong> They may prescribe anti-inflammatory treatment or even antibiotics if complications arise.<\/p>\nDoes mastitis affect the baby\u2019s health?<\/h2>\n
No, mastitis does not affect your baby\u2019s health<\/strong>. However, the milk may become saltier<\/strong>, and your baby might refuse to nurse from that breast. If that happens, offer the other breast instead.
\nSince mastitis is not caused by a virus, even though symptoms might suggest it, there\u2019s no risk to your baby.<\/p>\nDoes mastitis during breastfeeding mean you need to stop breastfeeding?<\/h2>\n
Ideally, the answer is no! As we\u2019ve seen, your baby is not at risk<\/strong>. However, pain is one of the leading reasons parents stop breastfeeding in the first few weeks. And yet, mastitis and breastfeeding pain are problems that can often be resolved with the right help.
\nThat\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to get the support you need<\/strong>. Don\u2019t hesitate to reach out to a certified lactation consultant (IBCLC)<\/strong>. These health professionals are there to help, answer your questions, and provide guidance.<\/p>\nOn May<\/strong>, you can chat with our team of pediatric nurses \u2014 some of whom are also certified IBCLCs \u2014 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.<\/p>\nMastitis is a common but treatable complication of breastfeeding<\/strong>. It poses no danger to your baby and can be managed! So don\u2019t hesitate to seek support \u2014 you deserve it \u2764\ufe0f.<\/p>\nWritten by Sonia Monot with May\u2019s medical experts.<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
Photo: StiahailoAnastasiia<\/p>\n
This text was translated from French by an artificial intelligence. The information, advice, and sources it contains comply with French standards and may therefore not apply to your situation. Make sure to complement this reading by visiting the May US\/UK app and consulting the healthcare professionals who are supporting you.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Breastfeeding is a special bonding moment between a mother and her baby. But sometimes, unexpected issues can arise. Let\u2019s take a closer look at one of them: mastitis. Here\u2019s everything you need to know! What is mastitis during breastfeeding? Nearly one in four breastfeeding women will experience one or more episodes of mastitis during their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":11819,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[192,196,197,199],"tags":[150,157],"class_list":["post-25210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newborn","category-infant","category-baby-6-12-months","category-baby-1-year","tag-baby-daily-life","tag-baby-feeding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25210"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25210\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25213,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25210\/revisions\/25213"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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