Some women suffer from pain and swelling in their breasts. This problem is also called Mastitis. It is an infection of the breast caused by poor or delayed emptying of a blocked duct. As a result of the blockage the milk leaks out into the breast tissues and causes infection. The infected area is usually painful, red, swollen and shiny because of stretching and may feel hot. The patient may also feel feverish.

Let’s discuss mastitis in another simpler way. In mastitis, the tubes through which the breast milk flows are blocked and the milk leaks into an area of the breast which becomes infected. The breast feels hot, shiny and the patient might even develop fever. The reason of this breast disorder is not clear, but usually this occurs several weeks after child-birth.

It is advised that a mother with this infection should continue breastfeeding her baby. Though a woman may have this infection, the germs do not pass into the breast milk and the baby does not suffer. The problem, if not treated quickly, will turn into an abscess. The patient suffering from mastitis should consult a doctor who usually prescribes antibiotics. The best way to treat Mastitis is to encourage the drainage of milk and to use antibiotics as advised by the doctor.

When the condition is very painful and breasts get too swollen, the problem is called Epidemic Mastitis. Apart from the painful swelling of the breasts, the patient usually has fever. Since the infection involves the milk tubes, it is possible that pus mixed with milk may be oozing from the nipples at the time of breastfeeding. Doctors often recommend antibiotics for killing infectious germs and Aspirin to bring down the fever.

The women suffering from this problem should frequently express breast milk; otherwise the blockage of the tubes will worsen. The expression of milk will not only relieve the tension and pain, but will help the patient to recover faster also to maintain breast milk supply. As there is every possibility that pus is mixed with the breast milk it is wise to consult a doctor.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Copyright © Nick Mutt, All Rights
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By: Nick Mutt

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• Managing Sore Nipples From Breastfeeding
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There are a number of reasons for developing sore nipples during breastfeeding and each can be easily managed and treated.  However, before treating the pain, it is important to determine the cause of the soreness and to treat the root of the problem first or the soreness will keep recurring.
Here are some reasons why your nipples might be sore from breastfeeding and what you can do about it. It is important to note that many of these reasons can overlap, for instance having a cracked nipple and a blocked duct at the same time.
1. When your baby hasn’t latched on properly.
When you’re new to breastfeeding, it can be difficult to tell what a proper latch should be like. To top it off, there are many other factors that can compound the problem, such as short nipples, inverted nipples, breast engorgement, etc.
The best thing you can do to identify whether your baby has correctly latched on is to check with a lactation consultant, a hospital nurse or another mother who is experienced in breastfeeding. Ask for advice and get them to check your technique when your baby is nursing.
One way to tell if your baby has a proper latch is to look and see how much of the areolar (the dark-skin area of your breast) is covered by your baby’s mouth. Ideally, it should be most of the areolar, leaving only a thin ring of darkened skin visible. Another way (although I didn’t find this particularly useful for me) is to check the shape of your nipple after a feed. It should still be relatively rounded after your baby comes off. A flattened nipple is potentially a sign of an incorrect latch.
To ensure your baby gets a correct latch on your breast, make sure that your baby’s mouth is open wide with the tongue down before putting your baby on the breast. If the latch is incorrect, break the seal and try again. It is important to make sure your baby learns to latch on correctly because an incorrect latch will be the source of continued nipple soreness.
2. Cracked nipple
This is usually an indication of poor breastfeeding technique. In most cases, your baby isn’t taking in enough of the areolar and is only suckling on the nipple. Sometimes it might be due to unusual anatomy within your baby’s mouth, for instance a tied tongue. Getting someone experienced in breastfeeding to check will help you determine the exact cause if you aren’t sure.
The first step is to correct the source of the problem, for instance, correcting your breastfeeding technique. To help your cracked nipples heal faster, applying a little breast milk onto the nipples after every feed can be helpful. Alternatively, you can apply a breastfeeding ointment like Bepanthen which promotes healing.

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If nursing is too uncomfortable, try expressing the milk from the affected side until it heals sufficiently. You can also try nursing on the unaffected side first before switching your baby to the affected side as your baby usually suckles less vigorously on the second breast which shouldn’t hurt as much.
Another option is to use nipple shields.  These are plastic coverings that cover your nipples and provides a barrier against the friction of baby’s tongue on raw nipples.
3. Blocked duct
This is usually due to your baby not “milking” your breasts effectively. Your milk is being produced faster than your baby is consuming it. As a result, the milk travels back along the milk ducts and is forced into the surrounding breast tissue causing swelling, tenderness and pain.
Blocked ducts usually affect only one side and are localised. There is a hardened lump in the area of the breast associated with the blocked duct. Aside from the tenderness you feel, the skin in the area is usually reddened and feels warm to the touch. Blocked ducts can appear similar to mastitis with the main difference being the absence of fever and the fact that usually only one side is affected.
Managing blocked ducts:

Keep feeding your baby frequently on the affected side even though it hurts as this is the fastest way to clear the blockage. This is also the most effective way to clear the blocked duct above and beyond all the other measures listed below. With frequent feeds, a block duct can be cleared within 24 hours.
Vary your feeding positions as this will help your baby clear the milk more effectively.
Taking ibuprofen can help to reduce the inflammation and manage the pain if you find it unbearable.
You can also try expressing the milk with a breast pump or by hand, although I believe that no pump will be quite as effective as your baby.
Applying warm or cold compresses directly onto your breast, taking warm baths and massages can also be helpful.

4. Mastitis

Similar to the symptoms of a blocked duct, mastitis usually affects both breasts and is accompanied by flu-like symptoms. There may be an infection present which will require antibiotic treatment, though not always. If you suspect you have mastitis, consult your doctor for the best course of treatment. Aside from antibiotics, there are additional things you should do which will help to resolve the condition more quickly. Most of these are similar to what you would do if you had blocked ducts.

Rest with your baby and continue nursing regularly and frequently, especially on the affected side. Do not stop nursing as it can increase your risk of developing a breast abscess.
Nursing at this point will be painful so taking ibuprofen can help to alleviate the pain. Ibuprofen also helps to manage the accompanying fever.
Vary your nursing position to help baby empty your breasts more effectively.
Sometimes, though rarely, your baby may object to nursing because of the increased sodium content to your milk resulting from the inflammation. In this case, you will have to express your milk. However, your baby is still the best breast pump you have on hand so it is best to try persisting with nursing. As the inflammation begins to clear, the taste of your milk will return to normal.
Applying warm and cold compresses to the affected areas, taking warm baths and gently massaging the affected area.

5. Infections
Infections such as thrush can also cause sore nipples. Thrush is a yeast infection (caused by Candida) that causes the nipples to become red and tender, and may be accompanied by a burning sensat
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ion. If your breasts are infected by Candida, you will also notice white plaques inside your baby’s mouth. Thrush is not an indication to stop breast feeding, however, both you and baby will require antifungal treatment for it. Your doctor can prescribe the appropriate medications.
6. Initial breastfeeding soreness
During the first couple of weeks of breastfeeding, there will be some soreness of the nipples – this is due to the friction of your baby’s tongue against your nipples which can leave them feeling raw. As long as you are breastfeeding with good technique, this tenderness will eventually fade on its own as your nipples toughen up. In the interim, applying a little breast milk or breastfeeding ointment after every feed can help your nipples to heal sufficiently between feeds to reduce the sensitivity during nursing.
7. Teething
When your baby begins teething, you may experience something similar to the initial soreness you felt when you first started breastfeeding. This only occurs with the eruption of the upper front teeth since the lower front teeth are covered by your baby’s tongue during breastfeeding. The sensitivity usually goes away quickly as long as your baby isn’t using your nipple as a teething ring.
At this point, it is important to educate your baby that biting is not acceptable. If your baby bites, simply put away your breast and stop the feed. Your baby will soon get the message. Usually when your baby starts biting your nipple, it is a good indication that the actual feeding part is over and that your baby is just nursing for comfort or playing. A baby that is still actively suckling will be biting his or her own tongue if he or she attempts to bite the nipple.
Conclusion
There are several reasons why your nipples may be sore during breastfeeding. It is important to identify the cause of the pain and treat the underlying problem before applying methods to relieve the pain and sensitivity. Without treating the underlying problem, the pain and soreness of your nipples will continue to persist.

By: Shen-Li Lee

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Shen-Li is a stay-at-home-mum dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in parenting. She has a formal educational background and former work experience in healthcare. If you enjoyed this article, visit her blog Babylicious at figur8.net/baby and follow her as she learns how to raise a happy, confident and successful person.

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Mastitis is perhaps the most distressing problem you may encounter when attempting to breastfeed. You have been making it through the sleepless nights, the relentless feeding schedule, the diapers, the leaking… when all of a sudden you want to stop breastfeeding. Why?

Mastitis is the answer. One of your breasts is engorged. There is a slightly red patch which is painful to touch. When the baby feeds it’s extremely uncomfortable. After the feed your breast feels sore. You dread the next feed… and then you begin shivering. You think you have the flu. You have hot and cold sweats. You have a thumping headache. You retire to your bed and feel utterly miserable. Visitors encourage you to give the baby a bottle so you feel like you’ve failed… but there is a solution.

In most cases mastitis affects only one breast at a time. So what causes it?

Most often a new mum, whether or not she has previously breastfed, will suffer mastitis as a result of incorrect positioning or latching on of the baby. Consequently the milk is not properly drained from the breast and a milk duct becomes blocked. Other reasons include skipping feeds because you don’t want to feed in public or in front of visitors, or the baby is sleeping and you do not want to disturb him.

If you recognise the sensation of a blocked milk duct you may be able to avoid it progressing into mastitis by gently massaging your breast in the bath or shower. Massage downwards towards the nipple. You may feel a small lump which disappears as the duct becomes unblocked. You can also try feeding the baby more often and again massaging the sore area towards the nipple as the baby drinks. Another effective technique is to try expressing milk with the aid of an electric or hand pump. However, if all your efforts are in vain and the duct does not unblock mastitis will often follow. Mastitis is simply when the blocked duct becomes inflamed and possibly infected.

Current medical advice is to continue feeding from the affected breast even if it is infected. The infection will not harm the baby. However, the last thing you may want to do is to feed from the affected side at all as it is so painful. This will only make things worse and you may end up with an abscess. If this happens you will need to have the abscess drained by a doctor.

If you are worri
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ed about your baby drinking milk from the affected breast a good alternative is to express and dispose of the milk and to feed only from the unaffected side. Your body will adapt. It will continue to supply enough milk for your baby from the unaffected breast. And as long as you express regularly from the affected breast the milk supply will be maintained. You produce breastmilk on a supply and demand basis so there will always be enough. When the infection clears up you can simply return to your usual feeding pattern.

If you do get mastitis and it does not clear up within a few hours you will probably require an antibiotic so speak to your GP. Make sure to tell him you are breastfeeding so a suitable antibiotic can be prescribed.

To avoid a recurrence make sure you position the baby properly. Ensure he is not sucking on just the nipple but that he has a good mouthful of the areola also. Try to sit upright or if lying down do not lie on the breast. Make sure the baby is tummy-to-tummy with you, his nose and mouth facing the breast and that he is not creating a blockage with his chin or a hand or arms.

Mastitis usually clears up completely within a couple of days so put it in perspective. Don’t give up breastfeeding because you have mastitis. Instead ensure you don’t get it again; position your baby correctly, feed on demand and avoid skipping breastfeeds.

By: Sinead Hoben

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Sinead Hoben is the proud mum of three beautiful children aged 6 years, 3 years and 9 months old, all of whom were breastfed. She is currently still breastfeeding her youngest child. A qualified teacher, she now runs her own website, www.breastfeedingmums.com, which addresses many of the concerns of breastfeeding mums. www.breastfeedingmums.com offers free breastfeeding information and advice to both breastfeeding and expectant mums.

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Mastitis is possibly the most distressful problem you may receive when trying to breastfeeding. In most cases mastitis involves just one breast at one time. And so what is the cause?

Mastitis is a result of inappropriate positioning or catching on of the baby. Accordingly the milk is not drained properly from the breast and milk duct gets obstructed. Another possible causes is skipping breastfeeds as you do not prefer to feed in the public or among the visitors, or baby is sleeping and you do not want to wake up him or her.

Whenever you recognize the sensation of an obstructed milk duct you possibly able to keep off it going on into mastitis by lightly massaging your breast in the shower or bath. Massage downward toward the nipple. You may find a little lump which vanishes because the milk duct becomes released. You can try breastfeeding the baby more frequently and again massaging the tender area toward the nipple as the baby sucks. Some other good method is to try expressing milk with breast pump.

Current advice by the doctor is to go on feeding from the involved breast even if it is in infection. This infection will not injury your baby. However, the last thing that you may need to do is to feed by the involved breast at all because it make so sore. This will just make things worsened and maybe you end up with the abscess. If this occurs you’ll need to get abscess drained by your doctor.

If you are worried about your baby drinking milk from the affected breast, a good choice is to express and discard the milk. Feed only from the other side. Your body can adapt. It will go on to provide adequate milk for the baby from the unaffected side. As long as you express the milk regularly from the involved breast the milk supplying will be maintained. As the infection subsides you can return to your normal breastfeeding pattern.

If you start mastitis and it doesn’t resolved within a couple of hours you’ll probably need an antibiotic drug and so talk to your doctor. Be sure to tell him you’re breastfeeding then an appropriate antibiotic drug can be ordered.

To prevent a recurrence be sure that you position your baby properly. Check that he (or she) is not sucking on only the nipple but that he (or she) has a well mouthful of the areola as well.

Mastitis commonly clears up totally w
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ithin a few days and so put it in perspective. Do not abandon breastfeeding just because you have the mastitis. Make sure that you don’t get mastitis again by doing these: correct the baby position, feed upon requirement and don’t skipping breastfeeding.

For further information please visit http://www.pregnancybabybirth.com/.

By: Narisa R.

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Narisa R. works as a medical doctor in Thailand. She is also an online editor of this website : Pregnancy And Childbirth Information Center. (pregnancybabybirth.com)
For further information please visit her site.

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What is mastitis? Mastitis is a painful condition experienced by many women while breastfeeding. It is caused by inflammation of the tissue in the breast. This inflammation can be symptom of two different types of mastitis.

The first, and most common form of mastitis it when the milk has not been fully drained during feeding and the milk duct has become blocked. The second form of mastitis is due to a bacterial infection. If the first type of mastitis is left untreated then it can develop into infection mastitis.

What are the symptoms of mastitis? The symptoms vary depending from woman to woman; however, there are definite signs which should be watched out for. Firstly a tender patch can appear on the breast and this will probably look pink or red and feel very tender to any touch. This will be the point of the infection or blocked milk duct.

If mastitis is not treated at this stage the symptoms will probably develop leading to a fever and a feeling of being very weak and exhausted. The pain will usually be intensified during your babies feeding. These symptoms will often cause a huge amount of stress and concern to the nursing mother and will probably result in her getting very emotional and anxious.

The pain felt during breast feeding makes this a very unappealing task; however, it is really important to continue and to increase feeding from the affected breast. By increasing feeding the blocked duct will hopefully be drained naturally by the baby. Any infection in the milk will not affect the baby and will pass straight through his or her system.

Increased feeding will also increase the milk supply, if you start to produce more milk than your baby needs or will drink it is recommended that you express in between feeds. A hot compress on the red, inflamed area just before feeding will help to bring down the milk from that milk duct.

Since the breast will be very tender a fabric compress is advised, a microwavable pain pad which is fabric covered and small enough to fit inside a sleep bra is recommended. Equally if you are trying to express in between feeds then it is helpful to express with a hot compress on the area as this will encourage the milk flow and help to reduce some of the discomfort during expressing.

Some cases of mastitis will need to be tr
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eated with antibiotics and it is important that you check with your health visitor or general practitioner as soon as you suspect any signs of mastitis.

During mastitis it is important to keep the area infected as comfortable as possible. Applying heat will hopefully help milk flow and will reduce pain, any bras worn should be loose, wearing a sleep bra is probably the best option, as these are soft, and loose. Sleep bras only offer minimal support, but they are suitable for holding a maternity pad or a hot compress.

Once the mastitis has been treated either through antibiotics or through continued feeding, it is important to continue to monitor the breast and to make sure that the increased feeding does not lead to engorgement, which can cause the mastitis to return.

This is a cycle which needs to be understood. While feeding to help treat the mastitis the milk supply will be increased, if the milk supply is more than is needed this must be expressed to prevent the breasts from being over full and leading to either engorgement or mastitis.

By: jonkelly

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Jon Kelly is a published author who writes articles, that includes advice on pain relief from mastitis. We hope to answer the questions and supply the information you can rely on to relieve some of your painful health problems.To find out more, please visit: www.thepainpads.com

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