Mastitis is not very nice to have when you are breastfeeding, it can cause pain and discomfort. So here I am, going to tell you the 7 proven ways to prevent mastitis from happening, according to my own experience.
What is Mastitis?
Mastitis is an inflammation or swelling of the breast, which can lead to an infection if not treated. This is common among a lot of breastfeeding women. Usually, this can happen if you have engorged breasts. If you have mastitis, you will have swelling, red or sore breasts, and you will feel pain in the breast. The common cause for mastitis is clogged or blocked milk ducts.
Milk ducts are little narrow tubes inside the breast that carry milk to the nipples. As you can guess, if one or more of these tubes gets blocked, it can cause infections or pain, as the flow is not coming out!
Are some women more prone to mastitis?
Yes, I would say some women are prone to getting mastitis. I was one of them. It is usually caused by the milk flow. One side of my breast has a fast flow, and my other side has a slow flow of milk. It was the slow side that would cause the problems. But rest assured, there are ways to prevent engorgement and mastitis. Fortunately, I managed not to get a mastitis infection because I used these methods to stop it from happening.
1. Feed on demand
Feeding on demand is really important when it comes to draining the milk from the breasts and letting your baby take the milk that they need to thrive. That’s why I am not in favour of these feeding schedules that mothers should follow when they should feed their babies. I say this because it can cause engorgement. This can happen when you have long periods of not feeding your baby. Then, when the milk is not flowing, it stays in the milk ducts. So feed when the baby needs or wants to be fed, even for comfort.
2. Feed on both sides
Always remember to feed on both sides. Don’t worry if you forget; just remember at the next feeding session you have with your baby to feed on the side that you missed. Usually, I would hold my breast with my hand to feel how each breast is. I would do this to both breasts to see which one is the fullest, and then I would feed my baby on the fullest breast.
Also, allow your baby to drain all of the milk, even if they are nursing for comfort. Try not to look at the clock! You can feel your breast after feeding to see if it has been drained. It will feel a lot softer, not hard and full.
3. Massage the breast
If you find that your breast is still a little bit full or you can feel a blocked duct (feels like a hard tube inside the breast), you can massage your breast. I like to do it a little bit while the baby is feeding. You just massage the breast so that the milk can break down and get reaslised as the baby sucks the milk out.
4. Hand express
Another way is to hand express your breast! As you hand express it is recommended to have a milk collector for all the milk that comes out, as the milk can be used for another time MEDELA has some wonderful milk collectors at a decent price.
Here is a method when it comes to hand expressing:
- 1. Place your thumb on top of your breast and your finger underneath the breast. Press down slowly, sliding the thumb down towards the nipple and repeat a few times (like a massage).
- 2. Place your thumb above the arolea and finger blow forming a C-Shape
- 3. Gently press your thumb and finger together with your nipple between do this a few times slowly.
- 4. When milk starts to flow, keep going. If milk flow slows down, then try moving your hands in a slightly different position.
- 5. If you have no milk flow coming out, try this method again. If you are struggling you can watch Unicef UK Baby Initiative | Hand expressing.
As I mentioned before, make sure you have a good milk collector. You should also get storage bags so that you can store the milk in a fridge or freezer for another day. I also recommend MAM baby bottles that are ideal for breastfed babies. The teats are shaped in a way that mimics a mother’s nipple. Every child is different, but you can give it a try. The best way is to try to feed your baby when they are rested and not too tired or too hungry for them to try the bottle.
5. Hot Showers
Having a hot show is amazing! I love bathing and showing, it calms me down. When I say hot, obviously not boiling, but warm enough that you are comfortable with. As you shower, the warm heat from water will soften any dried milk that may be clogging the duct. Also, the heat will soften the ducts and the skin, so in turn, this will make your milk flow out. The only way for this to be effective is that you need to hand express slightly in the shower. So once you’ve showered, you can then express. (Keep a milk collector handy unless you want to have a milky bath.)
6. A Warm Compress
A warm compress works in the same way as a hot shower. You can use a warm flannel/ wash cloth and place it on the affected breast, hold for a few minutes and then try to hand express. Hand expressing is very important and can be so helpful. So please try and find the time to learn from the video above
7. Pump
Pumping is a great way to express milk and also to unblock milk ducts. You could even do this after you have had a hot shower or after you have placed a warm compress on the breast. This will make the process a lot easier for you, and you will see better results. Take a look at my recommended breast pumps
So here are some signs that you might be experiencing mastitis
- 1. Blocked ducts – when you feel your breast, you might feel a hard tube. This is the blocked duct.
- 2. You feel tired – You may feel more tired than usual, this can be due to exhaustion and your body trying to fix the problem.
- 3. Baby has fewer wet nappies – Your baby may have fewer wet nappies; it isn’t always the case, but it can happen.
- 4. Spot underneath armpit – You might notice a spot or lump underneath your armpit that might feel sore. This is your bodily sign to say that there is something wrong or that there is an infection.
- 5. Sore breasts – Your breasts may feel sore or tender due to the blocked duct. If not treated in time, the sore breast may become painful.
Try using these methods first to clear the blocked ducts/ducts; most of the time, it will clear up. Be patient and keep trying to clear out the duct/s over a few days. Drink plenty of water and rest while you can.
If you have found that you cannot get rid of the blocked ducts and you are in a lot of pain, please speak to your doctor, as there might be an infection. If that is the case, your doctor might prescribe you antibiotics.
So there you have it, my 7 proven ways to prevent and get rid of mastitis. It is so empowering when you have the knowledge and the practicality to deal with issues with your own body! I recommend learning how to hand express as well, this will help you a lot!
Feel free to leave a comment below or contact me with any questions you may have.
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