{"id":1198,"date":"2021-12-06T15:43:37","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T15:43:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/?p=1198"},"modified":"2023-04-19T14:42:32","modified_gmt":"2023-04-19T14:42:32","slug":"breastfeeding-signs-and-symptoms-of-mastitis-to-look-out-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/breastfeeding-signs-and-symptoms-of-mastitis-to-look-out-for\/","title":{"rendered":"Breastfeeding: Signs and Symptoms of Mastitis to Look Out For"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Having a new baby can be a delightful experience. However, challenges that come alongside a new baby are real and sometimes unexpected. There are many challenging changes that women can experience both physically and mentally after giving birth, and one of them is mastitis caused by a <\/span><a href=\"\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/obstetrician-jacksonville-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>clogged milk duct<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Experiencing mastitis can be stressful and sometimes seem like a never-ending situation. You don\u2019t have to experience that if you have proper guidance and care. Our goal at Trogolo Obstetrics and Gynecology is to help and educate women. We will help you overcome the challenges of mastitis by talking more about mastitis symptoms and how to prevent mastitis.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Is Mastitis?\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mastitis is a type of benign breast disease that develops in breast tissue. It is an infection caused by a clogged milk duct, and it can cause unbearable pain. Most commonly, only one breast is affected, and it\u2019s often swollen and red, but there are also many other mastitis symptoms.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Who Can Get Mastitis?\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mastitis can occur even in men and women that aren\u2019t breastfeeding, but it happens rarely. Usually, it happens to women during the first six to twelve weeks of breastfeeding.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Women that are more likely to suffer from mastitis have:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Diabetes or other autoimmune diseases.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Eczema or similar skin condition.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tobacco or nicotine addiction.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Breast implants.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nipple piercing.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Types of Mastitis\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are two different types of mastitis:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Lactation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It is the most common type of mastitis that affects breastfeeding women. This type is also called puerperal mastitis.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Periductal:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A rare type that happens to menopausal and postmenopausal women. It can also happen to women that are not in menopause but are smokers. This type is also called mammary duct ectasia. It occurs because milk ducts thicken, and it results in an inverted nipple producing a milky discharge.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Causes Mastitis?\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sometimes mastitis occurs when bacteria on the skin or saliva enters breast tissue through a milk duct or crack in the skin.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A common cause of mastitis is a clogged duct that prevents milk from flowing normally or even problematic breastfeeding techniques. It happens because stagnant milk in the clogged milk duct<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">is a perfect environment for bacteria to grow.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Various other circumstances can increase the risk of developing mastitis for breastfeeding women:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Using only one position to breastfeed.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Improper latching techniques.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wearing tight-fitting bras that don\u2019t allow a normal milk flow.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cracked or sore nipples.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Possible Mastitis Symptoms\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1200 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/Possible-Mastitis-Symptoms-.jpg\" alt=\"Sick Woman With Mastitis, Pain, Holding Touching Her Chest Colored in Red With Hands.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"708\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/Possible-Mastitis-Symptoms--200x142.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/Possible-Mastitis-Symptoms--300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/Possible-Mastitis-Symptoms--400x283.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/Possible-Mastitis-Symptoms--600x425.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/Possible-Mastitis-Symptoms--768x544.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/Possible-Mastitis-Symptoms--800x566.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/Possible-Mastitis-Symptoms-.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Because mastitis often affects only one breast, a common symptom is a swollen and hot to feel breast and even tender to touch.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some other symptoms that can occur alongside are:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Breast pain\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An unpleasant burning sensation that gets worse when you breastfeed\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fatigue\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Breast lumps\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Headaches\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nipple discharge\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fever and chills, similar to flu symptoms\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nausea and vomiting\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>How Is Mastitis Diagnosed?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you are experiencing similar symptoms that we mentioned, you probably have mastitis. However, some signs of mastitis are similar or even the same as symptoms of other breast-related diseases, so you must schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you are breastfeeding, your doctor will do a physical exam and check your symptoms, alongside checking your medical history. If you are not a mother that\u2019s breastfeeding, but you have similar symptoms, you may have to do some other tests, like a mammogram, to rule out breast cancer and any other breast disease.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Is It Possible to Get Mastitis More Than Once?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unfortunately, it is possible to get clogged duct and mastitis more than once. Because of that, the first time you get it, you should follow the treatment correctly and prevent future clogged ducts and mastitis.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you often have problems with clogged ducts, it could be that the issue is with how the baby is positioned during nursing. In that case, it\u2019s best to consult with a breastfeeding specialist for some helpful advice.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Is Mastitis Treated?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mastitis isn\u2019t difficult to treat; it only requires taking oral antibiotics prescribed by your healthcare provider, and within ten days, the infection should clear up. That\u2019s not always the case, and sometimes mastitis can last for up to three weeks.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sometimes if the symptoms are not severe, mastitis can go away even without medical treatment. However, we strongly advise you always to seek professional medical care if you notice any symptoms of mastitis.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Due to the painful and unpleasant symptoms, there are some things you could do to reduce the pain and inflammation, like:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drink a lot of fluids.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rest as much as you can.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wear a supportive bra that\u2019s not too tight.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Breastfeed every two hours, or more often if it\u2019s possible. If it is not, you should use a breast pump to promote milk flowing through the ducts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Take warm showers, and apply warm, moist compresses to the inflamed breast.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Massage the affected breast using a gentle circular motion.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Is It Safe to Continue Breastfeeding During a Treatment of Mastitis?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you are scared that you will carry over the infection to your baby through breast milk, you don\u2019t have to worry. It can\u2019t happen, so you shouldn\u2019t stop breastfeeding while you\u2019re on therapy for mastitis. If you are worried about the antibiotics you\u2019re using, they are also safe for the baby.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Even if it\u2019s uncomfortable, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/signs-and-symptoms-of-mastitis\/\">breastfeeding during mastitis<\/a> can help you a lot by moving milk through the clogged milk ducts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How to Prevent Mastitis\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1201 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/How-to-Prevent-Mastitis-.jpg\" alt=\"Consultation and Examination of the Mammary Gland by a Mammologist. Breast Palpation\" width=\"1000\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/How-to-Prevent-Mastitis--200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/How-to-Prevent-Mastitis--300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/How-to-Prevent-Mastitis--400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/How-to-Prevent-Mastitis--600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/How-to-Prevent-Mastitis--768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/How-to-Prevent-Mastitis--800x532.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2021\/12\/How-to-Prevent-Mastitis-.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prevention is crucial, especially if you previously had mastitis. It\u2019s not difficult to learn how to prevent mastitis. There are a few simple steps that you can take to lower the risk of getting clogged duct and mastitis:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Don\u2019t wear tight-fitting bras that will keep your nipples moist.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nurse your baby on one side, and allow the breast to empty before switching to the other side.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Don\u2019t breastfeed in only one position.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Use your finger to break the baby\u2019s suction on the nipple when you want to stop the feeding.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Air out your nipples every time after nursing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>What Happens to Untreated Mastitis?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We\u2019ve mentioned that sometimes untreated mastitis can go away all by itself, but that\u2019s rare. More often, if left untreated, it can lead to a breast abscess that requires surgical drainage.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You might have heard that untreated mastitis can increase your risk of breast cancer, but that\u2019s not true. However, you should know that the symptoms of mastitis are similar to inflammatory breast cancer. It\u2019s vital to contact your healthcare provider as soon as you start experiencing mastitis symptoms to rule out inflammatory breast cancer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Feel Free to Contact Us if You Need Help<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mastitis is an uncomfortable condition that can make you feel agitated, lost, and like you don\u2019t have whom to turn to in these painful moments. If you feel like that, you shouldn\u2019t suffer waiting any longer. Trogolo Obstetrics and Gynecology is dedicated to helping the women of Jacksonville, Florida. If you need advice considering mastitis or experiencing some symptoms, feel free to contact us and book an appointment with us. Trogolo <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Obstetrics_and_gynaecology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">OBGYN<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is here to give you the best possible care you deserve and to support you in your recovery.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Having a new baby can be a delightful experience. However, challenges that come alongside a new baby are real and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1199,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[14,171],"tags":[169,167,170,166,168],"class_list":["post-1198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-breastfeeding","tag-clogged-duct","tag-clogged-milk-duct","tag-how-to-prevent-mastitis","tag-mastitis","tag-mastitis-symptoms"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1198"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1198\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}