chronic mastitis

A small number of nursing Moms suffer from chronic mastitis. One case of mastitis is difficult enough, but if it's a recurring problem, it can be heartbreaking. What can a Mom who suffers with repeated breast infections do?

Heal the initial infection
If the first episode of plugged ducts/mastitis isn't addressed and completely cleared, it can easily recur or become chronic in susceptible women. If antibiotics were given, be sure to complete the prescription. It can also be helpful to culture the Mom's breast milk and baby's throat to find a proper medication.

Address any problematic nipple condition
If Mom still has cracked nipples, bacteria can reenter and she can develop mastitis again. Make sure nipple damage is treated properly. Moist wound healing with a product like Lansinoh or Nipple Butter is appropriate. If thrush is causing the damage, treat that aggressively in Mom and baby, as well as Dad (thrush can be transmitted back and forth between sexual partners).

Analyze baby's habits
Does baby strongly prefer one breast over another? Some babies have difficulty nursing from one breast due to mild birth injuries that cause soreness in their necks. One visit to an Osteopath or Chiropractor have done wonders for these babies. Personally, my firstborn had this problem. I had him adjusted by our Chiropractor and it immediately resolved.

Check Mom's habits
Underwire bras are notorious for causing some Moms trouble with mastitis. Switch to a soft cup and see if there is a difference. Some clothing styles and even some baby carriers put pressure on the breasts in one area that can cause plugged ducts. Sleeping on the stomach may cause a problem for some Moms too.

Look at Mom's overall health and environment
If Mom is subject to second hand smoke or an extremely stressful environment, mastitis may be her body's alert system that some changes need to be made. Maybe Mom is expecting too much of herself. Breastfeeding experts have long recognized that when other family members get sick, oftentimes the nursing Mom will get mastitis. Perhaps Mom needs to boost her immune system with an improved diet. A trip to a health care provider is also in order. Anemia can sometimes contribute to chronic mastitis. And some Moms have noticed an improvement after supplementing with one tablespoon of lecithin every day.

Good breastfeeding management
Mastitis and plugged ducts are often signs of an over abundant milk supply. You can have too much of a good thing! If this is the case, try not offering baby both breasts at a feeding. Some women have to only let baby nurse on one side for one or more feedings to slow down their supply. 

Irregular nursing patterns can also set Mom up for trouble. If your baby is going long stretches between feedings because she's meeting a developmental milestone like crawling, try taking her into a dark room so that she will settle down to nurse. If you're pumping, keep to a good routine. Leaving too much milk in the breasts contributes to plugged ducts and mastitis.