mastitis treatment

To treat mastitis, it's important to get lots and lots of rest. If at all possible, go to bed with baby for a day or two. Get help with your other children. Increase your fluid intake.

It's important to keep nursing, offering the affected breast first. This might be a challenge because the affected side will be sore. If you can't bear to nurse on that side first, then don't, but make sure it is emptied enough to be soft. You may want to hand express if baby is unwilling to nurse.

While you may be told to wean your baby, this is not a good idea. Seek a second opinion - call a Lactation Consultant or La Leche League leader. Breastfeeding improves the flow of blood to your breast, and the presence of your milk itself also helps to clear milk ducts of infection. Your baby will not be harmed by your milk when you have mastitis. Your baby has already been exposed to whatever caused the infection in the first place, and if you wean her, you'll deprive her of the antibodies that are present in your milk.

Before nursing, use a warm compress and massage the affected area which will help with milk flow. Try the same treatments mentioned for clogged milk ducts. Nurse baby soon after you do this, and don't worry about baby getting the thickened milk, it won't harm her!

Your Doctor may prescribe antibiotics, which are sometimes recommended as a treatment for mastitis. Most antibiotics are safe for nursing Moms, but double check with your health care provider, La Leche League leader, Lactation Consultant or Poison Control Center. Be sure to take the entire course of pills.