Breastfeeding (BF) is a very important period in a mother’s life. But it can be so darkened unpleasant phenomenon like mastitis in a nursing woman. This disease can manifest itself as severe pain and discomfort in the chest area, which can result in surgical intervention. Therefore, every pregnant woman should know what mastitis is, what its causes, symptoms and treatment are, as well as how to prevent it.

Symptoms

First you need to understand what kind of disease this is and only then talk about it. distinctive features. Lactation mastitis is an inflammation of the milk-producing glands during lactation, which appears as a result of the activity of pathogenic bacteria.

There are 6 forms of pathology when breastfeeding, symptoms and treatment will differ in each individual case.

Serous mastitis (initial stage)

How to recognize it? Main features serous mastitis can be considered:

1. Increasing discomfort at the site of inflammation, developing into nagging pain with problematic milk flow.
2. Body hyperthermia (about 39 degrees).
3. Change in temperature at the site of the lesion.
4. The chest is slightly enlarged, the contours are preserved.
5. Skin color unchanged.
6. General soreness of the affected breast compared to the other one.

At this stage, the gland tissues are enveloped serous fluid, where leukocytes subsequently arrive.

During regular pumping, pathogenic bacteria are brought out, the pain decreases, and the affected area softens. But more often the next stage of pathology occurs. Is it possible to feed a child with this type of disease? Even necessary, but only after pumping.

Infiltrative mastitis

This is how mastitis manifests itself in a nursing mother in the acute infiltrative phase:

1. Weakness, loss of strength, chills, fever up to 39–40 degrees.
2. Decreased appetite.
3. Infiltration (painful compaction under the skin) has no clear boundaries.
4. Redness of the skin.
5. Increase in volume of the affected area.
6. Severe pain when palpating the site of inflammation and axillary lymph nodes.

At this stage of the disease, you can still breastfeed the baby, but without antibacterial therapy, starts in 4–5 days next form mastitis.

Purulent mastitis

This type of mastitis poses a serious threat to a woman’s health. When it occurs:

1. Elevated temperature (over 39.6), which cannot be brought down. It is accompanied by increased sweating and complete absence appetite.
2. Changing the shape and increasing the volume of the breast. When pressing on the inflamed areas, sharp pain occurs.
3. Pumping becomes almost impossible. If you still manage to express the milk, then you can notice an admixture of pus and an unpleasant odor in it.

Due to inflammation with the release of pus, toxins enter the woman’s body. Is it possible to breastfeed in this situation? No, it is recommended to stop breastfeeding.

Abscess mastitis

This type of disease in nursing women is characterized by:

1. Body hyperthermia (40 degrees).
2. Abscess of the nipple areola or furunculosis (not always).
3. Pale or cyanotic skin at the site of the lesion.
4. Sharp pain when squeezing the inflamed area.
5. Infiltrate of dense consistency and with clear boundaries.
6. Feeling of the contents of the sore breast flowing during compression (fluctuation).

With infiltrative-abscess mastitis, the patient experiences compaction of subcutaneous ulcers from abscesses of various sizes

Phlegmonous mastitis

The symptoms of this form of the disease are similar to abscesses. The only differences are:

1. Severe deterioration of the patient’s general condition, up to loss of consciousness.
2. Spread of inflammation to adjacent areas of the skin.
3. Possible occurrence of septic shock.
4. Intense red color skin.
5. Inverted nipple.

When tested, the patient experiences anemia and an increase in the number of leukocytes. Breastfeeding with mastitis at this stage poses a danger to mother and baby.

Gangrenous mastitis

The latest and greatest dangerous form diseases. It is characterized by the following symptoms:

1. Intoxication of the body, in which sleep disturbance and confusion are observed.
2. Degeneration of inflammation into necrosis.
3. The skin becomes greenish, purple or bluish.
4. The pain on palpation becomes unbearable.
5. Increased heart rate and drop in blood pressure.
6. The size of the affected areas increases greatly in size.
7. Lack of milk.

On the surface of the patient’s chest, tissue dies and blisters with ichor form. Is it possible to breastfeed the baby in this case? Of course not.

Reasons

Mastitis can be cured by accurately determining the causes of its occurrence. Mostly inflammation in this disease is provoked by Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus under magnification

Mastitis in a nursing mother against the background of this infection can develop for the following reasons:

• damage to the integrity of the nipple with subsequent development of infection;
• mother's presence chronic pathologies(cystitis, pyelonephritis, etc.);
• violation hormonal levels women;
• immaturity of the mammary glands;
• improper care or lack of proper hygiene procedures with hepatitis B;
• hypothermia of the body;
• lactostasis.

The source of staphylococcus can be any nearby person who carries this disease. You can also catch it through bedding, a thermometer, diapers, etc. But getting this microorganism on the mother’s skin does not mean immediate infection, since it may not be enough favorable conditions for its development, such as:

• scars in the area of ​​the glands of a rough nature during surgery or previous mastitis;
• congenital nipple deformities;
• problems during pregnancy (risk of miscarriage, toxicosis, etc.);
• damage during childbirth (major blood loss, injuries birth canal etc.);
• sleep disturbances or psychological changes after childbirth;
• fever during the postpartum period;
• mastopathy;
• exacerbation of other pathologies.

Incorrect attachment leads to damage to the nipples with subsequent infection. As a result, cracks appear, the woman refuses natural feeding and pumping. Such actions can lead to lactostasis, and subsequently mastitis. Therefore, you definitely need to remember how to put your baby to the breast in this case. The best solution will develop a feeding regime in which the glands will have time to “prepare” for next tricks food.

Difference from lactostasis

Mastitis is inflammation, and lactostasis is blockage of the mammary glands. These are two various pathologies, but with insufficient pumping in the second case, the initial stage of the first gradually develops.

How is mastitis diagnosed?

Lactation experts say that early mastitis can be easily diagnosed independently at home. To do this, it is enough to measure your body temperature in three different parts(groin, armpit, elbow). If it is the same everywhere, then there is no reason to worry. If hyperthermia is observed in the armpit area, then it can be argued that complicated lactostasis or non-infectious mastitis is occurring. The main thing is to notice the disease in time during this period, then it will be possible to undergo treatment without the use of antibiotics.

It is better to get examined by a specialist. But many women do not know which doctor to contact for mastitis. To get started, you can visit your doctor at antenatal clinic. If this is not possible, then you should go straight to the surgeon. Determining the disease will not take a specialist much time if the patient accurately describes all the symptoms that bother her.

Laboratory tests

For precise definition forms of mastitis and making a final diagnosis, the doctor may need some research:

• general blood and urine analysis;
• mother's milk for the determination of bacteria in 1 ml;
• studying milk at the cellular level;
• determination of milk acidity.

If there is a suspicion of symptoms characteristic of infectious mastitis in nursing women, then an ultrasound scan of the gland and adjacent tissues is prescribed. At destructive forms the infiltrate is collected with further examination of the pus.

Sometimes, in controversial situations, the woman is sent for mammography, biopsy and histological examination.

Treatment

Indications for surgery can only be purulent types mastitis (abscessing, phlegmonous and gangrenous). In the initial stages, mastitis is treated with medications.

Pus comes out after cutting with a scalpel

On the Internet you can often come across one question: “What to do with mastitis?” You need to remember that under no circumstances should you self-medicate. After diagnosis, only the doctor will prescribe proper treatment for the patient.

Medication methods

The patient is primarily treated with conservative methods:

• regularly pumps the affected breast;
• a few minutes before this, 2 ml of No-shpa is injected into the affected area, and 5 minutes before - 0.5 ml of oxytocin, which promotes milk production;
• Novocaine injections are given once a day in combination with a broad-spectrum antibiotic.

Antibiotics for mastitis are administered intramuscularly in medium doses. In addition to them, they apply antihistamines new generation (Loratadine, Cetirizine). And to strengthen the mother’s immunity, she is prescribed B vitamins and vitamin C.

As soon as improvements are observed in the patient’s condition, ultrasound and UHF therapy are administered a day later. Thanks to it, the infiltrate disintegrates and the gland tissue is restored.

It happens that doctors include the use of ointments (Vishnevsky, ichthyol, levomekol, etc.) in the treatment of mastitis. They promote the resorption of infiltrate and better milk discharge.

Traditional medicine

Treat mastitis only folk remedies it is forbidden. They can be combined with conservative treatment, only after consulting a doctor.

An infusion of chamomile and yarrow flowers in a ratio of 1:4 is considered popular. They should wash the affected areas of the skin. The product has a disinfectant and analgesic effect.

Cabbage leaf for mastitis can also alleviate the suffering of the mother. This vegetable stops perfectly inflammatory process. Simply apply fresh leaf to the lesion, and cabbage will significantly reduce swelling and pain.

The most in a simple way To treat mastitis is to rub it with vodka or alcohol solution followed by pumping.

You can also try preparing a special ointment for mastitis from Sophora japonica, eucalyptus globulus and medicinal clover.

Therapeutic compresses

Warm compresses, lotions and baths are contraindicated during initial stages diseases, as they can only aggravate the situation. But they are easiest to do for mastitis in nursing mothers.

The following ingredients are used to make warm (non-hot) compresses:

• starch and vegetable oil;
• honey and cottage cheese;
• baked onion;
• plantain seeds.

The main purpose of these compresses is to reduce pain in the chest area.

7 ironclad ways to avoid mastitis

Mastitis during breastfeeding can be prevented by preventing lactostasis, the main cause of its occurrence:

1. Attachment to the breast within half an hour after birth.
2. Introduction of a feeding regimen (give breasts in alternating order every 3 hours).
3. Circulating shower or massage 20 minutes before feeding, if there is a tendency to stagnation of milk.
4. Compliance with all pumping rules (paying attention to the outer quadrants of the gland).
5. Breast hygiene (changing lactation pads, changing bras, washing breasts).
6. Timely treatment of emerging cracks.
7. Correct attachment to the breast.

To feed or not for mastitis

Many women are interested in whether it is possible to breastfeed with mastitis. Experts say that this is not only possible, but also necessary. Inflammation of the mammary gland, mastitis, is a contraindication only in the following cases:

• destructive forms of the disease (phlegmonous, abscessing and gangrenous);
• taking antibiotics;
• the patient’s personal desire or refusal for other reasons due to which it is impossible to return to natural feeding.

After stopping breastfeeding, it can be resumed only after the symptoms characteristic of the disease have completely disappeared.

Mastitis is dangerous disease, which could lead to serious consequences. Therefore, to prevent it, you should adhere to all preventive measures. And, upon detection characteristic symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.

Many nursing mothers notice the appearance of painful lumps in one or both mammary glands. Sometimes it's just stagnation of milk, but sometimes the situation becomes more serious. Inflammation in the breast is one of the main threats to the health of nursing mothers; it is called mastitis and is sometimes difficult to recognize.

What is mastitis in a nursing mother?

This is an inflammatory (but not always purulent) disease of the mammary gland, which occurs in nursing mothers most often due to errors in breastfeeding. Its scientific name is lactation mastitis, that is, this inflammation is directly related to lactation. The pathology occurs in every fifth woman, and it manifests itself in several forms.

How does mastitis begin in a nursing mother?

If we start from afar, we can say that mastitis is preceded by one or more factors, without which it cannot develop. First of all, this is a violation of personal hygiene rules. There are women who don’t particularly take care of themselves, who don’t shower twice a day and don’t change their underwear every day. Because of this, the infectious agent lingers on the skin for a long time and feels great there.

However, the microbes that cause this pathology (most often Staphylococcus aureus), almost half of people already live on their skin, so poor hygiene alone is not enough. Moreover, the disease also develops in clean women. There are several underlying conditions that significantly increase the likelihood of the disease occurring.

So, if a woman in the recent past suffered a severe purulent-septic infection, if her mammary glands were injured or operated on, if they had mastopathy before breastfeeding, the risk of mastitis seriously increases. Anomalies in the development of the mammary glands also contribute to the disease.

Finally, the pathological course of pregnancy and childbirth (especially if during labor the mother was prescribed oxytocin or prostaglandins to stimulate dilation) quite often combined with subsequent mastitis. And lastly: ability immune system responding adequately to an infectious threat plays almost main role in the development of the disease. Inferior, poor in protein and rich in fats nutrition reduces tension protective systems body, and the absence good sleep weakens the entire body, and not just some individual organ.

Lactostasis and mastitis: differences

The question in the title is somewhat inaccurate. In fact, lactostasis is a condition that precedes the disease. It develops as a result of errors in the technique of applying the baby to the breast or improper pumping.

Sometimes lactostasis occurs when trying to stop lactation by tightly bandaging the mammary glands. This is the most dangerous way to stop feeding, since in this case lactostasis is inevitable, and due to the disruption of local blood circulation in the chest, the risk of developing severe forms of the disease is almost 100%.

How lactostasis manifests itself is perhaps known to every nursing mother:

• duration 3-4 days;
• the appearance of lumps in the mammary gland, often in its outer quadrants;
• lumps are moderately painful and hard;
• difficulty expressing milk.

If the woman’s general condition is not disturbed and her body temperature is normal, then we're talking about specifically about lactostasis. Stagnation that is not eliminated within 3-4 days is inevitable, the symptoms of which differ somewhat depending on the form.

Tell me, how to recognize mastitis in a breastfeeding mother? Sofia, 22 years old

Sofia, if you suspect that you have mastitis, consult a doctor immediately. Don’t waste time on self-diagnosis; let a specialist do it. We described the symptoms of this disease above, but we warn you once again that it may be difficult for a non-specialist to make a correct diagnosis.

Signs of mastitis while breastfeeding

The disease begins with serous form. At the same time, at some point, pain and a feeling of heaviness arise in the mammary gland, and it slightly increases in size. In the area of ​​inflammation, mild redness of the skin (hyperemia) may be observed. When palpating the site of inflammation, the woman feels sharp pain. Body temperature also rises (38ºС and above) and chills occur. IN general analysis blood increases ESR and leukocyte count.

After 1-2 days, a compaction is detected in the mammary glands, which is called infiltration. Other symptoms of this form are the same as with the serous form. In the absence of treatment or erroneous therapy, these types of mastitis pass into the purulent stage.

There are three types of purulent mastitis: abscess, phlegmonous and gangrenous. Usually these are three stages that transform into one another as the disease progresses. However, under some circumstances, the pathology can immediately acquire a phlegmonous and even gangrenous character, although this happens quite rarely.

When suppuration occurs, an intoxication syndrome appears with severe weakness, chills, an increase in body temperature to 39-40ºС (sometimes higher - with severe forms). The hyperemia of the skin over the inflamed area becomes stronger, the gland becomes hot, and swelling appears. When palpated, you can feel a dense formation, in the center of which there is a kind of “failure” - a center of purulent melting. This is an abscess, and this form is called abscess.

How high can the temperature rise with mastitis? Thank you. Angela, 32 years old.

Angela, it all depends on the form of the disease. The heavier it is, the higher the temperature. The numbers are 38-39ºС quite common occurrence, but higher rates are possible.

Sometimes the process goes further: intoxication is more pronounced, the skin over the lesion turns sharply red, sometimes becomes bluish. The nipple is often retracted, breastfeeding is impossible, as is pumping. General condition becomes severe, the skin becomes pale. This occurs when pus spreads beyond the abscess, capturing more than a quarter of the volume of the mammary gland. This is a phlegmonous form of the disease.

Even more heavy look- gangrenous, in which the condition becomes extremely severe, the purulent process affects not only the gland (and all of it!), but also the skin, and even the muscles. At this stage, sepsis can develop, which poses a serious threat to life. This - gangrenous form mastitis, which sometimes cannot be overcome even with full treatment.

Hello. I stopped feeding when purulent mastitis, for this I took Dostinex. Will an ultrasound show this mastitis? Vera, 28 years old

Good afternoon, Vera. If there is an inflammatory process in the mammary gland, ultrasound almost always shows it. Dostinex does not suppress the development of the disease, but only stops lactation. Remember, however, that ultrasound examination- only helper method diagnosis that must be interpreted by a physician. Only he can correctly assess the results of the ultrasound and other symptoms of the disease.

Treatment methods for mastitis in traditional medicine

The main goal of a doctor treating a woman is to destroy the infection as quickly as possible, while it is necessary to spare the mammary gland as much as possible in order to prevent cosmetic defect. A disease that was “caught” on early stages, until suppuration, treated conservatively with satisfactory condition sick, low rise in temperature (<37,5ºC), небольшой (менее 3 суток) длительности заболевания, отсутствии признаков нагноения, нормальных показателях анализа крови.

Antibiotics are mainly used in treatment.

Ceftriaxone

This drug is considered the main one in the treatment of this disease. Staphylococcus aureus, which most often provokes mastitis, is very sensitive to cephalosporin antibiotics, which include ceftriaxone. It destroys the cell wall of the microbe, causing its death. The convenience of this medicine is that it only needs to be administered once a day. The disadvantage is that the drug passes into breast milk, so breastfeeding should be stopped during treatment.

Amoxiclav

This drug quite effectively fights Staphylococcus aureus, however, in world practice its effectiveness in severe purulent infections is considered insufficient. In addition, you have to take amoxiclav twice or even three times a day, and this is not very convenient, given that each injection is painful, and a nursing mother needs more rest to preserve milk.

I am a nursing mother. Which doctor should I contact for mastitis? Angelina, 25 years old

Angelina, hello. Mastitis is treated by surgeons. You may need to first contact your GP for a referral, and you will also have to undergo tests. Mastitis is an urgent pathology, so you have the right to urgent research and urgent consultation.

Can ointments be used?

Various pseudo-medical sources often contain recommendations to use certain ointments for mastitis. In reality, their effectiveness is extremely low, since they do not affect the main cause of the disease - the microbe, and have an extremely insignificant effect on lactostasis. Some of the ointments can even cause harm. Here's a quick summary:

• Vishnevsky ointment. It is extremely undesirable for use, as it very quickly transforms non-purulent forms of mastitis into purulent ones. It has no therapeutic effect of its own and is not currently used in surgery. This also includes ichthyol ointment.
• Traumeel S. A homeopathic preparation containing microscopic quantities of various kinds of plants. The manufacturer recommends its use for various traumatological and orthopedic diseases. There is not a word about mastitis in the instructions.
• Arnica ointment. It is also used only in traumatology and orthopedics for the resorption of bruises and hematomas.
• Levomekol ointment. Can be used for mastitis, but only after surgery with opening of the abscess. In non-purulent forms of the disease it is ineffective.
• Progestogel ointment. Containing estrogen, this drug is contraindicated during breastfeeding. Under no circumstances should it be used at home independently, without a doctor’s prescription. If you are mistaken and you do not have mastitis, but, for example, fibrocystic mastopathy with the formation of nodes, you will harm yourself by worsening the course of the disease.

In a word, treatment with ointments can and most likely will be ineffective. Only antibiotics plus surgery for purulent forms can save a woman from mastitis.

Cabbage leaf treatment

The frequency of its use forces us to include information about the cabbage leaf in a separate block. Many surgeons have an extremely negative attitude towards this type of treatment. The fact is that cabbage leaf allows you to slightly reduce the size of the infiltrate that occurs in the buttocks at the injection site, and that’s all! Using it for mastitis only increases the time elapsed from the onset of the disease and delays seeking medical attention.

The result is inevitable suppuration, in which neither cabbage leaf, nor camphor oil, nor plantain and other folk remedies will help. Can we expect traditional medicine to work? Practice shows that no.

Massage for mastitis in a nursing mother

Separately, mention should be made of the fairly common recommendation for massage for mastitis. This advice is usually given by those who have never tried to massage an inflamed gland. First of all, it's incredibly painful. Secondly, this is completely ineffective, otherwise any inflammation would be treated with massage. Thirdly, this is also quite dangerous, since during a massage you can damage the abscess capsule, the pus from which will “walk” along the chest, provoking phlegmon or even gangrene.

However, most likely massage in this case should be understood as expressing milk from a sore breast. This is a necessary procedure, since without eliminating stagnation there will be no treatment. A real massage is only permissible for lactostasis. But as soon as symptoms of inflammation appear, manipulation of the mammary gland should be stopped.

Tell me what to do to avoid mastitis? Oksana, 34 years old

Oksana, learn the correct feeding technique, practice good personal hygiene, lead a healthy lifestyle, eat and sleep well, and the likelihood of mastitis will become very low. Unfortunately, no one can give you a complete guarantee that you will never get sick.

Is it possible to breastfeed with mastitis?

Some of the older doctors, who can no longer keep up with innovations in medicine, still believe that mastitis is an indispensable contraindication to breastfeeding.

Modern scientists believe that until the process has entered the purulent phase, breastfeeding not only cannot be stopped, it should be done as carefully and often as possible. It is this that helps to overcome stagnation and prevent severe forms of the disease (of course, together with adequate treatment). However, it should be taken into account that antibiotics used for mastitis are excreted in milk, so the issue of stopping feeding should be decided together with the surgeon and pediatrician observing the child.

Is it possible to breastfeed a baby with mastitis? Taisiya, 31 years old

Most practicing Russian doctors believe that with purulent forms of the disease, breastfeeding should be stopped, but with non-purulent forms, breastfeeding can be continued. WHO experts assure that even with purulent mastitis, the baby should not be deprived of the best food in the world, and the microbes in his body will be destroyed by digestive enzymes. Opinions vary; they should be decided individually, taking into account the state of the child’s health, the situation in the family and everything else that can affect lactation. You are a mother, the decision is yours, the main thing is that there is no harm.

Prevention of lactation mastitis

Prevention of mastitis should begin not after childbirth, but even before it. Even in the first half of pregnancy, you should get used to daily dousing the mammary glands with water at room temperature and then rubbing them with a clean terry towel. In the second half of pregnancy, air baths for 15-20 minutes are recommended.

As breastfeeding begins, the number of possible problems increases. should be treated very carefully using solcoseryl ointment, sea buckthorn or rosehip oils. While the crack is healing, breastfeeding is stopped and milk is expressed. You can feed your baby with it, it is better to give it in a cup, as WHO recommends, although you can also use a bottle with a properly selected nipple.

Even if the nipples are healthy, you should remember that the infection can penetrate directly into the milk ducts without damaging the skin. You can reduce this risk by washing your breasts with soap-free water after each feeding. You need to put a sterile gauze pad or a piece of bandage in your bra (necessarily made of natural fabrics - cotton or cotton).

You should also remember about the correct daily routine: adequate sleep, at least 8-10 hours a day, a diet rich in proteins and carbohydrates, daily walks in the fresh air, you also need to get rid of bad habits. And we must not forget about the correct feeding technique. Contact experienced mothers or a lactation specialist or pediatrician for advice.

Mastitis is a serious disease that is sometimes life-threatening. Nevertheless, it can be cured, but it is better to do this in tandem with a doctor. Do not swallow pills on your own, do not find out what to do from neighbors, acquaintances and relatives. This way you will avoid unpleasant consequences and maintain the health of both yourself and your child.

Tell me how to stop breastfeeding without mastitis? I am very afraid of this disease, and I am allergic to many antibiotics. Leila, 23 years old

Leila, a lot depends on the age of the child. If he is less than a year old, he will need to be supplemented with donor milk or formula (check with your pediatrician or lactation specialist). If it’s more than a year old, you can simply transfer the baby straight away to regular food, which he is already receiving at that moment. In any case, you need to stop gradually, removing one feeding every 1-2 weeks. It is better to contact a specialist for details.

Gennady Bozbey, Emergency Medicine Doctor

Ask a free question to a doctor

Mastitis is a problem for many breastfeeding mothers. The causes of this disease are streptococci, staphylococci and other pathogens that cause inflammatory processes. Acute mastitis can occur when these pathogens enter the breast through the milk ducts or during lactation. By the way, this disease can develop not only in nursing mothers. In medicine, there are cases when this disease affected women during pregnancy.

The process of mastitis

When pathogenic microorganisms penetrate through the wound surface of the cracks into the lymphatic vessels located in the thickness of the nipple tissue, they spread further throughout the mammary gland. It should be noted that infection can get into the chest not only in this way. Chronic infectious pathologies present in the body of a young mother can also cause the development of mastitis. These include inflammation of the tonsils (tonsillitis), soft tissues of the tooth (pulpitis), and paranasal sinuses (sinusitis).

Mastitis or lactostasis?

You can never rule out the possibility that mastitis will develop in a nursing mother. Treating it can be quite difficult. But numerous traditional methods of treatment, based on many years of experience, help to quickly alleviate the condition of patients.

Mastitis is quite often confused with a disease similar in symptoms to lactostasis. These are two different diseases. Lactostasis is observed in the form of which is preceded by an incorrect or insufficient process of emptying the breast. Moreover, in the case of such a situation, non-infectious mastitis may develop. In this case, the woman’s general well-being immediately deteriorates to such a state that emergency medical attention may be required.

How to treat mastitis with folk remedies: warnings

Today, traditional medicine is quite popular. In many cases, remedies prepared at home give positive results in the fight against many ailments.

But there is often a risk of worsening the patient’s condition with the thoughtless use of questionable prescriptions. For this reason, prior consultation with a doctor is required before starting self-medication in order to avoid unforeseen negative consequences. It may turn out that the help of exclusively official medicine is needed.

As for a disease such as mastitis, treatment with folk remedies in some cases actually speeds up the healing process. They can also help prevent illness. However, it should be remembered that it is also not worth excluding the possibility of causing harm when using this method of treating mastitis.

Prohibited method of treating mastitis

Under no circumstances is it permissible to use warming of the mammary glands for this disease. This can only make mastitis worse. Treatment with folk remedies in the form of hot compresses or lotions will create favorable conditions for the accelerated proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. This will cause the disease to begin to progress. The warming method is sometimes recommended by experienced mothers and grandmothers, not realizing that it can only improve the condition with lactostasis. Applying hot herbal decoctions and other mixtures will help relieve the symptoms of mastitis on the outside of the chest. This can be taken as a positive effect of treatment, but the procedure will affect the source of infection in the manner indicated above.

At the slightest suspicion of mastitis, heating the mammary glands should be categorically avoided.

Effective folk remedies for mastitis

To improve the condition of a sick woman feeding a child with milk, the following folk remedies for mastitis are used.

Rice lotions

To significantly alleviate the patient’s condition, the patient should apply diluted water to her chest (until the consistency of thick sour cream is obtained). The improvement becomes clearly noticeable a couple of hours after the procedure.

Fresh vegetables

In order to reduce lumps in the breast during mastitis, it is recommended to apply leaves of fresh coltsfoot or cabbage to it. You can also use grated carrots. You can secure the products with a bandage or bra (if this does not cause discomfort or pain). These products can stop inflammatory processes.

Healing mixtures

How else can you get rid of such a disease as mastitis? Treatment with folk remedies involves the use of a variety of mixtures prepared from herbs, oils and other products. Here are the recipes for the most popular ones:

• It is necessary to thoroughly mix one chopped narcissus bulb with rice porridge cooked in water or rye flour. The product must be spread on the surface of the breast affected by mastitis.
• To alleviate the general condition of a nursing mother with mastitis and stop the inflammatory process, it is recommended to apply a cake made from rye flour, fresh milk and butter to the sore breast. The product must be applied at night. To achieve the desired result, you need to repeat the procedure several times.
• You should combine raw beets, crushed using a fine grater or blender, with honey in a ratio of 3: 1. Apply the resulting product to the breast affected by mastitis. To completely get rid of the disease, at least 20 such procedures are required.

Herbal infusions and decoctions

What other ways can you cure mastitis in a nursing mother? Treatment is also recommended using herbal remedies. Recipes for some of them are given below.

Vodka

To prevent the occurrence of a purulent inflammatory process in the tissues of the mammary glands, traditional medicine recommends first wiping the breasts with vodka (can be replaced with medical alcohol). Then you need to express all the milk. After this, you need to apply it to the entire surface of the chest.

Other folk remedies

In addition to the methods described above, there are other traditional methods for treating mastitis. You can apply pieces of kombucha to sore areas of the chest and, securing them with a bandage, keep them in this state for several hours. It is also recommended to use a mixture of vodka. These components should be combined in a 1:2 ratio and left for three days. It is necessary to strain the resulting product, and then wipe the mastitis-affected breasts with it several times a day.

When using all traditional methods, it is especially useful to use a complex of vitamins to obtain greater effect. A substitute can be tea made from sage, mint, rose hips or viburnum. All components must be combined in equal parts, pour boiling water (200 ml of water per collection spoon) and leave for two hours. It is recommended to take the strained infusion orally with lemon juice twice every day.

Compresses for mastitis: rules of use

Compresses are the main method of traditional medicine to get rid of this disease. They are able to relieve a woman of nagging pain and a feeling of “bloating” in her breasts. The basic principle of using compresses in this case is the exclusion from the list of components used of dangerous substances that can be used either unknowingly or consciously.

As mentioned above, it is strictly forbidden to warm the breasts during mastitis. That is, compresses for mastitis should be applied warm or cool, but not hot. You should be aware that there is an inflammatory process in the mammary glands, and heating will only worsen the situation.

Compress made from starch and oil

It must be combined with vegetable oil (sunflower) and mixed thoroughly until a mass of homogeneous consistency is obtained, reminiscent of thick sour cream. The resulting product should be applied in the form of a compress, slightly heated, to the hardened areas of the chest.

Compress of honey and cottage cheese

What other foods can stop mastitis? Treatment with folk remedies can be carried out using cottage cheese and honey. A compress with these components should be applied to the chest overnight. It is required to apply a layer of honey onto a gauze or sterile fabric napkin, followed by cottage cheese. To prevent the product from leaking, you can place a piece of waxed material under the material or the compress should be applied to the sore chest (a layer of cottage cheese to the skin). To be secure, it should be secured with a bandage. After removing the compress, the breasts should be rinsed with water at room temperature.

Onion compress

This compress is recommended for use during the daytime. First you need to bake the onions. It is recommended to do this using an oven and a dry, clean frying pan with a lid. There is no need to peel the onions before baking. Then you need to cut the head crosswise and, after cooling, apply the inside to the areas of the chest affected by mastitis. For some time it is necessary to fix the compress with a bandage.

Compress made from plantain seeds

To prepare a healing remedy, you need to thoroughly crush the plantain seeds and combine them with water at room temperature. It is recommended to apply the resulting paste to the sore breast for mastitis. The product works much more effectively if you prepare it on the basis of potato or rice starch, which must first be diluted with water to obtain the consistency of thick sour cream.

Herbal ointment for treating mastitis

To prepare the ointment, you need to combine Japanese sophora and eucalyptus globulus (in equal parts). The resulting mixture in the amount of three tablespoons (tablespoons) should be mixed with boiling water (200 ml is enough) and boiled for 5 minutes. Then the product needs to be cooled and strained. Add 100 grams of butter to the resulting broth. The prepared ointment for mastitis is applied using tissue napkins to the chest (both on the affected areas and on healthy ones).

to get rid of seals

With the help of a special massage for mastitis, you can soften already formed nodes in the chest. Also, these actions will contribute to the evacuation of milk from clogged glands. It is necessary to carry out massage during mastitis, making movements in the direction from the peripheral zone to the nipple.

Before starting the massage, it is recommended to slightly relax the formed knots. They must be smoothed with spiral movements made clockwise. This preliminary effect on areas of stagnation in the breast tissue must be carried out for 40 seconds.

This is followed by the main massage. If during the procedure the pain intensifies and becomes unbearable, then the procedure is recommended to be carried out in water of medium temperature, under the shower.

Prevention of mastitis

Such an unpleasant disease as mastitis of the mammary gland can be completely avoided if you follow some simple rules, namely:

1. After feeding the baby, milk must be expressed carefully.
2. Before giving your baby the second breast, you need to completely empty the first one. This is a prerequisite to prevent the development of mastitis.
3. If the baby has enough milk from one breast, the next feeding should be done with the other.
4. The process should be controlled. The baby should not just suckle at the breast, but receive milk from it.

Every third nursing mother develops inflammation of the mammary gland, or mastitis, to varying degrees. Most often, this disease affects primiparous women.

The causes of the disease may be:

• lactostasis, or milk stagnation (milk production exceeds its outflow);
• long intervals between feedings of the baby;
• insufficient emptying of milk from the breast;
• infection of the mammary gland by bacteria through nipple cracks;
• violation of personal hygiene rules by a woman;
• hypothermia;
• compression of the mammary gland by a tight bra;
• chest injury;
• other inflammatory diseases due to weakening of the body and decreased immunity.

Symptoms

On the left is a normal female breast, on the right is a breast during breastfeeding.

The process can be unilateral or bilateral, infectious and non-infectious (with milk stagnation). For any type of mastitis, there are 3 stages of the inflammatory process: serous, infiltrative and purulent.

For serous mastitis typical complaints about the deterioration of the woman’s well-being, stagnation of milk. The temperature with chills rises within 38–39 °C, pain in the mammary gland is bothersome.

IN infiltrative stage The mammary gland increases in size, its pain increases significantly, and is noted even at the slightest touch. High fever continues, symptoms of intoxication persist. The local temperature in the area of ​​inflammation also increases. Severe redness of the skin appears over the site of inflammation.

At purulent mastitis all of the above symptoms persist, pain is pronounced. When expressing milk, purulent, bloody discharge is released from the breast. General health deteriorates even more, body temperature exceeds 40 °C.

An abscess in the form of an abscess or phlegmon may form in the area of ​​the mammary gland. If left untreated, the abscess can open up on its own, forming areas of tissue necrosis and threatening the development of sepsis.

Treatment

You should not self-medicate, because only a doctor can determine the type (stage) of mastitis, which determines the choice of treatment tactics. After the examination, the doctor will prescribe the necessary examination: a general blood test, milk culture for microflora and determination of the sensitivity of the identified pathogen to antibiotics, ultrasound.

For mastitis caused by stagnation of milk , there is no need to prescribe antibiotics. Timely measures taken lead to a favorable outcome after 3-4 days - the manifestations of the disease disappear. In this case, it is necessary, although feeding may bring severe pain to the mother. After feeding, you need to express your breasts, preferably manually, thereby providing a massage of the gland. The doctor may also prescribe hormonal medications to increase milk flow or decrease milk production.

The woman will feel improvement during the treatment process within 1–2 days, but the prescribed procedures should not be stopped until the manifestations of the disease completely disappear.

Infected inflammation does not go away after applying these measures. Therefore, if there is no effect, after a day or two the doctor prescribes drug treatment. It is advisable to prescribe antibiotics taking into account the sensitivity of the isolated pathogen. The route of administration of antibiotics (intramuscular, intravenous or tablet) depends on the stage of mastitis.

In addition to antibacterial therapy, painkillers, physiotherapeutic procedures (depending on the stage of the disease), and hormonal agents are prescribed.

For purulent mastitis, if the prescribed antibacterial therapy has not had a significant effect within 3 days, surgical treatment is performed. The abscess is opened and its cavity is treated with an antiseptic after removing the pus. If necessary, the cavity is drained to ensure the outflow of purulent contents. The course of antibiotics continues.

In case of infectious mastitis, only a doctor can decide whether to breastfeed a child. With the development of a unilateral infectious process, feed with a healthy breast. During a course of antibiotics, during surgery, feeding the child is temporarily stopped, but the milk must be expressed. You can resume feeding your baby breast milk with the doctor's permission and after a re-examination.

Prevention of mastitis

Proper latching of a baby to the breast is the most important measure for preventing mastitis.

• Prenatal preparation of the breasts and nipples for feeding the baby;
• feeding the baby on demand;
• correct attachment of the baby to the breast;
• when the first unpleasant sensations appear

A young mother has to cope not only with unusual chores and worries about the baby, but also with new diseases. Mastitis is one of the most well-known diseases among breastfeeding mothers, which is a painful inflammation of the mammary glands. We will tell you further how to recognize mastitis in time, why it is dangerous for a woman and what methods it can be cured.

Stagnation of milk in the breast (lactostasis) is considered the most common factor causing the disease. If a nursing mother experiences lactostasis, then proper and timely treatment is required. Otherwise, excess milk accumulates and cannot be removed due to blockage of the milk ducts, and this, in turn, leads to the development of mastitis.

In addition, mastitis in a nursing mother may occur for the following reasons:

1. decreased immunity and hormonal changes in the postpartum period;
2. cracks in the nipples, which facilitate the penetration of microbes and infection into the mammary gland;
3. hypothermia;
4. non-compliance with breast hygiene rules.

Signs of mastitis

Symptoms of mastitis in a nursing mother vary depending on the form of the disease: serous, infiltrative and purulent.

Serous form

The serous form occurs at the onset of the disease and has the following symptoms:

• mild pain and a feeling of heaviness in any area of ​​the chest;
• elevated temperature (up to 38–39ºС);
• lumps in the gland, which are detected when palpating the chest;
• redness on the skin in those areas of the chest where inflammation has occurred.

In some cases, a nursing mother develops general signs of the disease (weakness in the body, temperature) earlier than local symptoms (tension in the chest, lumps). At the same time, many mothers wonder how to distinguish the serous form of mastitis from lactostasis, because these diseases have many similar manifestations. To do this, it is necessary to determine the temperature in both armpits. If it is different, then most likely you have lactostasis. Accordingly, at the same temperature on both sides, you are faced with mastitis. In addition, pay attention to how you feel after pumping. With lactostasis it will improve when the breasts are empty, with mastitis it will remain the same.

Infiltrative form

If inflammation intensifies and the disease takes on an infiltrative form, then mastitis occurs in a nursing mother, the symptoms of which are more alarming:

• the pain becomes more severe;
• compaction is pronounced;
• the mammary gland swells and its size increases;
• the mother loses strength, becomes weak, and loses her appetite;
• on the side of the sore breast, the lymph nodes become enlarged;
• the temperature rises to 39–40ºС (due to the penetration of stagnant milk into the blood).

Purulent form

This stage of the disease occurs with a long duration (up to 10 days) of mastitis during breastfeeding.

Symptoms:

• pus in the mammary gland (the lump in the center becomes soft to the touch, pus or blood is released with milk);
• fever, fever or chills;
• dry mouth;
• bluish-purple color of the skin of the chest;
• nipples change shape and become inverted;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes.

If the disease is advanced and the destructive process spreads to nearby tissues and blood vessels, then a gangrenous form of mastitis occurs, the treatment of which is more difficult. In this case, black areas with dead tissue appear on the skin. This form of the disease affects all lobes of the mammary gland, and the general health of the nursing mother becomes difficult. Signs such as high fever, intoxication, headache, loss of appetite, and rapid heartbeat appear.

Treatment methods

Depending on the stage of inflammation, treatment can be carried out in various ways, including:

• with the help of physiotherapy;
• with the use of antibiotics;
• folk remedies;
• surgical intervention.

For the serous form of mastitis, you can take antibacterial agents as prescribed by your doctor. In addition, it is often necessary to ensure that its residues do not contribute to the proliferation of microbes.

At the onset of the disease and in the infiltrative stage, physiotherapy (for example, treatment with ultrasound) can also help. The advantages of the method are painlessness and relaxation of the milk ducts, thanks to which stagnant milk finds a way out.

Vera, 29 years old: When the baby was 8 months old, I wanted to give up night feedings. As a result, the temperature rose and my chest hurt unbearably! The doctor said it was mastitis and prescribed Tsiprolet and physiotherapy. This saved me, and I continued to feed my son until he was one and a half years old. Health to all mothers!

In the infiltrative form, a course of antibiotics may also be prescribed to relieve inflammation.

To alleviate the condition, you can use the following recommendations:

• do not stop stimulating the flow of milk, placing the baby first on the sore breast when feeding and expressing the remainder;
• massage the chest from the edges to the center;
• apply ice to the sore breast after feeding;
• apply ointment to the nipple (Bepanten or Purelan) if there are cracks;
• take antipyretics if the temperature rises above 38ºC;
• use hormonal drugs that facilitate milk flow (oxytocin).

Whatever method of therapy is chosen, its effectiveness directly depends on its timeliness. Treatment should be started in the first two days after the appearance of the main signs of the disease. If the disease has progressed to the purulent stage, then surgery may be required.

It is important to remember that each case of the disease is individual, so the appropriate treatment must be prescribed by a doctor.

Anna, 32 years old: I have two children, and I’ve had mastitis many times, even purulent! At first, on the advice of my grandmother, I applied a cabbage leaf, but the effect was not particularly felt. I had to take antibiotics and express milk often. But as a result, everything worked out without surgery.

Treatment with folk remedies

The effectiveness of traditional recipes is controversial, but in combination with traditional methods and under the supervision of a doctor, they can help relieve inflammation and reduce pain. Let's present the most popular means:

1. You can apply a cabbage leaf to the sore breast for a long time (for a day or night).
2. Fresh leaves of coltsfoot should be scalded with boiling water and applied to the chest for 10–15 minutes.

Is it possible to breastfeed while sick?

Whether it is possible to continue breastfeeding if inflammation occurs depends on the form of the disease. If mastitis has developed from lactostasis, and not due to infection, then feeding is not only possible, but also necessary! The milk should not stagnate so that the disease does not develop, and the baby sucks out the leftovers when feeding much more efficiently than the mother can cope with when pumping.

If mastitis has entered the purulent stage, you will have to temporarily stop breastfeeding and transfer the baby to artificial formula. In such a situation, during breastfeeding, both an infection and the active substances of antibiotics with which the mother carries out treatment can enter the baby’s body.

After recovery and termination of medication, lactation can be restored to its previous volume and continue to delight the child with mother’s milk.