What is the best treatment for mastitis?
Treatment for mastitis involves reducing inflammation and pain and preventing an infection from occurring. Researchers are always learning more about lactation and mastitis, so it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you’re getting current treatment information.
Previous treatment methods for mastitis involved heat, massage and extra pumping or feeding. Now, many providers say you should treat inflammatory mastitis like a sprained ankle. You wouldn’t massage an ankle sprain or put a heating pad on it. Mastitis should be treated similarly. The swelling in your breasts is mostly due to swelling of the structures around the milk — it’s not a “plug of milk” needing “worked out.” Rather, the inflammation needs to be decreased in order for the milk to flow better.
At-home treatment for inflammatory mastitis includes:
- Ice: Use an ice pack or a frozen bag of vegetables to reduce swelling while laying on your back so the swelling drains into your lymph nodes. You shouldn’t apply heat.
- Pain relievers: Using over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen or naproxen can reduce swelling and pain.
- Lymphatic drainage: Lymphatic drainage involves gentle, light “petting of a cat” pressure of your breast toward your lymph nodes above your collar bones and in your armpit. It reduces swelling by moving fluid. This isn’t as strong of pressure as a massage.
- Reverse pressure softening (RPS): This type of massage reduces swelling in your areola and nipple by moving the fluid away from it. It allows your baby to latch more easily to a full breast. To perform RPS, place two fingertips around the base of your nipple. Apply pressure, then drag your fingers away from your nipple. Do this at several angles around your nipple.
- Wear a supportive bra: A supportive bra isn’t tight-fitting and doesn’t put more pressure on your breasts.
DO NOT:
- Aggressively massage your breast.
- Use any type of massaging device on your breast.
- Soak your breast in anything.
- Apply heat.
Medications for bacterial mastitis
If at-home treatment for inflammatory mastitis doesn’t help, it could progress to bacterial mastitis. Your healthcare provider will prescribe an antibiotic to treat a bacterial mastitis infection. They work to eliminate the bacterial infection that’s built up in your milk ducts. The infection should clear up within 10 days. However, you should begin to feel relief within 48 to 72 hours. Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help with pain and inflammation, but they can’t treat an infection.
What are the complications of mastitis?
If left untreated, a breast infection like mastitis can lead to a breast abscess. This type of abscess typically requires surgical treatment. Your healthcare provider will perform minor surgery or use a small needle to drain the pus.
How long does mastitis last?
Inflammatory mastitis usually gets completely better within 10 to 14 days. When managed correctly, symptoms improve dramatically within 24 to 72 hours. Recognizing the signs of engorgement and inflammation is key, because then you can start to implement treatment methods like ice and lymphatic drainage.
Is it safe to continue breastfeeding when you have mastitis?
Yes, you should continue to nurse your baby. You can’t pass a breast infection to your baby through breast milk. In fact, breast milk has antibacterial properties that help babies fight infections. Antibiotics that your provider prescribes for mastitis are usually safe for your baby.
It may be uncomfortable to nurse when you have mastitis, but you should continue to do so.
Can I get mastitis more than once?
Yes, it’s possible to get mastitis multiple times.