When I was on maternity leave with my second baby, I started using those disposable breast pads in my bras. I had never used them the first time around.
But since the hospital gave me this big box of them for free, I figured, why not? Because I really loved waking up at night in a puddle from just leaking everywhere-NOT.
They helped, which was great, but then they would be sopping wet sometimes when I would wake up to nurse. Well, I think they were the cause of a terrible flare up I had shortly thereafter, because I wasn’t changing them often enough. Care(dot)com recently interviewed me for an article about it. I’ve got it pictured here for you:
Image courtesy of Care.com
Because I had read and read a million things about breastfeeding, I didn’t have to confirm what I already knew. But I did, checking my temperature when I realized that my baby’s face felt cold against mine, instead of the other way around-big sign of a fever. I had a mastitis breast infection.
Mastitis Breast Infection
When you’re breastfeeding within the first few months after your delivery, have zero sleep and energy, you are more likely to get a breast infection. Common bacteria normally only found outside of the body can enter in through your nipple, possibly from your baby’s mouth, or cracks that may have formed on your nipple. These infect your breast tissue and it’s like having the flu at an even more terrible time when you can’t rest much.
Up to 10% of breastfeeding mothers get it, but it’s more likely to happen with your first baby. So naive me, I was thinking I would never get it because I never had it before. But I knew that at least one thing had changed this time, those breast pads. I must not have changed them often enough and wasn’t letting my breasts breathe as much, which is important.
Image courtesy of Care.com
How Do I Know I Have Mastitis?
I actually had pain and a super tender breast the entire day before I even had my fever pop up. And it was just on the one side, which is usually how it happens. I just figured, well, hormones are fluctuating, I’m recovering, I’m bound to be tender here and there. So I was going to just keep an eye on it-but I kept nursing.
Then the high fever (thank you immune system that’s finally coming back) got me paying more attention. So I looked in the mirror and saw red streaks across my breast, then just groaned….It was 2 am on a Sunday and I’d have to go to a walk-in clinic in the morning.
Image courtesy of Care.com
So you’ll know fairly quickly of you have any of the following symptoms:
- pain
- tenderness
- swelling
- red streaks or patterns on your breast
- high fever
- suspicious lumps
- abnormal discharge
If any of these symptoms are extreme or don’t clear up within a few days, an antibiotic will solve the problem within 48 hours. But I had done a lot of reading…..I knew that if it didn’t get better soon, I could have abscesses that could lead to worse problems, maybe even requiring minor surgery to drain the fluid.
Since this was my breast that already had a tougher time producing milk than my other, I didn’t want things to get worse and take the chance of possibly losing a lot of ability to nurse on that breast. So I went to the doctor and took the entire antibiotic treatment in this case. My baby already had been exposed to my microbiome, and believed it was the best thing for more at this time.
Image courtesy of Care.com
What To Do About It
There are the antibiotics, basically. You don’t necessarily need the antibiotics either. Many mothers simply treat their pain and recover just as quickly. But a few other things help to provide relief:
- ibuprofen for swelling and pain (safe to take now that you’re no longer pregnant)
- warm compress before nursing
- cold compress if needed at other times
- drink plenty of water, especially during breastfeeding
- KEEP breastfeeding-even on the infected breast
- completely empty your breasts each time, pumping afterwards if needed
- massage your breasts from the side down to the nipple before and during breastfeeding
- let your breasts breathe, be open to the air and as dry as possible
- clean or change your reusable breast pads often
- wear loose bras or none at all
The MOST important thing to do is continue breastfeeding your baby. They are already exposed to the bacteria infecting your breast and will not gain any infection from it. Draining your infected breast is the main way to get rid of the built up infection whether if it’s from a blocked milk duct or not. Plus, it allows for fresh antibodies in your immune system to be made in the fresh milk that will come after nursing. So DO NOT stop breastfeeding or you’re doing yourself a major disservice.
Hopefully, you won’t ever experience it like I did. And I sure am going to do all I can to not get it this time around by keeping up on my own probiotics, getting enough rest, and keeping my breasts empty and dry when possible.
Don’t Get Infected, Get Reusable Breast Pads
I love nursing my newborns! It’s such a wonderful feeling. But doing it through a mastitis infection-NO Thank You. Have you ever had mastitis?
Remember …
You can do hard things.
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Raquel says
Lovely site, Sarah. Completely agree with you. I’ve heard that some moms who’ve had mastitis were told that it’s a sign that they should stop breastfeeding. Whoa, right? That’s the last thing they should be doing. It is so important to continue breastfeeding and/or expressing to help clear up the clogged milk ducts. In my case, I used disposable breast pads which I changed frequently, and it does help.
Hi Raquel. It’s certainly more difficult to continue on through the pain when you’re told to just stop, right? It’s sad to hear about the marketing that goes into baby formulas and the misconceptions about how they’re better than breast milk, which adds to the problem.
I’m glad that the disposable pads worked fine for you. I still enjoy the reusable cotton ones. Thanks for your comment!
Wow this is so interesting to somebody who never knew about breastfeeding and that you could have infections from it. to the person on the street you would think having a mastitis infection you would stop breastfeeding but as your article points out you should keep bresatfeeding which was very surprising
Mothers certainly want to stop because it can be painful to continue. But when they learn that it’s one of the worst things to do, hopefully that motivation is there to last for a few more days. Thanks Jazzy!
Casey says
I breastfed my one and only baby very briefly. I was an active duty, Navy mom and a single parent. Stress was high! I did all I could to get plenty of rest, eat well, stay hydrated to ensure I could enjoy the joys of breastfeeding and provide my little girl with the nutrition she needed. My body and mind just couldn’t handle the stress and I stopped producing milk. I WANTED to breast feed my baby! I cried the day I prepared her first bottle of formula. My little girl is 5 now, and I am now a nurse. I must say, your article is very informative and is exactly what I teach nursing mothers now! I will have to share this website with my staff and new moms! 🙂
I don’t have any military members in my family, but I can imagine that it’s ever that much harder for military moms to take care of their little ones. I’ve heard that things have changed lately and that accommodation for nursing mothers has been much better lately.
I wanted to breastfeed at least for a year with all of my children. But both my first two just decided that they were kinda bored from it and preferred a bottle at 8 months. So I kept pumping as long as possible, but when that physical connection is lost, I just gradually ran out.
I’m glad that you were able to breastfeed her even in the beginning because that still made such a difference for her. I’m glad to have been helpful and would welcome any online visitors with your nursing staff and moms. Thanks for sharing Casey!
Mr. Glass says
Hey Sara, Really really cute site, and congratulations on your featured article, I bet that made you feel pretty darn special. Your article was very enlightening, I have a really strong sense of respect for what women have to go thru, because us men wouldn’t stand a chance lol! Im grateful for experiencing your site tonight because, I actually got to learn something new yay!! Best wishes on your future
Dear Mr. Glass, thank you for taking the time to give a compliment. Feel free to share with any friends and loved ones. Best to you and yours as well.
Christine says
I was very lucky in that I did not get mastitus. But I feel your pain through your writing. I used breast pads as it was more comfortable not waking up in damp clothing. I didn’t get any infection from them thank goodness. I was not aware that it was even possible.
I am pleased that you have recovered and written about this on your site so other women will be aware of it and know what to do.
Hopefully I won’t get it again either, Christine. It’s one of those things that a doctor or even breastfeeding helper won’t educate a new mother about until something’s gone wrong. It shouldn’t be something for so many women to go through if they were all just a little more informed. So that’s the goal here. Thanks for your comment!
Aiden says
Great article!
My kids mother had mastitis, she got it as her breast wasn’t producing enough milk for my daughter so she had to stop and put her on formula, the excess milk built up and caused mastitis, she had to manually express milk several times a day in order to relieve the stress on her breasts.
Manually expressing milk is something that I encourage all mothers to learn how to do as well. Because you never know when you’ll be somewhere in pain or in circumstances without your pump or baby and you need to let some milk out. It IS such a relief. Thanks Aiden!
Gregory says
Hi Sarah,
I want to say thanks for educating me about Mastitis breast infection. I have a relative having some breast issues. I figure any knowledge I can gain and share may be helpful.
I think your information about what Mastitis breast infection is, how to detect it and how to treat it was nicely presented and I learned something and can pass on the information. Thanks again.
You’re welcome, Gregory. Thank you for the comments! You may find the Group B Strep infection information interesting as well-it affects the babies though and can be much more problematic.
Titus says
Great info. My wife had an infection with our twins while breastfeeding and just pumped from that side and threw out the milk. You are saying we should have kept breastfeeding with that breast? I had no idea. We thought it was safer to just get rid of it. I think it was a different type of infection but painful none the less. Makes sense to keep feeding from infected breast once all parties are infected anyway. Luckily she was an amazing milk producer and we had plenty for both babies still. Thanks for writing this article!
Yes, she could have still nursed on that side and kept all the milk she pumped off. But it’s good that she atleast DID pump it off. It would have been far worse had she not even done that. I can’t imagine producing so much milk for twins! Your wife is a trooper. Thanks Titus.
Titus says
Thanks Sarah! I learn something everyday. Good to know in case we have more children. And yes she is quite the trooper..lol!
You’re welcome! Feel free to visit anytime.
Tar says
I guess for mothers, they should look after themselves.
The advice which you said do not stop breastfeeding whatever happens is quite interesting.
I mean even if the condition is not in a favorable state, it doesn’t matter as you mentioned that moms should continue breastfeed. The rationale is quite logical though. Makes sense!
Tar.
It can be a bit counter-intuitive for some, but yes, continuing to do exactly the same is best. It’s kind of like exercising even when you’re a bit sick. It actually is very helpful to stimulate the immune system and the like. Thanks Tar!