During breastfeeding, one of the Major problems that we can find is with the appearance of a mastitis, in fact it is estimated 1 each 10 nursing mothers suffer from it. Knowing your symptoms is fundamental to detect it early and act before it's too late.
What is it?
Mastitis is the inflammation of the mammary gland. The breast is made up of lobes, which are the structures in charge of form milk. Mastitis only affects a of the breasts, swelling one or more of those lobes. Appears with Most frequency at comienzo breastfeeding, although it can be given at any time.
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Acute mastitis
It is the mastitis that appears at beginning of lactation, is the one that gives more symptoms flashy: redness, warmth, swelling, pain and hardening of an area of the breast, along with general symptoms flu-like, such as fever or malaise.
La cause more frequent is the infection by a bacterium called staphylococcus aureus, helped by a badly emptied of an area of the breast, which produces a accumulation of milk and causes inflammatory reaction of the tissues surrounding that lobe.
The factors of risk for its appearance are the cracks on the nipple, mastitis previous o engorgement very marked at the beginning of lactation.
El treatment it is usually with Antibiotics, after culturing the milk to determine the causative bacteria, anti-inflammatory and measures like the good emptying of the mother and the local cold at the end of the shot. It is also Useful perform a treatment with probiotics. And of course, not stop breastfeeding, weaning usually make symptoms worse.
Abscess
If mastitis No. it is treated correctly and evolves it causes an infection very localized which can lead to a abscess. In this case the symptom would be the same as in mastitis, but in the inflamed area increases pain and touch is soft and fluctuating, that is, it shows that it is full of fluid (pus). Is the way More serious of mastitis. Needs to sewer system surgery and antibiotics, sometimes even by intravenously. Although No. it is essential to withdraw breastfeeding the pain is so intense that many women have no choice but to abandon it.
Subacute mastitis
It usually appears later and is a very complicated to diagnose, because No. signs appear visible in the breast. We can only guiar so that note mom usually punctures when taking the shot, less production of milk, notice that comes out less milk, the child nod when eating, strip of the nipple or denies that chest.
Its cause is a slight inflammation y decrease in the caliber of ducts, what makes it difficult the exit of the milk and that it stays accumulated, diminishing the milk production of that momplus the milk from that mom change flavor, by the increase of sodium that occurs when it is accumulated, so the baby notices a taste salty, which you may not like.
It is important to search risk factor's to be able to diagnose it, like restrictive shots, that is, you take with a schedule, in which mark the minutes that the shot should last and No. we let the baby empty completely or moms who leave to breastfeed many hours, for example, by the night or during the workday.
Treatment is based on good emptying, Is the best therapy. Anti-inflammatories are also often given for the pain and probiotics. Normally, if the discomfort does not disappear, it is useful to carry out a culture of milk to rule out infections.
How to prevent it
- No put Time to the shots, that is, our baby marks us when wants to eat so forget of that rule of giving it every three hours and for only 10 minutes, so popular in the past and that so many problems has caused, really a newborn should make up 12 takes up to date.
- Make sure the baby empty well at least, a mom in every shot. Insist on it. Who BEST what is going to do is your baby, change your posture so that you do not leave areas full of milk when you finish the feeding.
- You can use a little mild heat, empty a little or give a light massage in the breast before giving the feed, will help you soften it and the baby can eat better.
- Soft cold after taking. Only the first few days. Never use ice, I only recommend applying something cool, like a fresh cabbage leaf, about the breast.
- The shots nocturnal consist of fundamental, do not stop giving any to your baby.
- Before him minimal symptom consult with your midwife, many times with very simple measures it is solved and it is important that it does not reach adults.
- Si vas a get into work talk to you matrona and make a plan partial weaning.
Remember who better empty your chest it's the baby, don't stop breastfeeding for a mastitis, ask for help.