What the Heck is Mastitis?

Mastitis is inflammation of the breast tissue that sometimes involves an infection, typically in the ducts that produce milk in the breast. The inflammation can result in:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Redness
• Fever, chills & flu-like symptoms
• Sometimes, an itchy rash can also be present

The breast is composed of several glands and ducts that lead to the nipple and the surrounding area called the areola. These milk ducts extend from the nipple into the breast tissue sort of like the spokes of a wheel. Under the areola are lactiferous ducts. These ducts are what fill with milk when a woman is lactating after having a baby. This infection, called Mastitis, can occur when breastfeeding, from bacteria-often from babies mouth-that can enter the milk duct through a crack in the nipple. (Another great reason to try and prevent cracking and bleeding of the nipples as best you can!)

About 1%-3% of breastfeeding mothers develop mastitis. Engorgement and incomplete breast emptying can contribute to the problem and make the symptoms worse. Some important things to do if you suspect you have mastitis:

• Rest and sleep! Treat this as though you have an infection (because you do!) and need rest. Call your postpartum doula so that you can get the rest you need.
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Add extra vitamin C to your diet. You can get this through extra citrus fruit and/or juices-it’s the most easy to absorb form of vitamin C. Echinacea can also help the immune system do it’s job and is safe for consumption both in pregnancy and during breastfeeding.
• Regular breastfeeding and expression of milk-this can help ‘unclog’ the duct
• Hand expressing in a warm shower.
• Massage around the breast, including in the sore spot(s). Warm compresses are a good idea too
• Cool compresses can help with discomfort. Some women like to use cold cabbage leaves as a compress. Try to use organic cabbage and rinse off the leaves before placing on your skin.
• As an herbalist I recommend using castor oil packs…Drmomma has a good article about HOW to do this, but castor oil is used for a great many illnesses and pains.
• Garlic. It is antimicrobial and can help fight infections. You can chop up and use for cooking or take in pill form.
• Worst case scenario, as an herbalist, I would also recommend the use of Yarrow and Peppermint herbs (herbs, not essential oils. Essential oils are caustic and should not be ingested or placed directly on the skin without a carrier oil). Yarrow is astringent and can draw the infection out of the breast. It can also slow milk production some, so for this reason I recommend no more than 2 doses. These herbs will also lower fever and help fight infection systemically. You can mix this with garlic
• And as a first measure, you should contact your care provider too. Your doctor or midwife can prescribe some good old antibiotics—which sometimes are required to get this under control. An infection like this may have you feeling like crud. There is no shame in using antibiotics in a situation like this.