Mastitis

What is mastitis?

Mastitis is swelling in the breast tissues. Milk leaks from porous milk ducts into the surrounding breast tissue.

It occurs at times of oversupply – in the few days after baby is born, with baby’s growth spurts and when weaning.

Mastitis is suspected with increasing firmness, redness, and discomfort which may progress to generalised unwellness. The symptoms can include fever, aching joints and limbs as well as headaches.

Performance Plus physiotherapists are trained in treating mastitis. Seek advice as soon as symptoms appear.

To relieve the mastitis

• Breast-feeding and expressing milk relieves the inflammation and discomfort. Any fluid remaining in the breast tissue is removed via lymph and venous drainage. This is increased by continuing breastfeeding and by very gentle lymphatic massage.
• Feed on demand and frequently if you suspect mastitis.
• Feed to relieve your discomfort.
• Suckling is strongest at the beginning of each feed, so offer the affected breast first.
• If latching on is painful, break the baby’s suction and re-attach the baby.
• Choose positions to drain the affected areas – point the baby’s chin to the affected area.
• Apply warmth before feeding – warm shower or flannel
• Apply coolness after feeding – a cool flannel
• Massage very gently to encourage lymph and venous drainage - see instructions below
• Rest and take adequate fluids to speed your recovery
• Gently express breast milk after a feed to relieve discomfort only – do not continue expressing until you have another let-down (vigorous flow)
• Wear a compression tubigrip from your physiotherapist

Discamer

Women are encouraged to discuss their health needs with a health practitioner.

If you have concerns about your health, you should seek advice from your health care provider or if you require urgent care you should go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department.

Massage for mastitis

• Using the flat side of 2 fingers, gently massage from the inner quadrant of the breast to the sternum.
• Using the palm of your hand, gently massage the rest of the breast with strokes in the direction towards the armpit - see diagram below. Spend about 15 seconds on each quadrant. This will means 1 minute in total. This activates the axillary lymph nodes which ease swelling.
• Then gently bring the palms together in front of the chest (like praying) and press them together firmly by 2 counts. Rest for 5 counts. Repeat 10 times. This will muscular pumps which help to ease swelling.