I keep getting mastitis

Mastitis can cause a tender, warm, swollen area of the breast with redness, fever, chills, or flu-like symptoms. Repeated episodes may follow pressure on the breast, long gaps between feeds, a shallow latch, abrupt weaning, or a pump setting that causes trauma. Inflammation can occur without bacterial infection, while infection may need prescribed treatment. A persistent lump, worsening redness, or symptoms that do not settle deserves review rather than repeated self-treatment.

Continue breastfeeding or expressing according to comfort; stopping suddenly can worsen engorgement. Use gentle handling, supportive clothing, rest, fluids, and a cool pack for swelling. Avoid forceful massage, aggressive pumping, and trying to empty the breast beyond the baby's needs. Check positioning and latch with a lactation professional. Keep a record of which breast is affected, feeding changes, fever, medicines, and how quickly symptoms improve.

Arrange same-day medical advice for fever, chills, rapidly spreading redness, severe breast pain, or feeling markedly unwell. Seek review if symptoms are recurring, a hard area remains, or improvement does not begin after home measures. Urgent assessment is needed for faintness, confusion, or severe illness. A clinician can check for infection, an abscess, or another cause of breast pain and decide whether imaging or treatment is needed.

Ask whether this is inflammation or infection, whether a persistent area needs imaging, how to prevent recurrence, and whether your latch or pump technique should be assessed.