What should you know about lactating mastitis?

Mastitis often affects one breast and may cause a firm or swollen area, redness, heat and breast pain. You may also feel tired, achy or feverish. Nipple damage, pressure on the breast, missed feeds or difficulty with milk removal can contribute to inflammation. Painful breastfeeding can be part of the picture, but pain should not be dismissed as something you must tolerate.

Inflammation can occur without a bacterial infection, while infection may need medical treatment. A persistent lump, worsening redness or an area that feels fluid-filled can indicate a breast abscess or another problem requiring examination.

Continue breastfeeding or expressing milk according to comfort and your baby’s needs; sudden stopping can worsen fullness. Check positioning and attachment, avoid forceful massage and wear a supportive bra that does not compress the breast. Rest, drink to thirst and use a cool pack wrapped in cloth for swelling. Ask a clinician which pain medicine is suitable for you.

A lactation consultation can identify shallow attachment, blocked drainage patterns or pumping practices that irritate the breast. Wash hands before feeding and keep any nipple cracks clean. If an antibiotic is prescribed, take it exactly as directed and ask whether it is compatible with breastfeeding.

Contact a clinician promptly if you have fever, feel increasingly unwell, redness is spreading, pain is worsening, or symptoms are not improving with supportive care. Seek urgent assessment for severe illness, confusion, fainting or difficulty keeping fluids down. A breast lump that remains after inflammation settles needs review. Breast pain without typical mastitis symptoms also deserves evaluation.

Ask whether this is inflammatory mastitis or infection, how to continue feeding safely, whether you need an examination or antibiotics, and how to prevent recurrence without over-pumping.