Prevention of mastitis during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding mastitis - signs, how to treat and prevent. With an infection

Folk remedies for the treatment of mastitis are time-tested. After consulting a doctor, he may approve the use of cabbage, beet or onion compresses; as well as ointments based on herbal ingredients.

In the people, mastitis is called breastfeeding. This inflammatory disease mammary glands. If there is suspicion of this disease you need to see a doctor. If necessary, he will appoint drug treatment and will approve the folk methods that are indicated for such an ailment.

Mastitis: symptoms, causes

Most often, this disease occurs in women who are breastfeeding. If you do not express milk in time, its excess can lead to inflammation of the breast.

A child should not be applied to such a breast, but it is necessary to express milk, even if it causes pain. If this is not done, then suppuration may appear. Then there will be an admixture of pus in the milk. If this happens, then you can not feed the baby even with healthy breasts. In this case, milk must be expressed regularly, but then poured out.

In order not to bring to such a problem, a nursing mother needs to pay attention to her feelings. If there is pain in the mammary gland, and there is a seal in the chest, this may signal the onset of mastitis. If the attending physician made such a diagnosis and advised the use of folk remedies, then pay attention to the following.

How to make compresses for breasts from vegetables

For treatment this disease cabbage leaves have been used for a long time.

Here's what you need for this folk treatment:

cabbage;
a hammer for beating meat or a knife with a thick handle;
cotton bra.

First, the cabbage leaf is lightly beaten with the blunt side of a knife or a meat mallet. From such manipulation, this part of the vegetable will become softer and give juice.
Then the cabbage leaf should be attached to the chest, put on a cotton bra.
The compress is kept until the leaf wilts and dries a little. Then it is simply removed. Such a tool will help reduce fever, relieve swelling.

It is believed that a cabbage compress is harmless, but it helps well with babies. You can slightly modify the recipe. Take a leaf of this plant and scratch it inner part knife or fork. Then grease this place natural honey. Now such a sheet is placed on a sore chest. Put on a bra on top. When the leaf becomes sluggish, change it to a new one, prepared in the same way.

Another common vegetable is the onion. His medicinal properties also known from ancient times.

To prepare a folk remedy for mastitis based on onion, it is necessary to grind this vegetable with a meat grinder, fine grater or blender. Then, one part of this slurry is added to one part of liquid honey and milk.
This tool is applied to the place of compaction on the chest and cover it with a cloth napkin, and on top with polyethylene. To keep the compress, you need to wear a bra, and if this is not contraindicated, then wrap your chest, tying a warm scarf around it.
It is recommended to leave such a compress from the baby for 3 hours, then remove it for 2-3 hours, after which - repeat the procedure again using the same technology.

To defeat the baby, you can use not raw, but baked onions. To do this, take a medium-sized head and place it in the oven. When the bulb becomes soft, take it out, cool it and apply it to the sore spot. Cover with a tissue and secure with a bra.

Pumpkin can also be purchased at any time of the year. It is she who is the next main component of the compress.

First, this vegetable is peeled, the pulp is cut into cubes and boiled in milk until soft. Then you need to cool this mass and crush with a fork.
If mastitis has become purulent, then a little granulated sugar should be poured into such a puree. It will speed up the release of pus.
This mass is placed on gauze folded several times and applied to the chest. Cellophane is placed on top.
To keep the compress and to warm the affected area, you can bandage the chest with a handkerchief or towel, but not tight.

To prepare the following potion, take:

100 g of beetroot juice;
30 g grated carrots;
15 ml vegetable oil;
1 tsp golden root.

All ingredients are mixed, put on cheesecloth, folded 2 times. Then it must be applied to the sore spot of the chest, and covered with cellophane on top and put on a bra made of natural fabric.

The compress is kept for two hours, then removed, and the chest is wiped with a cotton pad dipped in warm water. Then blot with a soft towel to remove moisture.

herbal remedies

If mastitis happened in late spring or summer, then on the affected area ethnoscience recommends applying fresh coltsfoot leaves. Large specimens are used, which must be beaten off a little before use, like cabbage leaves. coltsfoot is able to take off inflammatory process.

Throughout the year, mastitis can be treated with dried sweet clover. In a glass of boiling water you need to put 2 tbsp. l. this plant, cover the container. Insist means 1 hour, filter and cool.

Then, a cloth is moistened in this solution and applied to the sore chest for 2.5 hours.

This compress is not insulated, but a cotton bra is put on top of it.

What else to treat mastitis

The chest affected by this disease must be tied up, periodically applied to it with a gauze napkin, previously moistened with vodka or diluted alcohol. This compress is kept until the cloth dries.

Another good home remedy prepared on the basis of camphor oil. Making a potion is very easy. You need to take a cotton cloth or gauze folded in several layers and moisten any of these cloths in a comfortable oil.

After that, the tissue is squeezed out, applied to the sore chest, covered with a dry cloth or terry towel. Such a compress is kept from 2 to 6 hours. It will assist in the resorption of the seal.

rye cake

This phrase is heard by nursing mothers and those who are familiar with the problem of mastitis. The recipe was passed down from generation to generation, so it has survived to this day. This effective remedy is prepared as follows:

To a glass rye flour add 2 tbsp. l. warmed up to warm state honey, mix well. Now a cake is formed from it and laid out on cling film or on cellophane. This compress is applied to the chest and wrapped with a warm scarf.

If there is no rye flour at hand, then honey cake can be made from wheat. The ingredients are mixed in approximately the same proportion so that the resulting mass looks like a cake. Then make a compress using her.

But not with every mastitis, you can warm the chest with compresses. If the doctor has ruled out the use of such remedies, perhaps he will approve the use of ointments. It is important to know that they should not be rubbed, but should be applied to the chest with light movements in a circle.

How to make an ointment

For the next ointment you will need:

cumin seeds;
dry mint;
water;
Rye flour.

Mix dry mint leaves and cumin seeds in equal proportions. Then rub the data herbal ingredients and add some water and rye flour. You should get a mass that resembles sour cream. Put this remedy on the sore chest, let it have therapeutic effect. When the mass is completely dry, it must be washed off warm water.

This ointment can be applied two or three times a day. Before using it, it is slightly warmed up so that it is slightly warm.

If you mix 1 tbsp. l. ghee and 1 tsp. dry crushed celandine, you get another ointment for the treatment of mastitis. It is applied 3 or 4 times a day on a sore spot. thin layer and keep until dry. Then, too, rinse with warm water. Such an ointment can be made in reserve and stored in a warm, cool place.

The following home remedy is made from sifted rice starch and vegetable oil. The ingredients are added in such quantity that the output is a viscous mass. The agent is applied in the same way as in the previous two cases. This quick recipe help to get rid of unpleasant symptoms in a short time.

Of course, you do not need to use all compresses and ointments. Choose those products for the preparation of which you have the ingredients, and the ingredients are not allergic and medical contraindications. And it is very important to first consult a doctor so that he puts correct diagnosis. Only after this and the approval of a specialist can folk remedies for the treatment of infants be used.

Not always the process of breastfeeding a newborn baby goes without problems. It happens that a nursing mother develops acute inflammation mammary gland - lactational mastitis. IN postpartum period this is one of the most common complications. But mastitis can overtake a woman a few months later. With early diagnosis and adequate therapy this disease is overcome without problems, and many mothers manage to restore lactation after recovery. But if the disease is not treated, it progresses, turning into more dangerous stages and then surgery may be required. How to recognize lactational mastitis in a timely manner and what methods of its treatment are most effective?

Laktostasis and mastitis in a nursing mother

A disease in which the mammary gland becomes inflamed is called mastitis. Very often it develops during breastfeeding. Its cause is stagnation of milk (lactostasis) against the background of infection of the ducts of the mammary glands. Mastitis progressing while breastfeeding mother's milk, is called lactation. About 5% of lactating women encounter this disease in the first months after delivery. Most often, young mothers who have given birth to their first child are at risk, because the lack of necessary experience in the process of establishing and maintaining lactation plays a big role here.

The disease develops in a certain sequence. Mastitis is preceded by lactostasis, which occurs when mother's milk stagnates in the lobes of the mammary glands. This phenomenon is observed in those women who rarely put the baby to the breast or adhere to feeding by the hour strictly at certain intervals. Another reason for stagnation of milk may be the inability of a weakened (premature) baby to suck out as much of it as is produced.

By itself, lactostasis is not so dangerous. But only if there is no infection. When it is complicated by infection of the mammary glands pathogenic flora, we are talking about the development of mastitis.

Treatment must begin from the first period of the disease. Otherwise it will take purulent form and serious complications begin.

Causes and risk factors

Factors for the development of mastitis:

with lactostasis, the milk ducts are clogged and favorable conditions for the reproduction of microbes;
with improper attachment of the baby to the breast and insufficient care for the mammary glands, cracks appear on the nipples;
in the presence of pustular skin diseases, microbes penetrate into the milk ducts;
at diabetes the body's resistance to infections decreases;
with prolonged smoking, blood circulation in the chest is disturbed;
when taking glucocorticosteroids, pathogenic microflora develops;
if there are implants in the breast, they begin to be rejected by the body;
in a malignant tumor, its metastases reach the mammary glands.

All these factors indirectly affect the appearance of the disease, but the true cause of its development is the penetration of microorganisms into the mammary gland.

Some microbes live on the skin and mucous membranes of a person and cause diseases when the immune system is weakened. Other pathogenic microorganisms enter the body from outside.

The main causative agents of mastitis:

Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
streptococcus;
staphylococcus;
coli.

Infection in the mammary glands can enter through the cracks that form on the nipples during feeding, when the baby is applied to the breast incorrectly

Stages of the disease and their symptoms

Lactational mastitis has three stages: it begins with serous, continues infiltrative and ends with purulent. Each stage is characterized by its own characteristics.

Serous

Body temperature rises.
There is pain in the chest.
The skin of the mammary gland turns red in the affected areas.
Feels chilly.

The disease begins with inflammation arising from the stagnation of milk. The infection has not yet been able to penetrate the body, and preventive measures must be taken immediately. It is not necessary to stop breastfeeding your baby at this stage of mastitis development.

Pain during lactation does not occur immediately. If it became painful to feed the child, it means that mastitis has passed into the second stage.

In the absence of treatment for initial stage, the infection spreads to the breast ducts and glandular lobes

infiltrative

Illness, weakness.
In the armpits, the lymph nodes increase and become painful.
The affected area of the chest thickens.
The milk starts to flow badly.

At the second stage of development of mastitis, reddening of the skin appears on the affected area of the chest.

If medical and procedural treatment is not started at this stage, then pathogenic microorganisms will enter the milk ducts and the disease will proceed to the final stage: purulent mastitis will develop.

Purulent

The chest swells and becomes painful.
The temperature rises to 40 degrees.
There is a strong chill.
Where an abscess has formed, the skin turns bright red, sometimes to cyanosis.
Pus is found in the milk.

Inflammation occurs, a purulent area is visible. At this stage, the disease is considered severe.

Important! If an abscess has formed, then treatment can only be surgical. At the purulent stage of the child, breastfeeding is strictly prohibited!

Diagnostics

If mastitis is suspected, the doctor prescribes several studies.

Blood sampling for general analysis. It is very important to determine if the white blood cell count is elevated and what is the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in order to assess the degree of inflammation.
The study of milk from the nipple in the laboratory. In the same way, the discharge from the abscess is also examined, while checking the sensitivity pathogenic microflora to antibiotics.
Holding ultrasound examination chest.
X-ray of the chest (if carcinomatosis is suspected).
Identification of the type of infection.

The complexity of the diagnosis lies in the fact that some diseases have symptoms similar to mastitis.

It is necessary to differentiate mastitis from a number of other diseases:

infected breast cysts;
breast cancer;
tuberculosis of the mastitis type;
syphilis;
actinomycosis (infection of the breast with microbes of this type).

Therefore, it is very important to make sure that there is a specific pathological process in order for the treatment to be effective.

breastfeeding with mastitis

The only indication for continued breastfeeding is lactostasis. Mastitis, as a rule, is caused by bacteria that penetrate not only the mother's body, but also milk. Therefore, the baby can get sick from drinking such milk. Even more dangerous if the child gets antibiotics that are used to treat mastitis.

However, there is an option breastfeeding when breast milk is expressed and must be pasteurized. This is done in order to destroy harmful microorganisms.

But on early stages mastitis, feeding can not be stopped. Signals to stop breastfeeding are the development of inflammation, edema, abscesses.

You can not breastfeed a child in cases where a woman is seriously ill or has previously suffered from purulent mastitis.

Methods of treatment

When it comes to mastitis in a nursing mother, there should be no mistakes in treatment. It is very important that therapy be started in a timely manner. This is especially true of the initial stage, when it is much easier to cope with the disease.

Possible Complications

The disease will go to difficult stage with purulent manifestations.
The condition will worsen, phlegmon or abscess will appear.
Mastopathy will develop in the most complex form.

You should consult a doctor immediately after the first symptoms of mastitis are detected.

First appointed conservative treatment - medications and special procedures - and only in advanced cases resort to surgical intervention. At purulent mastitis stop pathological process can only be done through surgery. After that, the woman's condition improves, and she can return to her normal lifestyle.

conservative

This type of treatment includes medication, massage and physical therapy.

Groups of drugs used in the treatment of mastitis as prescribed by a doctor

Antibiotics. With mastitis, this is usually Gentamicin, Amoxiclav, Cefazolin or Oxacillin.
Means for reducing lactation, such as Dostinex or Parlodel. You cannot breastfeed. In this case, pumping should be carried out regularly until the seals dissolve.
Drugs that relieve inflammation and pain. Usually nonsteroidal.
Ointment, cream or gel with an anesthetic.
Dissolving drugs. For example, compresses using dimexide.

Photo gallery: medications for the treatment of lactational mastitis

Movalis is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Cefazolin - antibiotic
Amoxiclav is one of the most popular and safe antibiotics
Heparin ointment - resolving agent
Compresses with Dimexide help relieve inflammation and treat ulcers
Dostinex is used to reduce milk supply or stop lactation.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy with lactational mastitis aimed at removing edema and resorption of seals in the mammary glands. The most common option is the appointment of ultra-high-frequency therapy (UHF) procedures. At the initial stage of the disease, one or two procedures may be enough.

Massage

The famous doctor E. O. Komarovsky highly appreciates massage as a method of treating mastitis:

If there is no increase in body temperature, do not categorically give any medicines inside. The most effective means - qualified massotherapy. I draw your attention - not preventive (which is written in the book), but therapeutic. Thus, everything depends on a qualified massage therapist. Where to find it - main question. Most reliable way: in any maternity hospital, for a certain fee, they will show you with the finger of a specific person who knows how to do this and wants to earn extra money in free time. And others safe ways no help.

Nevertheless, a woman can perform breast massage on her own. It is not recommended to do it with the use of force. Movements should be soft, circular. But the effect will appear only with regular procedures.

Algorithm of actions during massage

Raise your right hand behind your head.
With your left hand, run along the right armpit.
Run the palm of the same hand over right chest from the side, then from below, lifting the chest.
Then on the left side of the right breast in the direction from the collarbone.
Change hands and repeat the same movements right hand for the left breast. The areola and the nipples themselves do not need to be touched.

Surgical treatment

If conservative treatment did not bring the desired effect or the disease turned into purulent stage, assign the operation. In her simple version dissect the place where the abscess is based, and clean the tissues from the accumulated pus. Before this, the chest is carefully examined on an ultrasound machine to determine the exact location of the affected tissues.

Folk remedies

Doctors believe that folk remedies will not help cure mastitis: they may be able to alleviate the condition, but they cannot overcome the infection. Only antibiotics can deal with it.

But you can, without abandoning traditional methods, try and folk recipes. Here are some options for compresses for inflamed breasts.

Honey, sunflower oil and Kalanchoe. sunflower oil with kalanchoe juice and honey are mixed in a ratio of 1:1:1.
Coltsfoot. fresh leaves applied to reddened areas of the chest. The plant will take it off.
Pumpkin and cabbage. Warm pieces of pumpkin and cabbage leaves can also fight inflammation. Cabbage has absorbable properties. Pre-prepare the leaf by pricking it with a fork and smearing it with honey. Leave the compress overnight.
Sea buckthorn or camphor oil with potato starch. A slurry is prepared from these components, which promotes the resorption of seals.
Apple with butter. It must first be cleaned, then grated, mixed with oil. It also helps with cracked nipples.
Burdock. His washed and dried leaf can simply be washed a little, put in a bra and walk with him until he gives up all his juices. Then put another. And you can squeeze the juice from the leaves of burdock and take it inside 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.

Photo gallery: Folk remedies for the treatment of lactational mastitis

Camphor oil aids milk flow and can be used to treat and prevent mastitis
Coltsfoot leaves - green ointment compress
Juice from kalanchoe leaves has a wide range therapeutic use
Pumpkin pulp has an anti-inflammatory effect
cabbage leaves very comfortable as chest compressions
Sea buckthorn oil has anti-inflammatory and regenerating properties
Potato starch - important component compresses
An ointment is prepared from the grated pulp of an apple and oil.
Bee Honey- one of the most active natural remedies to treat inflammation
From mastitis, a compress of burdock leaves, as well as juice

Prevention measures

The development of lactational mastitis can be avoided if you follow the rules of breastfeeding.

Exercise the right sparing hygiene care behind the mammary glands.
Properly alternate breasts during feedings.
Use a protective cream with panthenol or lanolin to prevent cracked nipples (eg Purelan, Bepanten).
Feed the baby on demand, avoiding milk stagnation.
Do preventive massage for better milk flow.

Breast massage should be done regularly, at least once a day, only in this case it will be effective.

Video: mastitis - safety precautions for nursing mothers

How to resume breastfeeding after mastitis

Because of mastitis, you should not lose the opportunity to feed your baby with natural mother's milk. After all, it is so beneficial for the health of the crumbs and the formation of his immune system.

Lactation cannot be restored only after a major operation. Most often, breastfeeding after treatment of lactational mastitis is restored without problems.

For this you need:

do not stop feeding without the advice of a doctor;
express regularly and do it even if there is not enough milk;
drink plenty of fluids.

It is worth restoring lactation after treatment only if there is no threat to the health of the mother. Otherwise, it will be safer to transfer the baby to artificial feeding. If the mastitis was serious and the treatment was operative, be sure to consult a doctor you trust on this issue.

Video: symptoms and treatment of mastitis while breastfeeding

Lactational mastitis is not a sentence. Breastfeeding, in the absence of health risks for the baby and his mother, can be fully restored after recovery. But here it is extremely important to diagnose the disease at an early stage and treat it as early as possible. Untimely appeal behind medical care, when the disease has passed into the final (purulent) stage, will significantly complicate the situation. Surgical intervention - last resort. In most cases, you can do without it. The main thing is to immediately seek help from doctors and breastfeeding consultants and strictly follow all their recommendations.

Mastitis is an inflammatory process in the mammary glands, both at once or one of them. Mastitis in a nursing mother, as a rule, occurs in the first few weeks after childbirth or during the completion of lactation. This disease is not only unpleasant, but also dangerous for mother and baby, so it is important to know and notice the symptoms in time in order to start treatment in a timely manner.

Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast tissue. The cause of inflammation is an infection that enters the tissues, usually this Staphylococcus aureus. At the same time, the ingress of staphylococcus on the skin of the chest does not always cause the development of the disease, this requires favorable conditions.

Causes of mastitis can be as follows:

abrasions and cracks in the nipple. Through open wounds, the infection easily penetrates the body and causes deterioration. Therefore, such cracks should be treated immediately and in no case should they be started;
postpartum mastitis can also be caused by a general weakening of the body caused by exhaustion, hormonal changes, weakened immunity, hypothermia, exacerbation of chronic diseases (sinusitis, caries, tonsillitis);
excess milk that the baby does not eat, and the mother does not express. As a result, lactostasis develops, and it can quickly turn into lactational mastitis;
violations in breast hygiene - too frequent washing, which removes the protective layer from the skin, causing drying and damage, untimely change of clothes. After feeding, the breast must be wetted so that no drops of milk remain on it;
the presence of benign or malignant tumors in the breast, as well as structural changes in tissues - mastopathy, scars, etc.;
foreign bodies in the chest (implants, piercings);
purulent inflammation on the skin - acne, boils, etc. At improper treatment inflammation can spread through the tissues of the breast.

As a rule, postpartum mastitis develops in the period from 5 to 30 days after childbirth, and the peak of the disease occurs on the 7-15th day. After this period, mastitis is quite rare and is usually associated with postpartum complications or a hospital infection.

Milk stasis and lactostasis is the most common cause of mastitis in lactating women. It is very important to know in advance what the signs of mastitis may be, so as not to start the inflammatory process in the tissues. If you do not start treatment on time, the disease will progress and soon develop into purulent mastitis.

How to identify mastitis

Lactational mastitis has several pronounced symptoms. They allow you to suspect the disease in time and seek help. Timely diagnosis mastitis - within 48 hours after the onset of symptoms - can significantly reduce the negative effects of inflammation on both the health of the mother and the development of the child.

How to distinguish mastitis from lactostasis

In the initial stage, mastitis and lactostasis are easily confused. The difference between lactostasis and mastitis is manifested in general condition women. With lactostasis, mothers complain of heaviness and tension in the mammary glands, in one of them a little painful lumps with clear boundaries.

Signs of mastitis during breastfeeding may initially be similar to lactostasis. But mastitis is different sharp deterioration well-being, elevated temperature(up to 40 degrees in advanced cases). The tissue of the gland becomes sharply painful, the breast is filled with milk and becomes stone. At the same time, expressing milk is either very difficult or completely impossible, even a child often cannot suck a drop.

To more accurately determine the problem, it is necessary to completely express the breast, and after 3-4 hours to conduct an examination. If it was lactostasis, the pain after pumping goes away, and general well-being is improving. Small painless granular lobules are felt in the chest. Otherwise, visible changes after decantation is not observed.

Since this disease can be very dangerous for both mother and baby, doctors recommend that any seals accompanied by fever be considered symptoms of mastitis; in a nursing mother, this can save a lot of time and nerves, as well as save health.

serous stage

Lactational mastitis goes through several stages. The first of these is serous mastitis, often mistaken for normal lactostasis. However, if in 2-4 hours it is not possible to drain the diseased breast, and the temperature rises, mastitis should be assumed and immediately seek help from a doctor.

The stage lasts about 2-3 days, while developing quite rapidly. The temperature can rise to 38-39 degrees and be accompanied by chills, headache, weakness and signs of intoxication.

There is pain in the chest, which increases with feeding. The diseased gland increases in size, may turn red and become noticeably warmer than the second. An elastic seal is felt in the tissues - it can be one or more, or it can capture the entire chest.

Infiltrative form

In the absence of treatment, the serous form turns into infiltrative mastitis. Signs of intoxication intensify, the clot in the chest takes on a denser shape, clear boundaries, and on palpation, its bumpy surface can be seen. When breastfeeding, severe pain is felt, and milk leaves with great difficulty or does not leave at all.

Purulent mastitis

If the mother did not seek help from a doctor, purulent mastitis develops after 48 hours. This is a severe form of the disease requiring hospitalization and surgical intervention.

The symptoms of this form are quite severe:

high temperature - up to 40 degrees. It can rise sharply and also fall sharply;
the chest hardens and becomes very painful;
over the foci of inflammation, the skin turns red and becomes hot;
pus may come out of the chest;
signs of general intoxication - thirst, increased sweating, chills, nausea;
spread of symptoms to the second breast.

This condition is life-threatening, so trying to cure mastitis on your own is impossible. In severe cases, abscessing mastitis develops, when small abscesses merge into one or two large ones with a softening zone. The breast increases in size, soreness and redness persist.

Chronic form

As a rule, acute mastitis is immediately diagnosed and treated, so its transition to chronic form unlikely and extremely rare.

Chronic mastitis is usually accompanied by symptoms of the infiltrative stage of ordinary mastitis. It occurs as a result of undertreated acute condition, less often - as a primary phenomenon. With this form of the disease, the woman's condition worsens slightly:

there may be a slight increase in the size of the diseased breast;
a seal is palpable in it, almost painless;
occasionally, the disease is accompanied by an increase in lymph nodes and slight increase temperature.

And although the symptoms chronic mastitis may not cause much discomfort to mom, you can not leave him unattended!

How to treat mastitis

It is best to start treatment as early as possible, before acute mastitis develops. That is, already at the first signs of discomfort and heaviness in the chest, it is better to seek the advice of a doctor. This will help not only significantly speed up the treatment process, but also avoid many painful minutes.

In the initial stages, as a rule, it is enough to achieve a complete emptying of the breast at each feeding. To do this, you need to either establish breastfeeding so that the child completely eats away the diseased breast, or supplement HB with proper pumping.

If symptoms continue to appear, accompanied by fever and severe pain will require a course of antibiotics. Together with them, antispasmodics are taken to facilitate the release of milk from the breast, as well as UHF or ultrasound therapy.

First aid

First aid for the appearance of signs of stagnation of milk consists in the frequent attachment of the child to the breast. It is necessary not only to feed him on demand, but also to offer the breast more often, and also to allow the child to “hang” on the breast for as long as he wants.

At the same time, a nursing mother needs to choose different positions for feeding. The part of the gland that is located on the side of the baby’s chin is best cleaned, so by changing its position, you can empty the necessary areas as much as possible and prevent further development illness.

If the baby does not empty the breast completely, it must be expressed regularly to prevent overflow and the appearance of new foci of stagnation. With pain in the nipples due to cracks and abrasions, they must be constantly treated with healing ointments (Bepanten, Purelan 100, etc.) to prevent infection from entering the gland.

After pumping or feeding on a sore breast, you can apply cold compress or a heating pad with ice, after wrapping it in several layers of fabric. You can also do light massage breasts, moving from the edges to the nipple - this will help facilitate the outflow of milk.

What can not be done with mastitis:

Stop breastfeeding and/or take lactation suppression drugs own initiative. Such decisions are made only after consultation with a doctor if indicated;
warm sore breasts, including taking hot bath or shower, apply a heating pad;
self-treatment with antibiotics or other means.

To start suitable treatment it is necessary to see a doctor as soon as possible, and not wait until the disease comes into full force.

Conservatively

Conservative treatment lends itself to both serous mastitis and its next stage - infiltrative. It consists of the following measures:

complete peace for mom;
elevated position of the mammary gland;
regular pumping;
the appointment of antibacterial drugs;
elimination of symptoms of intoxication;
physiotherapy (massage, cold compresses and heating pads, UHF and ultrasound therapy);
maintenance therapy ( vitamin complexes, immunocorrection, antihistamines and so on.).

It is necessary to prescribe antibiotics for mastitis almost immediately, since the disease passes from a serous form to purulent mastitis in just three days. Therefore, the effectiveness of drugs should be on top, because they will not have a second chance.

Postpartum mastitis almost always occurs in the maternity hospital or shortly after discharge from it, so the causative agent, Staphylococcus aureus, was classified as an antibiotic-resistant infection. The doctor should take this into account when prescribing drugs for treatment. As a rule, this is:

Amoxiclav.
Third generation cephalosporins (Cefoperazone, Cefixime, Cefazolin, Cefuroxime);
Gentamicin;
Lincomycin;
Vancomycin, Edicin.

The course of antibiotics lasts no more than 10 days, and if after 2-3 days there is no improvement, this is a reason to suspect the formation of an abscess.

Home treatment includes breast massage - it facilitates the flow of milk and allows you to speed up pumping. At the same time, it is impossible to strongly crush the chest, rub it with a hard washcloth, as this can cause the spread of inflammation.

Compresses for mastitis help to remove discomfort and relieve pain. The main rule of their use is to exclude warming varieties! It is possible to warm the breast only with lactostasis, but if the mother is diagnosed with mastitis, warming compresses will contribute to the spread of infection.

It is possible to supplement the complex of measures for treatment various ointments or creams that have an anti-inflammatory effect:

Vishnevsky ointment. It has a thick and viscous texture, is able to penetrate deep into tissues, where it has an anti-inflammatory and healing effect. It is used in the presence of a visible abscess under the skin - the ointment will help draw out the pus. It is not recommended to use it when the focus of inflammation is deep!;
Ichthyol ointment. Active substance ointment has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, healing, antiseptic and antipruritic effect. The ointment eliminates congestion, swelling and pain, is able to penetrate deep into the tissues and have a directed effect on the foci of inflammation;
ointment Levomekol. Safe remedy with antimicrobial and restorative action. This ointment is often prescribed for open abscesses or wounds, it is applied as a compress or just a thin layer on the affected area.

Other ointments may also be used similar action- Heparin, Synthomycin, Traumeel.

Hardware physiotherapy for mastitis often complements massage and compresses. It is aimed at improving lymph and blood flow in the chest, relieves pain, swelling and spasm, and also has an anti-inflammatory effect. Most effective procedure ultrasonic impact on diseased areas is considered.

Serous and infiltrative mastitis can be treated conservatively only when:

the general condition of the patient does not cause concern;
the disease lasts no more than 3 days;
temperature not higher than 37.5 degrees;
no symptoms of purulent inflammation;
chest pain is moderate, and the induration occupies no more than a quarter of the gland;
general blood test is normal.

If within two days the treatment did not give results, mastitis turned into a purulent form.

Operation for mastitis

Purulent mastitis during breastfeeding almost always requires surgical intervention. In relatively mild cases, it is enough to make a small puncture to remove pus and inject antibiotics directly into the gland tissue.

In severe form purulent mastitis the patient is immediately hospitalized and the abscesses are opened and drained. After that, a course of antibacterial drugs is necessarily prescribed.

As a rule, after the operation, lactation is completed, since it is impossible to feed a baby from a damaged breast, and expressing milk from it causes great discomfort and pain, and is not always effective. After stopping feeding, lactation is suppressed with medication.

Folk methods

Mastitis treatment folk remedies allowed only in the initial stages, under the supervision of a physician. It serves as an addition to the main treatment, and not as a substitute for it.

Among the most effective means folk medicine:

washing the chest with infusion of chamomile and yarrow (in a ratio of 1: 4). Useful in the initial stages in the presence of cracked nipples. 2 tbsp. l. mixture of herbs is poured into 0.5 l hot water and let it brew. Before use, the broth is filtered and cooled;
cabbage leaf with mastitis is perhaps the most famous folk method. The washed leaves are applied to long time to the chest (you can put it in a bra) - the compress can be left for the whole day and all night, if necessary, replacing the leaves with fresh ones;
Compresses from the leaves of alder and mint, burdock, coltsfoot. The leaves are scalded and applied to the chest for a quarter of an hour before feeding or decanting.

It is better not to use camphor oil for mastitis. Firstly, compresses with it are not effective for mastitis, and secondly, once in milk, camphor will harm the health of the baby.

There is also a more "exotic" treatment with folk remedies - various conspiracies and "rites". It should be understood that mastitis is serious illness and refuse full treatment, hoping for a conspiracy from mastitis - irresponsible. If the mother believes in the power of such things, of course, you can use such a remedy, but only in combination with other methods.

In any case, treatment with folk remedies should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor in order to prevent the transition of the disease into a more severe form.

Is it possible to breastfeed with mastitis

There is no general opinion on whether it is possible to continue breastfeeding with mastitis.

In the manual of the World Health Organization “Mastitis. Causes and management” (2000) states that in most cases it is possible and necessary to continue breastfeeding with mastitis, since the risk of infection of the child is minimal. And this risk is much smaller than the damage that forceful weaning will cause to the baby's health.

Some "advanced" Russian pediatricians support this point of view: they argue that it is possible to feed with mastitis, even at the stage of treatment. After all, for example, amoxiclav is compatible with HB. Moreover, you can feed not only healthy, but also sick breasts.

A significant part of Russian doctors believe that breastfeeding with mastitis is prohibited from any breast and at any stage, since staphylococcus can be transmitted to the baby and cause serious problems with health. They argue that if purulent mastitis has developed, feeding is stopped, including from healthy breasts.

Is it possible to resume feeding after treatment (conservative or operative) or will it have to be stopped? Majority modern doctors They say they can, but on the condition that:

inflammation is eliminated;
bacteriological analyzes of milk gave a negative result.

However, there are also adherents of a categorical ban on breastfeeding. They believe that after the operation it is necessary to complete lactation, even if mastitis has been cured.

What should a breastfeeding mother do? Weigh the pros and cons, consult a good pediatrician and make a decision together with him.

Most breastfeeding consultants believe that feeding should be continued. For example, watch this video.

Prevention

Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. Prevention of postpartum mastitis does not require any complex actions from the mother, but it helps to maintain health and fully enjoy the process of feeding the baby.

The most important means of preventing mastitis during breastfeeding is the correct attachment of the baby to the breast! In this case, it completely empties the chest and does not injure it.

It is also recommended to constantly change the position for feeding so that the baby stimulates different parts of the breast, and feed the baby on demand. As a result, milk production will improve faster and it will come in the amount that the child needs.

Some doctors recommend that the first few weeks after childbirth be sure to strain the milk after feeding. This is done in order to stimulate milk production and avoid stagnation. However, WHO experts warn mothers against such a step. Pumping the breast with GV really stimulates lactation, but more milk comes in than the baby needs! Therefore, stagnation easily occurs, because the baby is simply not able to suck everything out.

Also to preventive measures can be attributed:

timely, if they did appear;
proper breast hygiene;
peace of mind. It is not necessary to suspect mastitis in every rush of milk.

Postpartum mastitis is a serious disease that can harm not only the mother, but also the child. A young mother should make every effort to prevent her development or transition to severe forms.

Young mothers know firsthand what mastitis is, because they have experienced this unpleasant illness. You can often hear that mastitis is called the “runny nose” of the chest, but the symptoms and pain that accompany it cause great fear in women. During this period, they are concerned about only one question, is it possible to breastfeed a child and is it dangerous for the baby's health?

Mastitis is a bacterial infection and occurs mainly in women during breastfeeding, but can also occur in non-breastfeeding mothers. Experts have not yet fully clarified all the circumstances under which infection occurs, since the disease can be both in women with damaged nipples (cracks in the nipples), and in those whose breasts are in perfect order. With this disease, breast compaction is observed, which may prevent the detection of another phenomenon - lactostasis or stagnation of milk in the ducts. The resulting compaction proceeds in combination with severe swelling and significant painful sensations, while the skin becomes red, and the chest feels hot to the touch. More often this situation mistaken for blockage of the milk ducts, but in fact the cause of mastitis is the penetration of milk into soft tissues.

Usually, women in this situation begin to worry about continuing breastfeeding, fearing that this could harm the baby. But you should not be afraid of this, moreover, in no case should you stop breastfeeding. With mastitis, the breast needs constant and thorough emptying so that milk does not stagnate in the affected breast. At the same time, it is important to squeeze the breast while feeding the baby and massage it lightly so that the milk is more easily squeezed out of it. When massaging the breast, be extremely careful, as rough pressure can cause excess milk to penetrate into the soft tissues of the breast, which will significantly worsen the condition. Since during this period milk stagnation in the affected breast should not be allowed, it is necessary to apply the baby to the breast as often as possible, it is also recommended to use a breast pump to completely empty it after feeding. According to some moms, breast pumps empty their breasts much better than when sucking on a baby. It is worth noting that this is observed with inflammation of the nipples in the mother. If putting the baby to the breast causes unbearable pain, it is better to use a breast pump and feed the baby from a bottle or cup.

During the period of illness, a woman simply needs a calm environment and good rest, no overvoltage. Therefore, in order not to get out of bed at night in order to feed the baby, it is recommended to put him to bed with you in advance. All this will prevent the development of mastitis in more serious forms up to suppuration.

Heat will help to cope with mastitis on your own. Between feedings, it is recommended to warm the breast with a heating pad or a bottle of hot water. You can also use hot compresses, take hot showers and baths, or apply a well-ironed diaper to the affected breast. By the way, some mothers, on the contrary, bring relief with cold compresses. IN this case You should choose what brings relief to you.

Very often, with mastitis, a woman has an increase in temperature. You should not be afraid of this, because the body is struggling with inflammatory processes. It is necessary to bring down the temperature only in cases where its value is too high level. If necessary, you can take painkillers. They will not cause any harm to the baby's body, but they will bring significant relief to mommy. For example, you can use Ibuprofen, it is approved for use during lactation, it eliminates pain and relieves inflammation. In this case, before taking any drug, it is important to consult a specialist.

In general, at the first symptoms of mastitis, you should immediately consult a doctor. To facilitate the process of breastfeeding and relieve pain, it is recommended to apply to the inflamed breast for several minutes immediately before feeding dry hot compress. Only after complete examination breast doctor will prescribe a method for treating mastitis. In addition, the specialist will instruct the woman on measures to prevent this disease.

Depending on the form of mastitis, as well as the duration of the condition in which the woman is, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Usually, the specialist prescribes drugs that can be used while breastfeeding and that do not negative impact on the quantity and quality of milk, as well as the health of the baby. In this case, it is necessary to warn the doctor when prescribing antibiotics that you intend to maintain lactation and the ability to breastfeed.

About a day after the start of taking antibiotics, a woman feels a significant improvement in her condition. Even if mastitis is caused non-infectious causes, the drug will eliminate inflammation. It is worth remembering that if mastitis is caused by improper attachment of the baby to the breast, then the treatment in this case will positive effect for a while. It is important to prevent recurrence of the disease proper organization baby feeding. You need to make sure that the baby is applied to the breast correctly, for which you need to remember step by step instructions on breastfeeding. During feeding, it is necessary to change the position, looking for the optimal one, in which it will be convenient and comfortable for the baby to suck.

Many women are afraid to take antibiotics, leaving them on extreme case. But in any case, drugs of this kind must be kept at hand. It is possible to cope with mastitis of the initial stage on your own, but if there are improvements from self-treatment no, there is a risk of developing purulent inflammation, which requires medical, and often surgical intervention.

It must be clearly understood that mastitis is not a sentence, that in this case, you can and should continue to breastfeed your baby. With the right, and most importantly, timely treatment the disease is successfully and fairly quickly eliminated. Most importantly, even if the mother feels terrible, feeding from an inflamed breast is safe for the baby. Even if in case infectious origin mastitis with milk digestive tract baby will fall pathogenic bacteria, his gastric juice cope with them without much difficulty.

Inflammation mammary gland(mastitis) is acute and chronic. In the postpartum period, as well as during the entire period of breastfeeding, acute lactational mastitis develops. Women who do not breastfeed sometimes develop non-lactational mastitis, but less frequently.

Reasons for the development of lactational mastitis

frequent development stagnation of milk in the breast (lactostasis), especially in the postpartum period;
reduced immunity in pregnant women due to hormonal changes and after childbirth due to stress and blood loss;
the appearance of microcracks and abrasions on the nipples - a gate for the penetration of infection;
structural features of the milk ducts and nipples, the functioning of the mammary gland;
non-compliance by a woman hygiene rules breast care.

Most often, inflammation develops due to a combination of reasons. The causative agents of the infection are conditionally pathogenic microflora, permanently living on human skin: staphylococci, streptococci, E. coli, etc. With normal immunity, these pathogens do not cause disease, but in a woman in the postpartum period, immunity is reduced, this is the reason for the onset of infection.

There are also hospital forms of the disease in which the infection is transmitted by contact persons carrying the infection. Hospital forms of mastitis are more severe and less treatable.

Why do nipple cracks appear

Of great importance in the development of inflammation are cracks and abrasions of the nipples. The reasons for their formation are:

functional inferiority of the nipples and areola;
malformations of the nipples - flat, retracted, large, small, grape-shaped;
prolonged stay in the child's mouth and maceration (soaking);
child grasping only the nipple without the areola;
insufficient amount of milk, due to which a significant negative pressure is created in the child's mouth and the integrity of the tissues is violated;
too much a large number of milk - there is an overstretching of the peripapillary region, which leads to tissue injury.

Types of cracks: superficial, deep and circular (located on the border of the nipple and areola). The formation of cracks occurs in three stages: catarrhal inflammation and maceration (soaking), crust and erosion. Prevention and treatment of cracks is main prevention inflammatory processes in mammary gland.

Important information! A nursing mother needs to treat abrasions and cracks in the nipples in time and follow the rules for caring for the mammary glands.

What happens in the body of a woman suffering from purulent mastitis

The process most often begins with stagnation in the mammary gland - lactostasis. This happens due to the narrow milk ducts in primiparous mothers, violations of the integrity and functions of the gland tissue, etc. The infection penetrates into the chest through microtraumas of the skin or through the openings of the excretory milk ducts.

The penetration of infection is accompanied by curdling of milk in milky way, their walls swell, their inner layers (epithelium) are damaged, and become permeable to infection. The chest develops inflammation, swelling and pain.

Symptoms and signs of the disease

Symptoms of inflammation must be distinguished from symptoms of lactostasis. With lactostasis, the edema proceeds without reddening of the skin and fever (there may be a slight subfebrile condition), there is no pain, relief comes after pumping.

When acute inflammation begins, a red spot appears on the skin of the chest, the size of which depends on the size of the emerging infiltrate. The chest becomes painful, pumping no longer brings relief. Sometimes it is impossible to express the breast from the first days of the development of mastitis due to severe pain. The transition of lactostasis to inflammation begins with high fever, chills. The chest swells and hurts, redness appears on the skin. Palpation reveals indistinct areas of hardening.

For 2 - 3 days serous inflammation becomes infiltrative. The body temperature rises to the maximum figures, the state of health worsens, the soreness of the chest increases. A clear red spot appears on the skin, an infiltrate is palpable under the skin.

On the 4th - 5th day from the onset of the disease, the infiltrative process turns into a purulent one. In the affected chest, signs of liquid pus are revealed. At the same time, the temperature is either constantly high, or takes on a hectic character (it rises sharply, then also falls sharply). Nearby (axillary) lymph nodes are enlarged.

The gangrenous process is especially difficult. The chest swells sharply, the skin above it turns blue, covered with bubbles with brown liquid. Dying tissue is visible. Edema captures all the soft tissues of the chest.

Important advice! At the first sign of mastitis, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Features of the course of purulent mastitis in the postpartum period and during breastfeeding

After childbirth, the disease begins approximately 5 to 7 days later and proceeds acutely with a rapid transition from one phase to another. IN last years there is an increasing development of delayed forms of this process in the postpartum period. Such inflammation may not begin immediately, at 3-4 weeks.

Treatment and care at home

You need to start treatment as early as possible. It is better when lactostasis has not yet turned into an inflammatory process. Assign rest to the mammary gland (an elevated position supported by special bandages or a bra), frequent feeding a newborn with milk expression in the shower or using a breast pump. But it is believed that hand pumping is more effective.

In the postpartum period, after each feeding, the nipples and areolas must be examined. When cracks and abrasions appear, the mammary gland is washed with boiled water and soap, treated with alcohol and an antiseptic ointment is applied (Levomekol ointment is approved for use during pregnancy). This combined ointment, which includes the antibiotic levomycetin and the immunostimulating and regeneration-accelerating agent methyluracil. To relieve inflammation, the nipples are lubricated with Vinylin, Solcoseryl ointment is used to regenerate the tissues of the nipples.

If you suspect the onset of serous or infiltrative inflammation, appoint bed rest lying on your back or on your healthy side. Cold is applied to the mammary gland. It causes constriction blood vessels, reduces blood supply to the breast, inhibits metabolic processes in it and the secretion of milk, relieves swelling and pain.

Cold is used for 1 - 2 days until the body temperature returns to normal. After that, physiotherapeutic procedures are carried out (UVI, UHF, etc.). The woman continues to feed the newborn with a sick breast.

Treatment in a hospital

If it starts purulent inflammation The woman is hospitalized. Experts have different attitudes towards feeding a child with purulent mastitis, but most doctors believe that it is better to cancel the feeding of a newborn at the time of excretion of pus with milk, but continue pumping milk.

Small abscesses are sometimes treated conservatively by puncturing the breast under ultrasound guidance, draining the pus, and flushing the cavity with antibacterial solutions. At the same time, antibiotic therapy is prescribed.

The main method of treatment of purulent processes is surgery. The abscess is opened, washed antiseptic solutions and then treated like an open wound. Antibacterial therapy is mandatory.