Mastitis symptoms include pain, fever, swelling, and redness in the breasts due to a blocked milk duct and bacterial buildup. Continuing to breastfeed can help clear the duct, and treatment is available even for non-breastfeeding women. Other symptoms include feeling tired, irritable, and joint or muscle pain. Antibiotics are the most common treatment, and rest and fluids are recommended.
The most common symptoms of mastitis occur in the first few weeks or months of breastfeeding and include pain, fever, swelling and redness in the breasts. Mastitis means that one of the milk ducts has become blocked and bacteria has started to build up in the breast. While painful, this condition usually clears up easily with some treatment, and that doesn’t mean women should stop breastfeeding; actually continuing to breastfeed can help. Even if a woman doesn’t choose to breastfeed, a little treatment can help resolve the condition fairly quickly.
Anyone who has just had a baby or is breastfeeding should be aware of the common symptoms of mastitis. These can arise quickly and become a health problem with little warning. One of the things women may feel that could indicate mastitis is pain when milk runs down or pools up. During the first few weeks of breastfeeding this sensation can be slightly uncomfortable and unusual, and it can be difficult to differentiate these new sensations from the pain of mastitis during let-down. Other symptoms can be used as a guide to determining if mastitis is present.
Often women notice that after feeding a baby the breasts feel empty, but an infected breast may never feel empty. Even if a baby nurses vigorously, the breasts can still feel full. Milk may still be draining from the breast while you are breastfeeding, but a blocked duct can mean that the milk does not flow easily and the breasts may feel engorged all the time.
Another of the common symptoms of mastitis is that the breasts can be red or pink, which is a classic indication, although not all women have this symptom. Upon feeling the breast, women may also detect a discernible lump. Touching the lump or palpating the breast is often uncomfortable.
While some mastitis symptoms are directly related to the breast, others seem unrelated. It is quite common for women to develop a slight fever and feel very tired or exhausted. Sometimes mood swings occur, and not for the better, and women may feel irritable or easily irritable. Joint or muscle pain can also be associated with this infection.
If symptoms of mastitis should be present, this is an indication to call a doctor. The most common treatment for this condition is the administration of antibiotics. Many doctors also suggest that it is equally important for women to use this infection as an indication to slow down a bit. Having a few days of bed rest and drinking plenty of fluids is of great value. For lactating women, continued breastfeeding is strongly recommended to help clear the duct. Many doctors advise women to go to bed with the baby for a few days if possible and simply give their bodies a chance to heal.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
