Mastitis is a painful condition characterized by inflammation of the breast tissue, often affecting women who are breastfeeding. Effective milk removal is the most important step in managing and treating this common issue. Pumping is a highly effective method used to achieve the necessary drainage and prevent the condition from worsening.
What Mastitis Is and Why It Occurs
Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast that may or may not involve a bacterial infection. Symptoms typically develop quickly, making the affected breast feel swollen, tender, and hot to the touch, sometimes with a wedge-shaped area of redness on the skin. Sufferers frequently experience flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, and body aches.
The primary cause of mastitis is milk stasis, which occurs when milk is not adequately drained from the breast. This pooling can result from a poor latch, missed feedings, or tight clothing constricting the milk ducts. Stagnant milk causes pressure to build up, leading to inflammation and creating an environment where bacteria can multiply and cause an infection.
How Pumping Addresses Milk Stasis
Pumping serves as a direct solution to milk stasis by ensuring the breast is emptied regularly. The goal is to remove the pooled milk causing the duct blockage and subsequent inflammation. Frequent and thorough drainage is necessary because stagnant milk perpetuates the inflammatory cycle.
Maintaining a consistent expression schedule, ideally pumping or nursing every two to three hours, helps prevent the breast from becoming overly full. This regularity clears blocked ducts and relieves the painful pressure associated with engorgement. Continuing to remove milk from the affected breast is safe for the baby, and stopping suddenly can worsen symptoms.
While the baby’s suckling is often the most effective way to remove milk, pumping is valuable when nursing is too painful or if the infant is not draining the breast efficiently. Pumping allows for controlled, consistent suction, which is preferable until the acute pain subsides. Regular emptying helps prevent the condition from progressing to a more serious stage.
Maximizing Milk Removal Through Pumping
To make pumping effective and comfortable during a mastitis episode, several techniques should be employed to maximize drainage. Applying a warm compress or taking a warm shower just before a session stimulates the let-down reflex and encourages milk flow. The warmth helps to dilate the milk ducts, making expression easier.
Gentle massage techniques are also beneficial. The breast should be lightly stroked from the outer area toward the nipple, especially over any tender or lumpy spots. This gentle pressure, applied before and during pumping, aids in moving milk through the affected ducts. Avoid aggressive or deep massage, as this can increase inflammation.
Pumping Duration and Fit
Starting the pumping session on the affected breast is often recommended because the milk ejection reflex is typically strongest at the beginning of the session. Furthermore, ensuring the flange size of the pump is correct is important, as breast swelling from inflammation can alter the fit and cause additional discomfort or reduce efficiency.
Pumping for a duration of about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the breast feels adequately softened, is usually sufficient, as over-pumping can sometimes perpetuate an oversupply issue.
Beyond Pumping: Medical Treatment and Warning Signs
While pumping is a foundational element for drainage and symptom relief, it is not always enough to resolve the condition completely, especially if a bacterial infection has taken hold. If symptoms like fever, chills, or widespread redness persist for more than 24 hours despite consistent milk removal, medical attention is necessary. This indicates that the inflammation may have progressed to infectious mastitis.
Infectious mastitis typically requires a 10-day course of antibiotics to eliminate the underlying bacterial cause. Common antibiotics prescribed are those effective against Staphylococcus aureus, such as dicloxacillin or cephalexin, which are generally safe to continue using while breastfeeding. It is imperative to complete the full course of medication, even if symptoms improve quickly, to prevent the infection from returning.
Recognizing Abscesses and Seeking Help
A failure to treat an infectious mastitis promptly and effectively can lead to the formation of a breast abscess, which is a localized collection of pus that often requires surgical drainage.
Warning signs that necessitate immediate medical evaluation include a fever above 100.4°F (38°C), symptoms that continue to worsen after 48 hours of treatment, or a hard lump that does not soften after pumping. Consulting a healthcare provider or a lactation consultant ensures the condition is managed appropriately.