In Australia our latest research shows that 96% of mothers start out breastfeeding, but after the first few weeks a rapid fall in breastfeeding rates occur. 

This may occur for many reasons such as no longer wishing to breastfeed, inconvenience/ fatigue associated with it, concerns about milk supply, but a common occurrence found in the deferral of breastfeeding was developing conditions such as mastitis.  
 
So, what is mastitis? 
Mastitis is an extremely common condition to develop in the breastfeeding population, with mastitis symptoms occurring in up to 30% of breastfeeding women. This often happens within the first 6-12 weeks and usually only affects one breast at a time. 

Mastitis is an inflammatory condition of the breast that may or may not also have an infection. It is a result of milk statis occurring in the breast tissue at a cellular level as a result of a narrowed duct, leading to continuing increase in milk within the breast and no place for it to escape, which results in the horrible symptoms we will touch on. 
 
Symptoms of mastitis 
-Fever 
-Flu like aches and pain 
-Breast pain 
-Visible/ palpatable lump within the breast tissue 
-Red patch on your breast 
-Pain when feeding, lifting arms or even lying on your affected aside 
-Breast feels hot to touch 
 
What causes mastitis? 
It commonly affects mothers in their early stages of breastfeeding, so a large risk factor is believed to be poor education around the condition. Milk statis is the main cause of mastitis and this can occur through the following: 
-Poor latch of the baby 
-Damaged nipples 
-Delay in feeding/ missing scheduled routine 
-Sustained pressure on breasts e.g. ill fitting bra, stomach sleeping 
-Too rapid weaning  
-Increased milk supply/ engorgement 

 
So what can be done to manage/treat mastitis? 
Many people will tell you that mastitis is an infection and that you need antibiotics to help clear it, however this is not the case and often women still have their mastitis symptoms after they have finished their course of antibiotics. Women are also often told to increase their feeds/ pumps as well as massage their breasts in the direction of their nipple to help clear it, but this advice often leads to worsening their current flare of mastitis. 
Mastitis is an inflammatory condition and needs treatment to be directed at that. One of the most effective ways to help get rid of your mastitis is through lymphatic drainage techniques that focus on assisting the statis of milk away from the nipple and breast and to the closest lymph nodes for the body to drain away. Often, we would expect to see improvement within the first 24-48 hours. 
If left untreated mastitis can turn into an infection and in severe cases an abyss may form which would result in the need of antibiotics and a referral to their GP. 
 

Mastitis can be scary and often a big cause of anxiety for breastfeeding mothers, it is important to know that help is always available and this does not mean you can’t continue to breastfeed if you still wish to.  

References 

(N.d.). Retrieved from https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/resources/breastfeeding-rates-australia  

Pevzner, M., & Dahan, A. (2020). Mastitis while breastfeeding: Prevention, the importance of proper treatment, and potential complications. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(8), 2328. doi:10.3390/jcm9082328