“I wouldn’t wish mastitis on my worst enemy” I said.
“I wouldn’t wish mastitis on mastitis.” my friend replied.
Mastitis is an IYKYK situation. And once you know, you never forget!
The first time I had heard of mastitis was a few months after Jos gave birth to her baby boy. I hadn’t heard from her for a few days (odd for us) and once we finally got in touch, I found out she’d be suffering with mastitis for several days. I googled it quickly and my heart broke:
Mastitis is an inflammation of breast tissue that can often lead to an infection. The inflammation results in breast pain, swelling, warmth and redness. When infected, one might also have fever and chills. Mastitis can occur in lactating women making breastfeeding and pumping painful and difficult. The mother can feel worn down making it challenging to take care of her infant.
Then, a few months after my baby was born, I woke up one morning to horrible breast pain, fever and chills. I could hardly get out of bed let alone hold my baby girl. I texted Jos “I think I have mastitis”. She immediately sent me condolences, tips, and prayer emojis. An hour later there was a knock at my door. It was Jos, with a bottle of sunflower lecithin in tow.
Jos and I (Claire) have had a combined 15+ clogged ducts and 7 mastitis episodes. You could call us BREAST FRIENDS. !! We’ve been around the boobie block, so to speak, and have an arsenal of tips and tools to help not only treat mastitis but ward off clogged ducts!
We both feel so passionately about this subject and hope it can help every lactating woman navigate breast care a little more confidently. So PLEASE save these tips, share with expecting mamas, and help spread the word!
ALL PRODUCTS LISTED HAVE BEEN TRIED, TESTED, AND PROVEN TRUE MUST-HAVES FOR US! We would never recommend anything we haven’t used + loved ourselves.
PRESCRIPTION ANTIBIOTICS
If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, don’t wait to call your OBGYN, Mid-wife, or general practitioner for their opinion and a possible prescription to kill off the infection. Let them know if you want to continue your lactating journey so they keep that in mind with your prescription. Some women note a drop in supply when on medications but with effort of continued feeding/pumping most can restore their supply + milk may naturally come back when you finish your medications. Always remember to complete your antibiotics as prescribed (even when you start to feel better, which you typically do in a day or two), not doing so could result the infection coming back stronger. Make sure to list any medication allergies to your Dr. as there are multiple types of antibiotics that can treat mastitis.
Sunflower Lecithin is a natural fat emulsifier that can help to reduce the “stickiness” of the milk and deter fats from clumping together. AKA it helps the milk flow through your ducts easier which is a must for clearing clogged ducts/mastitis. It’s safe to take daily! I up my dose to 4 a day when I feel a clogged duct coming on. LEGENDARY MILK has great products for lactating women and their sunflower lecithin is no exception. I also love THIS BRAND which is on sale right now!
Happy Ducts is a magical herbal formula that will help clear a clogged duct- even before it becomes Mastitis! Have this in your medicine cabinet JUST IN CASE. It came in handy for me and was truly magic!!
HYDRATE + NOURISH
There are few things a big glass of water can’t make a bit better. And when your body is struggling with infection, hydration is key. We’ve talked about our love of STANLEY CUPS before, but THE ICEFLOW TUMBLER has become a new favorite (and is currently in stock!). It’s spill proof making it ideal for a mom on the go or a mom in bed ;). Fueling your body with good nutrients will aid to a speedy recovery. Don’t hesitate to ask a friend or neighbor to drop of some food! People are more willing to help in times of need than we give them credit for. It can feel uncomfortable BUT keep in mind that you’ll be willing to return the favor/pay it forward to a mastitis mama in need in the future! Once you go through something like this, your empathy will kick into overdrive helping anyone else who has the same misfortune.
Massaging the clogged duct is one of the best things you can do! But…it is painful and can feel like a chore. If you can locate the clogged duct, start at the areola using 2 fingers and slowly massage towards the nipple. Work your way outwards until you reach the clog. The idea is to loosen the areas down the pipeline to avoid more clogging/pain then by starting directly at the source of the clog. I highly recommend massaging in a HOT shower, heat helps to loosen any clogs and open up ducts for better flow. After a few days of my clog not budging, I primed THIS AMAZING BREAST MASSAGER (worth it’s weight in gold!). It has several different massage modes and speeds, is shaped exclusively for breast massages, and charges and can be used in the shower!
Not all hot/cold compresses are created equal! THIS BOOB-FRIENDLY COMPRESS might seem extra but believe me, when your breast is throbbing and your nipple is tender, these are LIFE SAVERS. I primed them the first time I had mastitis but they would have been so lovely for when my milk came in. I recommend them to anyone putting together their baby registry and love gifting them!
HAND EXPRESS
Hand expressing has a bit of a learning curve, but it’s a useful skill to develop since it allows you to express milk without any other device. I’ve learned a great deal about breast care through International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Stephanie Hadfield on instagram. You can follow her HERE. I found it easiest to try hand expressing in the shower or bath.
You’ve probably seen the HAAKAA PUMP advertised to catch extra let-down while breastfeeding or pumping (which they work great for!) but it sure came in clutch when I was working around the clock to unclog my ducts. You can fill it with warm/hot water and epsom salts to get relief. The shape of this device is a bit odd (makes sense for a boob!) and doesn’t stand up on it’s own very well. I ordered it without a base to save a few bucks and wish I had THIS ONE (it comes with a lid and base!) as it would have saved me a few tears cried over spilt milk.
Dangle feeding is also a great way to use gravity to your advantage. Lay your babe on the floor and get on all fours for a feeding! The HAAKAA PUMP can also be used in this way as it attaches strongly to the boob allowing you to move, hands free, catching milk in any direction.
REST
We know rest is a precious and often rare commodity for mothers, but when your body is down, rest is key for recovery. My last round of mastitis came about after a very stressful week of work. Stress/busyness can be a major contributor to clogged ducts (they are more common around the Holidays for this very reason!). When it all finally caught up with me I knew I needed some real help. I called for a family member to take my baby for the day so I could sit in my bed and bath guilt free, literally nursing myself back to health. I nearly watched a season of “Call the Midwife” that day, which was good for the body and soul 🙂
I won’t pretend for one second that I enjoyed drinking this drink (I’m a picky eater) but when your supply drops, you’ll desperately do what you can to build it back up. This UPSPRING LACTATION SUPPLEMENT DRINK MIX drink mix combines three naturally-sourced breast milk-boosting herbs – fenugreek, blessed thistle, and anise to support breast milk production. I love having it on hand to drop off with sunflower lecithin to any friends suffering with mastitis (just like J did for me!).
We all know that laughter is a powerful medicine! My sweet friend dropped off a box of milk duds and wrote a “I’m sorry about your clogged MILK DUDS” note on the box. I loved her wit and needed that light pick-me-up!
NURSE/PUMP OFTEN
In the end, there’s only one way to get rid of a clogged duct and that’s to work it OUT. Although it can be painful, increasing your nursing/pumping sessions regularly (and maybe adding an extra session in the night) will help immensely. Make sure you keep switching sides. Neglecting one side may cause a build up in the other breast which can lead to another clogged duct.
We sincerely hope you don’t have to experience mastitis in motherhood. But if you do, we hope you find these tips and tools helpful! Our bosom goes out to you 😉
xoxox,
C&J
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