Great idea from a cafe in . Beautiful show of support in the south of England for the great job breastfeeding mothers are doing!
Mastitis – there are two types (blocked duct)
BLOCKED DUCT MASTITIS
This can occur from your first to last feed. It occurs when there is a kink in a milk duct, often caused by a too tight bra, wearing a bra overnight, your own elbow in the side of your breast as you sleep, or by being very full from missing a feed, sometimes it will happen when your baby sleeps for a long stretch overnight!
When the milk is unable to flow towards the nipple there becomes a backlog up the ductal system that needs to drain. When it doesn’t drain, the milk oozes into the tissue layer causing the pinkness, temperature etc. The more you ‘learn‘ your breasts by feeling them for areas of milk fullness and emptiness, the more you will be able to quickly notice an unusually firm, lumpy area and the sooner you can try to massage out the lump ! By doing that you will mostly avoid a blocked duct mastitis!
The way Blocked Duct Mastitis presents is very similar to Bacterial Mastitis. You have aches, pains, flu like symptoms, temperature and a sore inflamed breast. The breast is the difference though, there will be a large chunk of an area of pinkness and in that area will be a firm lump.
1. For this mastitis you will need to see your Doctor for antibiotics if you are unable to unblock the blockage in the first 24 hours.
2. To unblock the blockage, it helps to put a warm pack on your breast for five minutes, or have a warm shower.
3. Then with some oil on your fingers massage the area of firmness from beyond it, massaging towards your nipple. Imagine it as a ‘ plumbing ‘ problem and you have to move the firm, full milk duct towards the nipple and out. You do this when bub is feeding, they are the suction while massage is the back pressure.
4. Try and angle your baby’s chin towards the lump as best as possible.
5. Do the massaging every feed until your breast is soft.
6. Feed your baby often on the blocked side. Do not ignore the other side though, you might need to use a breast pump on that side if your baby is not needing both sides per feed.
When you unblock the blockage your lump will go and the temperature and unwell feeling will also go. If the lump has been there for longer than 24 hours there is a chance that the milk that was in the tissue layer is growing bacteria, hence the need for the antibiotics. The antibiotics will not unblock the blockage though, you still need to work on it and massage the lump as the baby feeds from that side.
See module one on my site for more tips on latch (attachment) and module two for more tips on preventing mastitis https://www.breastfeedinghelp.net/shop/
Mastitis – there are two types (bacterial)
Mastitis is one of those nasty side affect of breastfeeding, with a better understanding of it though, we can help to either fully avoid it or get over it much more quickly.
BACTERIAL MASTITIS
This mainly occurs in the early stage of your breastfeeding when there are grazes on your nipples, bugs get in via the grazes and cracks and set up a bacterial infection.
It presents as aches, pain, flu like symptoms, temperature and a sore, inflamed breast with blotchy pink areas it, there is no specific lump.
1. You need to see your Doctor and begin antibiotics correct for mastitis, as soon as possible. It is safe to continue breastfeeding whilst being treated with the correct antibiotic.
2. You also need to get the ‘Attachment’ or ‘latch’ right, as if you don’t improve that, the grazes will continue.
See module one on my site for more tips on latch (attachment) and module two for more tips on preventing mastitis https://www.breastfeedinghelp.net/shop/
Breast Checking for Breastmilk Supply
It is really good to get used to how your breasts are feeling just before a feed. When you do this you are learning to read what they are telling you!
You will feel some areas denser and fuller than other areas, which is normal. What you want to get used to is working out if between both breasts you feel it will be a good breastfeed. You are also giving yourself a clue as to whether the next feed is likely to only be in a couple of hours or more 3-4 hours from when you are starting this feed. The fuller you feel, the longer until the next feed is needed.
When you feel more confident with assessing your breastmilk supply, you have given yourself the confidence on how to act in between feeds. For example, if the feed was a great full feed and your baby is awake and crying sooner rather than later, you don’t have to jump in and feel it needs to be fed again. If on the other hand you had felt your breasts were soft at the previous feed, of course you will feed again!
As a breastfeeding Mum we always query our supply. Gaining confidence in what you are feeling your breasts ‘tell’ you is very empowering!
Breastfeeding Tips – Kate’s top 5
1. We keep hearing ‘breast is best’! Well, yes it is for all the right reasons, starting with the colostrum. This fantastic first milk your baby will get after it is born, is packed full of antibodies, designed to help stop your baby getting sick in the early months. It will also provide your baby with the perfect recipe feed. So, my tip is give breastfeeding a go!
2. A lot of mums start breastfeeding in hospital, only to find they end up with grazed, sore nipples. Sadly, when you’re sore and tired it is easy to decide you don’t want to breastfeed. So, my next tip is, learn how to get the attachment or latch right!
3. It is always difficult to work out how much milk our baby has had at a breastfeed. When we can work it out a bit we have more confidence with our feeding. So, try and ‘learn’ your breasts!
4. Watch how your baby is sucking and swallowing. They are supposed to have pauses and rests through the feed. You want to be able to see some good swallowing as well. So, ‘learn’ your baby.
5. When you understand as much as possible about what you are doing at a breastfeed, you will feel more in control with the way you manage your baby. So, trust your own confidence and’ gut feeling