Get Quick Relief From Mastitis With Home Remedies

Pregnancy is a time when you go through a medley of problems. Once the joys of motherhood subside and you are pulled back to reality, you will begin to see other problems that need to be addressed. Mastitis or clogged milk duct is a common problem that many lactating and nursing mothers face every day. Mastitis can be a very painful condition and if left untreated will result in grave conditions like an abscess which requires surgical intervention and draining.

Mastitis symptoms can be relieved at home if you identify the condition at the beginning stage itself. This will avoid a lot of pain and complications in lactating mothers.

Know the Symptoms of Mastitis

Mastitis first appears as a small, lump inside the breast. This lump could be hard to touch and shifty.  The skin outside could be inflamed or red depending on the severity of the condition. Though some mastitis inflammations can repair on its own, there are others that persist and lead to complications. Persistent symptoms will be accompanied by throbbing or stinging pain inside the breast, fever with chills, lump under the armpits and dimpling and reddening of skin on the area in severe cases of infection.

Mastitis can be caused due to several reasons. The main reason for Mastitis is that the milk inside the ducts is not getting drained completely. This could be due to poor feeding positions, use of tight clothes that compress the breasts and lead to clogs, skipping feeding, bras that are too tight and breast pumps that are not designed properly. Other causes that result in Mastitis are under nourishment during lactation, stress, infections and colds.Depending on the severity of the case, Mastitis symptoms can be treated at home.

Home Remedies for Mastitis

Frequent Breastfeeding for Mastitis

Whether you have Mastitis or not, all breastfeeding mothers must ensure that the milk ducts are emptied frequently to prevent milk from getting accumulated and resulting in clogging of milk ducts. Frequent feeding will empty the milk ducts completely leaving no cause for Mastitis symptoms to develop. In case you feel a lump developing, make sure you continue milk feeding in order not to worsen the symptoms. Mastitis symptoms tend to subside on its own with continued breast feeding.

Massaging the Breasts for Relieving Mastitis

This too is something which every mother can do in order to prevent Mastitis from occurring. Massaging the breast every day will relieve any clogged ducts that could be present in the breast. After every feeding the breasts must be massaged to relieve clogged milk through the nipple. This will prevent infections from surfacing. Massaging can be done while feeding too to ensure proper flow of milk. Massaging must be started from the top of the breast and moved on to the nipple area.

If a lump has developed in the breast area, massage it thoroughly so that the pressure you exert will relieve the milk ducts off the block. Massaging the breasts every day while you take a warm water bath will relieve and also prevent the development of Mastitis. Make sure you allow hot water to flow on the lumpy area. This will soften the tissues and let out the milk that is accumulated inside the breast.

Hot Compressors for Relieving Mastitis

If you have developed symptoms of Mastitis. You must ensure that you apply wet compressors on your breast before you breastfeed. Hot compressors can be applied symptomatically and till the inflammation subsides. Hot compressors ensure that the ducts are open and the milk flows freely without causing any reason for developing clogs. Milk will be completely drained out while using hot compressors for relieving Mastitis symptoms. This can be done while taking as well. Hot water baths will have the same effect as a hot compressor. You can massage your breasts from top to down while allowing the water to flow on the affected area.

Importance of Feeding Position in Relieving Mastitis

Most first time mothers have difficulty in finding a feeding position that is convenient for the mother as well as the baby. Finding the right feeding position or positions are of utmost importance to prevent Mastitis or relive the condition permanently.  Try cradling the baby in varied positions to figure out the best positions that work for you and the baby.

If you have a sore point in your breast, you must make it a point to position the baby in such a way that the milk from the clogged pores are sucked out before symptoms worsen. Positioning the baby in such a way that its chin points towards the point where the clog is, will help in relieving the milk from the clogged ducts.  You must also massage the point where the sore is while feeding. This will help in removing the clog permanently.

Avoiding Tight Fitting Clothes for Relieving Mastitis

Lactating breasts must never be compressed in tight clothes. Avoiding this itself will prevent most of the occurrences or Mastitis and other infections. Wear snug fitting bras that let in air and also allow blood circulation. Clothes too must not be too tight as milk ducts can get blocked due to compressed breast tissues and milk ducts. It is important to leave the breasts open by wearing loose fitting clothes while you breastfeed. Lactating breasts are thriving grounds for bacteria and hence lactating mothers have to ensure good hygienic practices and observe caution while breastfeeding.

Treating Cracked Nipples for Relieving Mastitis

Cracked nipples must be immediately treated to avoid Mastitis. Bacteria can enter the ducts through cracked nipples and cause Mastitis. Using a good oil like coconut oil, olive oil or almond oil to treat cracked nipples will prevent cases of Mastitis.

Diet and Personal Hygiene

You must also practice good hygiene like changing clothes every day and wearing cotton clothes that have been dried under the sun during lactation to prevent bacterial infections that cause Mastitis. Herbs are known to remove blockages in the ducts. Hot herbal infusions of Echinacea and lecithin are good for pain relief associated with Mastitis. They also effectively relieve clogs. Vitamin C is known to relieve blockages and prevent Mastitis.

Mastitis that is persistent requires medical attention to prevent development of abscesses.