Breastfeeding is natural, but it doesn’t always come naturally to all mothers. If you have recently given birth or are planning on breastfeeding your baby soon, then you should be aware of the common problems that new mothers face and the potential solutions to these problems. One of the most common issues faced by new moms is an inflammation of the breast called mastitis, which can make it difficult for you to continue breastfeeding your baby. But don’t worry – there are plenty of home remedies for mastitis that will help you get back to feeding your baby again as soon as possible.
What is Mastitis?
Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast tissue. It’s not caused by an infection like a bacterial infection might be, but it can lead to a bacterial infection that can make breastfeeding even more difficult. The inflammation in the breast tissue can make it very painful to breastfeed. The symptoms of mastitis that you need to be aware of are a red, tender, and warm breast, pain when breastfeeding, slight fever, and flu-like symptoms. If you feel any of these symptoms, then you should get checked out by a doctor to rule out any bacterial infection. Mastitis can happen at any time, but it is more common in the first few weeks after you’ve given birth. There are many things that can increase your chance of getting mastitis, such as not breastfeeding enough, not removing your breast milk, not changing your breast pads often enough, and having cracked and bleeding nipples.
How to prevent mastitis
If you want to prevent mastitis, here are a few things that you can do:
- Breastfeed frequently: Breastfeed your baby at least every two to three hours to increase your milk supply. The more your baby feeds, the more milk you will produce. This is important for preventing mastitis because you need enough breast milk to keep your baby hydrated and content.
- Drink enough water: Make sure that you are drinking enough water to stay hydrated.
- Keep your hands clean: Washing your hands frequently and using clean bottles and breastfeeding pads will also help to prevent mastitis.
- Stay aware of your body temperature: If you feel unusually hot, cold, or notice a change in body temperature, then you could be developing a bacterial infection, which can lead to mastitis.
Home remedies for mastitis
If you think that you have mastitis, then there are a few home remedies that you can try.
- Take a bath with Epsom salts: Taking a hot bath with Epsom salts can help to soothe the pain caused by a bacterial infection in the breast tissue. Be sure to use plenty of water so that you don’t scald yourself.
- Use a breast pump: If you are experiencing pain when breastfeeding, then a breast pump can be a better option. This can help to relieve the pain when breastfeeding.
- Drink plenty of water: Drinking plenty of water will help to fight off any bacterial infections.
- Take an anti-inflammatory medication: Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help to relieve the pain mastitis causes.
How to treat mastitis at home?
If you think that you have mastitis, then you might want to try to treat it yourself. If you are breastfeeding, then it’s best to get checked out by a doctor to rule out any bacterial infections. If you have been diagnosed with mastitis, then there are a few things that you can do to relieve the pain.
- Be sure to drink plenty of water to help to flush out any bacteria and take an anti-inflammatory medication to help to relieve the pain.
- Take frequent breaks from breastfeeding to give your breast tissue a break from the pressure caused by your baby feeding.
- Try to take a warm bath or use hot compresses to soothe the pain caused by the inflammation in your breast tissue.
- Be sure to change your breast pads often to prevent them from getting too full and causing further pain.
- Wearing a warm pair of socks will also help to keep your feet warm, which will help to keep your whole body warm.
- Take plenty of rest and be sure to stay hydrated to avoid getting dehydrated.
Tips to get rid of Mastitis fast
If you’ve been breastfeeding and you’ve recently developed symptoms of mastitis, then there are a few things that you can do to get rid of it quickly.
- Be sure to drink plenty of water to help flush out any bacteria and take an anti-inflammatory medication to help to relieve the pain caused by the infection.
- Be sure to take frequent breaks when breastfeeding to give your breast tissue a rest from the pressure caused by your baby feeding.
- Take a warm bath to soothe the pain caused by the infection and be sure to change your breast pads often to avoid them from getting too full.
- Be sure to wear loose-fitting clothing to help to relieve any pain caused by the inflammation in your breast tissue.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding is a natural way to feed your baby, but sometimes, there can be problems. One of the most common problems faced by new mothers is an inflammation of the breast called mastitis, which can make it difficult for you to continue breastfeeding your baby. Mastitis is not caused by an infection, but it can lead to a bacterial infection that can make breastfeeding even more difficult. There are plenty of home remedies for mastitis that will help you get back to feeding your baby again as soon as possible.
