Breastfeeding comes with its fair share of challenges. from sore nipples for late night snacks (and lots of baby hugs!). If you notice breast pain, flu-like symptoms and blocked milk ducts, then it could be mastitis. Here's what mastitis is and the home remedies I used successfully to treat my breast infection.
Years ago, after an 18-hour car ride with five kids (yes, I can be crazy) I got a bad case of mastitis. The child was very happy in the car and when children are happy, I drive.
The first night, I attributed the tiredness to altitude sickness and the tightness of not nursing all day, so I went to bed early. The next morning, I knew something was wrong. That afternoon, I had a large lump in my breast, a classic sign of ea blocked milk duct. I later developed a fever of 104 (a sign of my immune system fighting infection). I totally understand (and sympathize) how horrible these types of infections are!
What is mastitis?
Over the years, our understanding of what exactly mastitis is has changed. Breastfeeding mothers can have blocked milk ducts, which can then lead to inflammation and infection (mastitis). If you notice pain, swelling and a lump in your breast tissue (often near the areola), then it's likely a blocked milk duct. If you start to develop signs of an infection, then it is likely to be mastitis during lactation.
Risk factors and causes of mastitis include:
- Disappear very quickly and the affected chest is compressed
- The child does not pass well and does not drain the chest well
- Pressure on the chest (from a tight bra, seat belt, etc.)
- Excessive supply leading to breast engorgement (can also be caused by pumping too often)
- Infection from breast damage, such as cracked nipples
Symptoms of mastitis
Here's what you should watch out for if you think you have mastitis.
- Pain, swelling, redness and/or inflammation of the breast
- Flu-like symptoms (including fever and body aches)
- A hard lump
- Discharge from the nipple
- A lump of pus (breast abscess)
- Decreased milk production in the affected breast
When I got mastitis, I was 1,300 miles from home and my doctor and midwife, and without most of the medicine I would have had on hand at home. I wanted to avoid antibiotics if possible, although really bad cases of mastitis can definitely require antibiotics (which are a better option than developing an abscess).
I did what I usually do: I researched like crazy and tried every natural remedy I could while breastfeeding. Four days later the lump was gone and I had no remaining symptoms. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and I probably would have avoided it if I had been simple fed the baby often.
Since I got mastitis, I had the opportunity to try many different medicines. These are what have worked for me to treat mastitis naturally.
Natural treatment of mastitis
In the past, heat and pumping/supplemental feeding were recommended. If there is a blocked duct, then massage and continuing to eat as normal can help clear it. If there is an infection (mastitis), then feeding or pumping more than normal can cause the body to produce more milk and have a surplus.
Since mastitis comes with inflammation, conventional advice is to take over-the-counter medications for pain and swelling. Tylenol (acetaminophen), Advil, and Ibuprofen are common examples. I found that applying cold to the area and using other natural remedies did the job just as well (and maybe better!).
1. Rest and frequent nursing
I've heard lactation consultants say that mastitis can be a sign that you're pushing too hard and need to rest. Going too long without breastfeeding is another reason. The first step I did when I found out I had mastitis was to go to bed and breastfeed the baby constantly. This helps the milk flow through the blocked duct.
Try different breastfeeding positions to make sure the baby can get enough breast milk. Also check to make sure the baby's mouth has a good latch, which can prevent the breast from draining completely. Here are signs that the baby may have a lip or tongue tie that is causing problems:
Signs of tongue and lip tie
- Mom has nipple pain while breastfeeding
- Nipples appear wrinkled, discolored, cracked, blistered or bleeding
- Clogged ducts, infected nipples or mastitis
- Thrush on the nipples
- Breast full (baby cannot produce enough milk)
You may notice that your child has some of the following symptoms:
- Shallow latch
- It often appears on and off the chest
- Gums suck/chew
- Clicking sound while breastfeeding
- Swallowing a lot of air, gas, colic and/or reflux
- Nurses for long periods or there is a short time between meals
I had Dr. Erin Appleton on the podcast and she had some really good information about breastfeeding and oral bonding that you can listen here.
2. Application of cold or heat
I found that cold was most helpful in helping with the pain, but sometimes I used heat. I applied heat for 15-30 minutes before nursing to help loosen the blockage in the duct and make nursing easier. Next, I would apply ice after nursing for 15-30 minutes to reduce swelling.
Try using an ice pack or cold compress for cooling and anti-inflammatory relief.
3. Massage
At the time, the sources I looked at said they used massage to remove the blockage. I found relief by massaging the affected area in small circles while the baby was nursing. Sources are now a bit more mixed on this. According to a breast health expert, Dr. Mitchell:
“It is important to recognize that this is not a 'plug' in one of the hundreds of millions of canals in the bay. It simply represents the transient filling of milk-producing cells and blockage of fluids and blood vessels.
If a mother experiences a “plug”, she should strictly avoid excessive massage as this traumatizes the breast tissue, causes broken capillaries, worsens the swelling and can lead to something called “phlegmon” or abscess.
The Cleveland Clinic adds that a light, lymphatic massage can be helpful. However, they warn against excessive pressure on the chest. To perform a lymphatic breast massage, gently stroke from the areola to the lymph nodes above the collarbone and in the armpit. This helps move trapped fluid to reduce swelling.
it Glycerite Happy Ducts from Wish Garden also helps improve lymphatic flow to clear mastitis faster.
Gentle massage while the baby is at the breast can help reduce the milk supply milk flow. However, if you use massage, it can do more harm than good in some cases. If you are unsure this is a good time to consult with an IBCLC lactation consultant.
4. Stay hydrated
Drinking water is extremely important when fighting mastitis. I kept a liter of water with me at all times and drank constantly to keep up my milk supply and help my body fight the infection. Adding minerals is also a good idea as our body is not only 80% water, but 80% salt water!
I want this Recipes for mineral drinks.
5. Raw garlic
Garlic isn't the best for baby's tummy, but its antibacterial properties do wonders for infections. I could get organic garlic at the store, so I got a few cloves a day. I always do this when I get a bad infection or illness and I always get better in a day or so. The easiest way I've found is to finely mince the garlic and then scoop out small amounts with a spoon. I will put it in my mouth and quickly follow it with some water.
If you're not as adventurous as I am, then mixing the garlic with some raw honey makes it a little easier!
6. Cabbage leaves
I was reminded of this suggestion by the lactation consultant at the hospital after I had one of my babies. I don't know if it helped with the infection, but it felt good in the infected canal and certainly didn't hurt.
A 2012 meta-analysis looked at several studies of breastfeeding women using cabbage leaves for relief. Researchers found that cabbage leaves reduce breast pain and swelling. Plus, it helped women breastfeed longer as they were more comfortable while breastfeeding.
To use this remedy: place a cold cabbage leaf directly on the chest over the site of the infected breast. Change every hour as needed. NOTE: Some women notice a decrease in milk supply from the use of cabbage leaves, so be careful with this remedy.
7. Vitamin C
I always bring vitamin C when we travel, luckily I had this on hand. I took 4 capsules every four hours until the infection went away. Vitamin C helps support the immune system and is great for any type of infection.
How vitamin C and vitamin E affect milk production is often studied in dairy animals. A 2005 study found that camels with low levels of vitamin C in their milk and blood plasma were more likely to have mastitis. Of course, breastfeeding mothers are not camels, but animal studies seem to show the importance of getting enough of these vitamins.
Some mothers also report good results after gently massaging vitamin E into the breast tissue after a nursing session.
8. Probiotics
I also had probiotics with me, so after the infection started to subside, I took large doses of probiotics to keep my immune system strong. I continued high doses of probiotics for about a week before I went back to the normal dose.
A 2022 meta-analysis looked at how probiotics can help with mastitis symptoms. The researchers noted that probiotics reduced bad bacteria in the breast milk of both healthy mothers and those with mastitis. This means that probiotic supplements can help reduce the chance of getting mastitis symptoms. Even if you already have a case of mastitis, probiotics can be helpful for recovery!
Final thoughts on home remedies for mastitis
The first day I found out I had mastitis, I felt terrible. I had a high fever and flu-like chills and muscle aches. Within 24 hours of this protocol, the fever went down and I felt much better. After 48 hours all that was left was a small painful lump and after three days I was back to normal.
Mastitis can be a serious infection and can lead to more serious problems. Not every case will be helped with natural remedies. If you notice a worsening of symptoms within a few days or are really uncomfortable, then be sure to contact your healthcare provider for advice.
Have you ever had mastitis? How did you get rid of it? Share below!
