Mastitis has been coming up a lot lately and unfortunately a lot of the time when Mastitis occurs and often occurs, it can stop women from wanting to breastfeed due to the pain.
What is Mastitis?
Mastitis occurs typically when a milk duct becomes blocked the milk build behind the blocked duct, and then the nearby tissues start to become inflamed.
Symptoms
Breast pain, swelling, warmth, fever and chills. It can feel like you have the flu with body aches and pain, but local pain is also in the breast. A red streak my be visible on the breast.
With homeopathy, we look at the symptom picture as each person will be different, and we match it to a remedy that helps trigger the bodies natural healing response. When I support mums with Mastitis I also recommend the baby at the same time as often recurring Mastitis is a cause of latching issues, not feeding correctly, not feeding completely as the boob has not been drained.
There are ways of helping the breast to 'empty' or drain more easily: (sourced from Australian breastfeeding association)
Make sure your bra is very loose or take it off.
Relax while you feed to help your milk flow.
Make a special effort to relax your arms, legs, back, shoulders and neck.
Breathe deeply and evenly.
Listen to soothing music and think about your baby to help start the let-down reflex.
Changing feeding positions might help to clear the blockage.
Gently massage the breast by stroking toward the nipple while your baby feeds.
Hand express to 'empty' the breast if your baby won't suck. If you have Mastitis, your milk may taste salty. This won't harm your baby but may cause him to refuse the breast.
Prevention (sourced from Australian breastfeeding association)
Ensure your baby is attaching well to your breasts and feeding well
Breastfeed your baby as often as your baby wants to feed
Avoid missing or putting off feeds
If a breast becomes uncomfortably full, wake your baby for a feed.
If your baby is not interested in feeding, you may like to express a small amount for comfort
Avoid putting pressure on your breasts, e.g. with clothing or with your fingers while feeding
Rest as much as you can
Alternate from which breast you begin each feed.
This can help ensure at least one breast gets drained well at every second feed
Avoid giving your baby any other fluids except your breastmilk, unless medically advised to
Here are some remedies and their symptom picture that match that of Mastitis, these are acute remedies however for recurring Mastitis a constitutional treatment is more beneficial as prevention of Mastitis is better then supporting when Mastitis is already present
Belladonna: Breasts feel heavy, with great hardness and swelling; red streaks radiating along the course of the milk ducts; throbbing or stitching pains; headache; constipation; scanty urine.
Bryonia: Breasts swollen, very tender. hard, with little or no redness; stitching pains worse on motion or deep inspiration; milk scanty or suppressed.
Hepar sulphur: When suppuration seems inevitable, low potency hastens the suppuration process; in high potency, it may avert a threatening suppuration.
Lachesis: Breast has a purplish appearance; lancinating pains in the breast and down the arm. Also great if baby is refusing the boob during the period of mastitis.
Phytolacca: This is probably the most valuable remedy in mastitis It is especially useful in the ordinary caked breast and in breasts with large fistulous, gaping and angry ulcers, filled with unhealthy granulations and discharging a watery, fetid, pus; the gland is full of hard, painful nodosities.
Information reference https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/common-concerns–mum/mastitis
Homeopathy is a traditional medicine. It may be used in conduction with other medicines. For any ongoing chronic condition, it is important to be assessed or examined by your healthcare professional or specialist. Always seek medical advice in emergencies. The information displayed in this post is to be used as information only, always seek professional advice before starting any medication.