Diagnosis
Your healthcare professional does a physical exam and asks about your symptoms and medical history. You might have a breast ultrasound. Your healthcare professional might take out, called aspirate, some of the fluid in your breast. A culture of this fluid can help find the best antibiotic for you.
A rare form of breast cancer, called inflammatory breast cancer, also can cause redness and swelling that might be confused with mastitis. Your healthcare professional may suggest a mammogram or an ultrasound or both.
If your symptoms don't go away after you take a full course of antibiotics, you may need a biopsy to make sure you don't have breast cancer. Be sure to follow up with your healthcare professional after you've taken all the antibiotics.
Treatment
Mastitis treatment might involve:
- Antibiotics. If you have an infection, a 10-day course of antibiotics is most often needed. Take all the medicine. This lowers the risk of the infection coming back. If your mastitis doesn't clear up after taking antibiotics, contact your healthcare professional.
- Pain relievers. You can try a medicine available without a prescription such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others).
It's safe to keep breastfeeding if you have mastitis. Breastfeeding helps clear the infection. Weaning your baby suddenly might make your symptoms worse.
You might see a specialist in breastfeeding, called a lactation consultant, for help and support. Advice on the best way to breastfeed might include:
- Don't let your breasts fill too much between feedings.
- Try get your infant to latch on well. This can be hard when your breast is swollen.
- Letting out a small amount of milk by hand before breastfeeding might help. This is called expressing.
- Lightly massage the breast while breastfeeding or pumping milk. Start at the affected area and move down toward the nipple. Do not press hard or squeeze.
- Make sure your breast drains all the way during breastfeeding. If you have trouble emptying your breast, put a warm, moist cloth on the breast before breastfeeding or pumping milk.
- Breastfeed on the affected side first. This is when your infant is hungrier and sucking harder.
- Change your breastfeeding positions.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
Lifestyle and home remedies
To help yourself feel better:
- Don't let your breasts fill up with too much milk between breastfeeding sessions.
- Put a cool cloth or ice pack on your breast after breastfeeding.
- Wear a bra that supports your breasts.
- Rest as much as you can.
Preparing for your appointment
You may be sent to an obstetrician-gynecologist. For problems related to breastfeeding, you may be referred to a lactation consultant.
What you can do
Make a list of:
- Your symptoms, including any that may not seem to be linked to the reason you made the appointment, and when they began.
- All medicines, vitamins and supplements you take, including doses.
- Key medical information, including other conditions you have.
- Questions to ask your healthcare professional.
Questions to ask your doctor
- Will my mastitis clear on its own or do I need treatment?
- What can I do at home to relieve my symptoms?
- How might my condition affect my baby?
- If I keep breastfeeding, is the medicine you're prescribing safe for my baby?
- How long will I have to take the medicine?
- What are the chances that the infection will come back? How do I lower my risk of it coming back?
Be sure to ask all the questions you have.
What to expect from your doctor
Your healthcare professional might ask you:
- Are your symptoms in one or both breasts?
- How bad is your pain?
- How do you breastfeed?
- Have you had mastitis before?