Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesRisk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
While mastitis can happen at any time during breastfeeding, it most commonly occurs within the first two months of giving birth. Mastitis develops in 1 in 5 new mothers, and about 1 in 10 experience recurring bouts of the condition, according to a 2015 study published inBMC Family Practice.
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Wondering if you should give your healthcare professional a call? Learn about the signs of mastitis, what causes it, when to ask for help, how to cope, and more.
Signs and Symptoms of Mastitis
Mastitis may cause:
Contact your healthcare provider if you have a fever or your symptoms worsen over the next 24 hours.Seek help immediately if you experience any of the following:Your symptoms are sudden and severeBoth breasts seem to be infectedYourbreast milkappears to have pus or blood in itThere are red streaks on your skin around the affected part of your breast
Contact your healthcare provider if you have a fever or your symptoms worsen over the next 24 hours.
Seek help immediately if you experience any of the following:
Another common culprit is chronically engorged breasts or plugged milk ducts due to breastfeeding challenges, weaning, or an overabundant supply of breast milk. If you’re struggling to drain breast milk, your breast could become prime territory for an infection.
Causes of Clogged Milk Ducts
Many factors can increase your risk of developing mastitis, such as:
Cluster Feeding Schedule in Newborns
If you suspect you may have mastitis, contact your healthcare professional to schedule an appointment. During your meeting, they’ll ask you about your symptoms and examine your breasts in order to come up with a diagnosis.
In some cases, such as recurrent mastitis, you may need additional tests like a breast milk culture, which can be taken with a small breast milk sample from your affected side.
With this and other tests, your healthcare provider can determine the exact cause of your infection to ensure you’re given the best antibiotics to treat it or rule out other conditions that may cause similar symptoms.
To treat mastitis, your healthcare provider may prescribe an antibiotic that’s safe to take while breastfeeding, such as dicloxacillin, cephalexin, clindamycin, or erythromycin. You’ll also need to empty your breast regularly.
Inflammatory breast cancer, a rare type of breast cancer that spreads rapidly, can cause symptoms that resemble mastitis such as breast swelling, purple or red skin, and an orange peel-like dimpling of the skin.If antibiotic treatment does not help your mastitis clear within a week or so, don’t delay. Contact your healthcare provider to schedule another exam to ensure it’s not cancer and to avoid a worsening infection.
Inflammatory breast cancer, a rare type of breast cancer that spreads rapidly, can cause symptoms that resemble mastitis such as breast swelling, purple or red skin, and an orange peel-like dimpling of the skin.
If antibiotic treatment does not help your mastitis clear within a week or so, don’t delay. Contact your healthcare provider to schedule another exam to ensure it’s not cancer and to avoid a worsening infection.
It’s totally understandable if all you want to do isstopbreastfeeding when you’re feeling run down and your breast hurts. Mastitis can be life-disrupting during an already challenging time, and many people say it makes it difficult to get through day-to-day tasks, let alone breastfeed.
In the meantime, here’s how to cope:
A Word From Verywell
Mastitis is likely the last thing you want to deal with when you’re getting to know your new child and recovering during the postpartum period. But sometimes it can serve as a signal that it’s time to prioritize rest and self-care or lean on the expertise of a nurse or lactation consultant.
Remember that you’re not alone; there are people who can help. This condition is highly treatable with the right medication and coping skills.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cullinane M, Amir LH, Donath SM, et al.Determinants of mastitis in women in the CASTLE study: a cohort study.BMC Fam Pract. 2015;16:181. doi:10.1186/s12875-015-0396-5Office on Women’s Health.Common breastfeeding challenges.Bodine AM, Holahan B, Mixon A.Benign breast conditions.The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 2017;117,755-760. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2017.147Wilson E, Woodd SL, Benova L.Incidence of and risk factors for lactational mastitis: A systematic review.J Hum Lact. 2020;36(4):673-686. doi:10.1177/0890334420907898Cleveland Clinic.Mastitis.University of Michigan Health System (UMHS).Mastitis while breastfeeding.American Cancer Society.Breast mastitis.American Cancer Society.Inflammatory breast cancer.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cullinane M, Amir LH, Donath SM, et al.Determinants of mastitis in women in the CASTLE study: a cohort study.BMC Fam Pract. 2015;16:181. doi:10.1186/s12875-015-0396-5Office on Women’s Health.Common breastfeeding challenges.Bodine AM, Holahan B, Mixon A.Benign breast conditions.The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 2017;117,755-760. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2017.147Wilson E, Woodd SL, Benova L.Incidence of and risk factors for lactational mastitis: A systematic review.J Hum Lact. 2020;36(4):673-686. doi:10.1177/0890334420907898Cleveland Clinic.Mastitis.University of Michigan Health System (UMHS).Mastitis while breastfeeding.American Cancer Society.Breast mastitis.American Cancer Society.Inflammatory breast cancer.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cullinane M, Amir LH, Donath SM, et al.Determinants of mastitis in women in the CASTLE study: a cohort study.BMC Fam Pract. 2015;16:181. doi:10.1186/s12875-015-0396-5Office on Women’s Health.Common breastfeeding challenges.Bodine AM, Holahan B, Mixon A.Benign breast conditions.The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 2017;117,755-760. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2017.147Wilson E, Woodd SL, Benova L.Incidence of and risk factors for lactational mastitis: A systematic review.J Hum Lact. 2020;36(4):673-686. doi:10.1177/0890334420907898Cleveland Clinic.Mastitis.University of Michigan Health System (UMHS).Mastitis while breastfeeding.American Cancer Society.Breast mastitis.American Cancer Society.Inflammatory breast cancer.
Cullinane M, Amir LH, Donath SM, et al.Determinants of mastitis in women in the CASTLE study: a cohort study.BMC Fam Pract. 2015;16:181. doi:10.1186/s12875-015-0396-5
Office on Women’s Health.Common breastfeeding challenges.
Bodine AM, Holahan B, Mixon A.Benign breast conditions.The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 2017;117,755-760. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2017.147
Wilson E, Woodd SL, Benova L.Incidence of and risk factors for lactational mastitis: A systematic review.J Hum Lact. 2020;36(4):673-686. doi:10.1177/0890334420907898
Cleveland Clinic.Mastitis.
University of Michigan Health System (UMHS).Mastitis while breastfeeding.
American Cancer Society.Breast mastitis.
American Cancer Society.Inflammatory breast cancer.
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