Mastitis

Mastitis makes your breast tissue inflamed and painful. You might notice a lump around the sore area, sometimes the inflammation turns into an infection.

It can make you feel achy and run down, with flu-like symptoms or a fever.

Symptoms of mastitis

Usually, mastitis affects one of your breasts, but can sometimes affect both.

Signs and symptoms of mastitis often develop quickly and can include:

sore breasts that feel swollen, hot and painful to touch – you may also have red patches, but redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin
a lump or hard area on your breast
feeling tired, run down and feverish – you may have flu-like symptoms

Did you know?

Mastitis mainly affects breastfeeding women, usually within the first 3 months of giving birth – but you can also get it if you are not breastfeeding (due to an infection in the breast).

What causes mastitis?

If you're breastfeeding, mastitis is usually caused when the milk in your breast builds up faster than it's being removed.

This creates a blockage in your milk ducts (known as "milk stasis") and can be brought on by:

your baby not latching on properly
missing feeds, or not feeding often enough
feeding from one breast more often than the other
an injury that damages a milk duct or gland

If you are not breastfeeding, mastitis can be caused by infection. The infection could happen if your nipples are sore or cracked, or through a nipple piercing.

How long does mastitis last?

If you catch the early signs of mastitis, it's quick and easy to treat.

If the pain continues for more than a few days, it may be a sign that you've got an infection, and it's time to make a GP appointment.

Your GP may prescribe a course of antibiotics, which should clear up the infection in a few days.

Treating mastitis

The main thing to do is carry on breastfeeding (even though it may be extremely painful). By stopping breastfeeding, the blockage will only get worse.

Even if you have an infection, breastfeeding won't harm your baby (although your milk may taste a little salty).

Make sure your baby is latched on properly and aim to feed 8 to 12 times a day (including at night).

Try putting a warm flannel over your breast before feeding. This will help ease the pain and encourage the let-down reflex.

After feeds, make sure any leftover breast milk is drained by expressing by hand or with a pump.

Don't leave it too long – if you feel you're not improving and continuing to feed regularly isn't making a difference, see your doctor. They'll be able to assess whether your mastitis is caused by an infection. If it is, you may need antibiotics.

It would also help to see a breastfeeding specialist who would be able to check your baby's attachment and positioning.

Self-help methods

There are a few things you can do yourself to try to ease mastitis:

remember to drink fluids when you are thirsty
get plenty of rest – take your baby to bed and feed frequently (8 to 12 times every day, including night time)
express your milk in between and after feeds to make sure all your breast milk is removed
medication such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can reduce pain – although some paracetamol can enter your breast milk, it's not enough to harm your baby
avoid wearing tight, restrictive clothes and bras that can restrict milk flow
ease the pain by putting a warm flannel over your breast – warm showers and baths may also help
if it's not too painful, gently massage on and around the affected area

Preventing mastitis

Luckily, once it's diagnosed, mastitis is quick and easy to treat. But remember, prevention is better than cure.

Reducing the risk of mastitis

The following advice can help reduce the risk of developing mastitis:

if possible, breastfeed exclusively (avoid using first infant formula to top up, or a dummy)
feed frequently and responsively – long gaps in between feeds can create a build-up of breast milk
encourage your baby to feed if you feel your breasts are getting full
make sure your baby latches on properly – try different breastfeeding positions to work out which is most comfortable
wait for your baby to finish feeding – usually, they'll release when they're finished
when you want to stop breastfeeding, try cutting down your feeds gradually – do not suddenly go longer between feeds
avoid wearing a bra or clothing that is too tight and puts pressure on your breasts

Help and support

For confidential breastfeeding information and support, call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212.

Lines are open 9:30am to 9:30pm every day.