What do Ido if my baby refuses to feed from the infected breast?
There could be a number of different reasons why your baby may refuse or fuss atthe breast. Your baby may experience difficulty latching-on due to breastengorgement. In this situation hand express or pump a little milk before latching on to soften the area around the nipple. Your baby may fuss because the taste of your milk has changed. If yourbaby is latching on OK but fusses only at the affected breast, it may be related to the fact that the sodium content in your milk will rise when mastitis is present, making your milk taste salty. If your baby fusses with both breasts it may be due to the taste of the antibiotics. If your baby refuses to feed from your breast youwill need to hand express or pump approx every 3 hours. It’s fine to give your baby the expressed milk but avoid bottle feedingif possible. As mastitis is often due to poor latch-on bottle feeding may further complicate the situation because of the associated risk of ‘nipple confusion’. Offer your baby your milk using an e
