What is Mastitis?
Mastitis is when there is redness, tenderness, lumpiness or firmness, pain and/or swelling in the breast, in women who are breast feeding. Women can have one or more of these symptoms, and often it is noticed to be more in one section of the breast. Some women will also feel flu like symptoms, chills, nausea, and a fever, which can sometimes occur overnight or very suddenly with little or no warning. The development of mastitis may make breast feeding painful and may lead to some mothers stopping breast feeding. 15% of Australian women between 5 and 12 weeks after the birth of their baby experience mastitis, although mastitis can occur at any stage of breast feeding. Mastitis can occur due to a blockage in the milk ducts, which if not cleared, can then become inflamed (redness and tenderness), which can cause more of a blockage. Sometimes an infection can occur via a cracked nipple, also causing mastitis. It is important that if you suspect mastitis, and feel any of the above symptoms
