Treatment

Mastitis can usually be easily treated andmost women make a full recovery very quickly.

Self-help tips

Many cases ofmastitis that aren't caused by an infection often improve through using self-care techniques, such as:

• making sureyou get plenty of rest
• drinking plenty offluids
• using over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce anypain or fevera small amount of paracetamol can enter the breast milk, but it's not enough to harm your baby (it's not safe to take aspirin while breastfeeding)
• avoidingtight-fitting clothing, including bras, until your symptoms improve
• if you're breastfeeding, regularly expressing milk from your breasts
• placing a warmcloth soaked with warm water (a compress) over your breast to help relieve the paina warm shower or bath may also help

If your GP thinks your mastitisiscaused by an infection, you mayneed to take antibiotics .

Expressing breast milk

If you're breastfeeding and you have mastitis, it's likely to be caused by a build-up of milk within the affected breast. Regularly expressing milk from your breast can often help improve the condition quickly.

One of the best ways to express milk from your breast is to continue breastfeeding your baby, orexpressing milk by hand or using a pump. Continuing to breastfeed your baby won't harm them, even if your breast is also infected.

The milk from the affected breast may be a little saltier than normal, but it's safe for your baby to drink. Any bacteria present in the milk will be harmlessly absorbed by the baby's digestive system and won't cause any problems.

You may find that expressing breast milk becomes easier by:

• breastfeeding your babyas often and as long asthey'rewilling to feed, starting feeds with the sore breast first
• making sure your baby is properly positioned and attached to your breastsyour midwife or health visitor will advise you about how to do this; read more about breastfeeding positioning and attachment
• experimenting by feeding your baby in different positions
• massaging your breast to clear any blockagesstroke from the lumpy or tender area towards yournipple to help the milk flow
• warming your breast with warm waterthis can soften it andhelp your breast milk flow better, making it easier for your baby to feed
• making sure your breast is empty after feeds by expressing any remaining milk
• if necessary, expressing milk between feeds see expressing breast milk for more information

Contactyour GP if your symptoms worsen or don't improve within 12 to 24 hoursof trying these techniques. If this happens, it's likely that you have an infection and will need antibiotics.

Antibiotics

If you're breastfeeding and the above measures haven't helped improve your symptoms, or your GP can see your nipple is clearly infected, you'll be prescribed a course of antibiotics to kill the bacteria responsible. These should be taken in addition to continuing the self-help measures above.

Your GP will also usually prescribe a course of antibiotics if you develop mastitis and aren't breastfeeding.

If you're breastfeeding, yourGP will prescribe a safeantibiotic. This will usually be a tablet or capsule that you take by mouth (orally) four times a day for up to 14 days.

A very small amountof the antibiotic mayenter yourbreast milk, which maymake your baby irritable and restless. Their stools may become looser and more frequent.

This is usually temporary and will resolve once you've finished the course of antibiotics. They don't pose a risk to your baby.

Contact your GP again if your symptoms worsen or haven't begun to improve within 48 hours of starting antibiotic treatment.

Surgery

Surgery to remove one or more of your milk ducts may be recommended in some casesin non-breastfeeding women that recur frequently or persist despite treatment.

This operation is usually performed with a general anaesthetic where you're asleep, and lasts about 30 minutes. Most people can go home the same day as the procedure or the day after.

If all of the milk ducts in one of your breasts are removed during this operation, you'll no longer be able to breastfeed using that breast.You may also lose some sensation in the nipple of the treated breast(s).

Make sure you discuss all the risks and implications of surgery with your doctor and surgeon beforehand.