Mastitis

Mastitis

Mastitis is swelling in the breast tissue that can sometimes lead to an infection. It is often caused by having too much milk or a change in the natural bacteria in your breasts. After giving birth, you may have engorgement (painful swelling in the breasts). This is not mastitis and should go away within two weeks.

Signs of Mastitis

Mastitis usually happens in one breast and can cause your breast to be swollen or red. Other symptoms might include:

  • Fever (101°F or higher)
  • Chills
  • Body aches
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Yellowish discharge from the nipple
  • A tender, warm, or hot area on the breast

If you don’t start feeling better within 24–48 hours, call your healthcare provider. You might need antibiotics. While not all cases of mastitis are caused by infection, it’s important to take the full course of antibiotics if prescribed.

What you can do:

  • Keep breastfeeding
  • It’s safe to breastfeed while you have mastitis. Nursing can help reduce engorgement, ease symptoms, and speed healing.
  • Follow your baby’s hunger cues
  • Feed your baby from the unaffected breast first, then offer the affected side. Don’t try to fully empty your breasts. If pumping, only remove enough milk to meet your baby’s needs.
  • Use cold compresses
  • Apply ice packs hourly or as needed. Avoid using heat, as it can increase swelling. A warm shower is okay, but don’t place heat packs directly on your breasts.
  • Stay hydrated and rest
  • Drink plenty of water and get as much rest as you can to help your body heal.
  • Wear a supportive bra
  • Avoid tight bras or those with underwire.
  • Ensure a good latch
  • Make sure your baby is latching deeply and comfortably. A good latch helps drain milk effectively. WIC can help if you’re having trouble with latching.
  • Manage pain
  • Ask your doctor or pharmacist about over-the-counter pain relievers that are safe to use.
  • Try gentle massage
  • Use light, gentle strokes with your fingers, starting at the nipple and moving toward your armpit or collarbone. Massage during or right before feeding can help with milk flow and ease discomfort. Avoid pressing too hard, which might worsen symptoms. Stop if it hurts or your symptoms get worse, and talk to your healthcare provider.

It’s safe to feed your baby breast milk when you have mastitis. Your milk might look clumpy or stringy, but it’s still healthy for your baby.

If your symptoms don’t improve or you’re unsure about anything, reach out to WIC or your healthcare provider for help.

Feeding a 6-7 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon and from a bowl, never from a bottle.

Feeding a 10-12 Month Old

Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for your baby, even after you start offering solid foods.

Feeding a 8-9 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon. Never put cereal in a bottle.

Tips

Mom new born home

Breast milk and formula feeding:

Around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age, babies may experience a growth spurt when they feed more often.

As they grow babies can hold more milk, so feedings may become further apart and take less time.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Start offering whole milk when your baby is one year old.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and beyond.

feeding solid foods

Feeding solid foods:

Wait to offer solid foods until your baby:

  • Can sit up and hold up their own head.
  • Opens their mouth when they see food.
  • Can close their lips around a spoon.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Try one new food at a time. Wait 5 days before trying another new food to watch for allergies. Food allergies may include wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.

Introduce peanut butter around 6 months. Mix one teaspoon of peanut butter with breast milk or formula. Make it thin and easy to swallow. Use a spoon to offer a taste of the thinned product. Watch your baby for any reaction for the next 2 hours.

Babies under one year should NOT have honey due to the risk of botulism. Also, babies should not have foods that can cause choking like nuts or whole grapes.

All babies are different. Talk with WIC or your baby’s healthcare provider about your baby’s needs.

Feeding Cues

Feeding a 4-5 Month Old

Before teeth come in, wipe gums with a soft, clean wash cloth after each feeding, especially before bed.

Feeding a 0-3 Month Old

Newborns have tiny tummies and need to be fed often. In the first few weeks, you may need to wake your baby to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours.

Growth Spurts

Many babies are fussy during a growth spurt and will want to nurse longer and more often. This is called cluster feeding. This is your baby’s way of helping you increase your milk supply so that you can keep up with their needs. Remember, the more your baby nurses, the more milk your body makes.

Growth spurts can happen at any time, and every baby is different.

They often happen at these ages:

two-three-weeks

2 to 3 Weeks

6 Weeks

three-months

3 Months

six-months

6 Months

What foods can I get?

Authorized Food List
Authorized Food List

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