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Mastitis is something all breastfeeding women fear. It is a painful and debilitating condition that affects up to 33% of lactating women in Australia and for many, it can bring their breastfeeding journey to a halt. According to Queensland Health, Mastitis can occur due to:
Here are some tips to help avoidmastitis:
Take a warm shower
Blocked ductsarecommon while breastfeeding and does not necessarily mean you will develop mastitis, but it is important you unblock it as soon as possible to prevent infection. A warm shower or a warm compress on the breast just before feeding should help, then a cold compress between feedings should bring down pain and swelling.
Nurse regularly
Nurseyour baby regularly to ensure both breasts are being emptied & try different positions if blocked ducts are a common occurrence to drain all areas of the breast (Australian Breastfeeding Association, 2019)
Iron & vitamin C
Anemiais linked to poor immunity and therefore a higher risk of mastitis (Liyew & Teshale, 2020). Ensure you are consuming iron rich foods (chickpeas, hemp seeds, dried apricots, raisins, quinoa, beetroot, blackstrap molasses & tofu) along with vitamin C rich foods (citrus, berries) to increase absorption.
Eat well
Fresh, anti-inflammatory foods are important like leafy greens, herbs and spices, wholegrains, & fresh fruits & vegetables.
Keep fluids up
Mum should drink plenty of water to keep hydrated (breastmilk contains approximately 90% water).
Avoid saturated fats
Limit your intake of saturated fats to prevent blocked ducts (fried foods, bakery food, vegan cheese and margarines) and include foods naturally containing some lecithin like peanuts, wheatgerm, soy, cooked green vegetables and wholegrains. Women have found organic sunflower lecithin supplementation helpful to reduce the viscosity of the milk (but there are limited studies on this supplement).
Rest
Have someone take the baby out for an hour a day so mum can take that much needed nap or take a hot bath.
Wear loose-fitting clothing
Mum should not wear tight bras/clothing and try not to sleep on her tummy to avoid pressure on the breasts.
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The following statements may cause emotional distress for some parents, so it’s important for us to reiterate that this is an operational requirement. We know you are doing the best you can and are making decisions that are right for you and your baby.
If you are able, breastfeeding provides the optimal balance of nutrition for your baby. A healthy diet is important during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. If you make the decision not to breastfeed, we recommend you seek advice from your GP or health professional. Should you need an alternative form of nourishment to breastmilk, we recommend considering the social and financial implications. Introducing formula feeding can impact your breastmilk supply and is difficult to re-establish. Should you decide to use a breast milk alternative, please take care to use the formula as directed.
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