How to Prevent and Treat Mastitis

If mastitis symptoms persist or worsen after 24 hours, it's advisable to consult your healthcare provider.

In certain situations, antibiotic treatment may be necessary, especially if your condition has not resolved itself.

However, according to the National Health Service (NHS), if mastitis does not improve within 48 hours of starting antibiotics, you should still follow up with your doctor for further evaluation.

If the infection progresses to an abscess, your doctor may need to perform an incision to drain it. You can continue breastfeeding while taking antibiotics and after the abscess has been drained.

What should you do if mastitis comes back? 

Although it's not common, mastitis can sometimes come back. Should you encounter a sudden recurrence of mastitis during breastfeeding, the NHS suggests seeking help from a midwife or breastfeeding specialist to resolve any breastfeeding challenges, including proper positioning and attachment.

This article was originally published on Oct 11, 2017