Mastitis is a relatively common condition. This is especially true for the woman who is breastfeeding. Simply put, mastitis is an infection of the tissues in the breast. The symptoms of mastitis include pain, swelling, and redness of the breast. Other symptoms can include malaise and fever. Mastitis is caused when bacteria enter the breast, and are able to cause the infection in the breast tissue. Most of the time, mastitis occurs due to a crack or a break in the surface of the skin. For example, if a woman has cracked nipples due to breastfeeding, she is at a higher risk of having mastitis. Having said that, mastitis can also be caused in other ways, such as the bacteria entering the woman’s breast through the opening to her milk ducts.

There are things that will increase the chances that a woman will get mastitis. For example, once a woman has had mastitis once, she is more likely to have it again. Not switching positions frequently during breastfeeding can cause mastitis, as it keeps the breast from ever becoming fully drained, and thereby makes the breast more suceptible to infection. Wearing a bra that fits too snuggly can restrict the flow of your milk, which can also increase the risk of developing mastitis.

Sometimes, a woman may mistake engorgement for mastitis, or vice versa. If you are exhibiting the signs of mastitis, you should talk with your health care provider. Mastitis is not a condition that will right itself on its own, and you will generally need some degree or another of medical attention to clear up the infection that is causing mastitis. In some cases, a health care provider may need to prescribe an antibiotic to get rid of the infection. In addition to this, there are also a variety of herbal remedies, such as herbal compresses and nipple creams and butters that may be able to help to relieve the specific symptoms that are caused by the mastitis.

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