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DESCRIPTION
Mastitis is the inflammation and infection in the breast, usually of a woman who has recently given birth. It occurs in about 1 percent of new mothers and is more likely in women who are breast-feeding. Breast infections are often preceded by plugged ducts that have gone unnoticed or untreated, or cracks in the nipple through which an infectious organism gains entrance to the breast tissue.
There are two types of Mastitis:1. Cellulitis - which involves an infection of the connective tissue.
2. Adenitis - which is an infection in the milk duct.
In either case, mastitis usually affects only one breast.
FREQUENT SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Symptoms may occur anytime while nursing, but usually begin 3 to 4 weeks after delivery. Common symptoms include:
- Fever, malaise (flu-like symptoms).
- Tender, swollen, hard, hot breast(s).
- Sometimes nausea and vomiting.
CAUSES
Mastitis infection is often caused from bacteria that enter the mother's breast from the nursing baby's nose or throat. The most common bacteria are Staphylococcus aureus and beta-hemolytic streptococci. Infection with the mumps virus is another cause.
Contributing factors include:
Missed Feedings and Irregular Breastfeeding Patterns. When babies begin to sleep through the night, the mother's breasts can become over full, leading to engorgement, plugged ducts, and mastitis. When an older baby breastfeeds one night and sleeps through the next, the mother's breasts may become stimulated and then engorged, which could cause problems. In addition, when a mother's schedule becomes so busy that she misses feedings or does not breastfeed long enough, she may experience over full or engorged breasts that can lead to problems with the milk flow.
Restrictive Clothing. A bra that is too tight or clothing that applies pressure to the breasts can restrict the flow of milk. Nursing bras should be properly fitted. The mother should lean forward when putting on a bra so that the entire breast falls in the bra cup. No breast tissue should be pinched under the edge of the cup or bra. This is especially important when wearing an underwire bra. Other types of clothing that can restrict milk flow and cause mastitis are heavy shoulder purses or diaper bags, baby carriers, breast pads, and tight bathing suits.
Pressure to Breasts. Any activity that applies pressure to the breasts can restrict milk flow. Grasping the breast too tightly while breastfeeding can apply undue pressure to the breast. The mother sleeping on her stomach, or the baby sleeping on top of the mother, can put pressure on breast tissue. Other activities that can restrict milk flow include: exercising the upper arm excessively, jogging without a supportive bra, pushing a lawn mower or vacuum cleaner, jumping rope, raking leaves, and shoveling snow. These activities usually do not cause problems for lactating mothers. However, they should be considered when women experience recurrent mastitis.
Use of Artificial Nipples. Meeting a baby's sucking needs with pacifiers or using bottles to supplement feedings can affect the way the baby suckles. Nipple shields can also affect the flow of milk through the breast and put a woman at risk for plugged ducts and mastitis.
Abrupt weaning can also lead to mastitis. When a mother's milk supply is decreased slowly, as in gradual weaning, her breasts usually adjust without causing problems. However, when breastfeeding is cut back significantly over a short period of time, she is more likely to experience over full breasts.
Low Resistance to Infection. If a mother is anemic, experiencing undue stress or fatigue, or not eating well, her resistance to infection is lowered. During these times, she needs to be especially careful not to alter her normal breastfeeding patterns and put herself at risk for plugged ducts or mastitis. Also, cigarette smoking can lower a woman's resistance to infection and inhibit the milk ejection reflex.
Teething. When a baby cannot tolerate long feedings because the sucking causes pain, too much milk may remain in the mother's breasts so she may need to hand express or pump her milk.
Incorrect Positioning or Suckling. When a baby is not positioned at the breast correctly or is unable to suck efficiently, the milk flow is reduced; plugged ducts and mastitis may follow. In some cases of improper positioning or suckling, the mother's nipples become sore or cracked. Painful nipples can cause a mother to avoid breastfeeding on the sore side.
Breast Abnormalities. Any surgery to the breast (biopsy, breast reduction, breast augmentation, tumor or cyst removal, and the resulting scar tissue) carries a risk of plugged ducts and breast infections. Women with fibrocystic breasts may also be at increased risk. Past injuries, such as severe bruising (as caused by the steering wheel in an auto accident) or abscess scars may pose problems. In very rare cases when plugged ducts or mastitis always occurs in the same area of one breast, the mother may choose to breastfeed only from the other breast.
Failure to Clear a Plugged Duct. Any time a woman has a plugged duct that is not expelled or is very slow to be absorbed into the surrounding breast tissue, she is at risk of developing mastitis.
Yeast Infections. Yeast (fungus) infections in the mother or thrush in the baby's mouth can lead to breast inflammation and possibly mastitis. A woman who treats mastitis with antibiotics and does not see improvement within twenty-four hours may want to call her health care provider or midwife and request that a culture be done on her breast milk and baby's mouth to check for the possibility of a yeast infection.
Employment. Women employed outside the home need to be aware of the warning signs of mastitis, especially when they first return to work and are adjusting to the demands of work and motherhood. Separated from their babies, they need to pump regularly to avoid over full breasts, plugged ducts, and possible mastitis. In addition, employed mothers need to schedule their days to allow adequate time to rest and care for themselves as well as their babies.
RISK INCREASES WITH
Abrasion of the nipple. Cracked, sore nipples.
Blocked milk ducts from wearing too-tight bras, sleeping on the stomach or waiting too long between feedings.
Use of an electric or manual breast pump. A breast pump doesn't empty the breast as effectively as a nursing baby.
If the breastfeeding mom has been ill or anemic, the lowered resistance to infection can cause or contribute to recurrent plugged ducts and mastitis. A blood test for anemia is a good idea when there is a history of repeated mastitis. Increasing foods containing natural sources of iron for taking a supplemental vitamin with iron and a vitamin C supplement may be helpful.
Hormonal changes (such as ovulation or menstruation) may be associated with bouts of plugged ducts and mastitis.
Food allergies occasionally result in plugged ducts that occur either premenstrually or before ovulation (La Leche League). It has been theorized that if a mom has allergies, recurring mastitis/plugged ducts might be caused by the "complex immune responses" that occur when she is exposed to an allergen. In a group of food-intolerant women, it was observed that their plugged ducts, "which rarely progressed to overt infection and which often recurred either premenstrually or before ovulation," were "often accompanied by other symptoms of allergy intolerance." (Breastfeeding Matters by Maureen Minchin)
Smoking can lower your resistance to infections.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Wash nipples before nursing. Wash hands before touching breasts.
Wear a comfortable bra that is not too tight.
If a nipple cracks or fissures, apply lanolin cream or other topical medication recommended.
Don't sleep on your stomach.
Breast-feed your baby frequently to prevent engorgement and milk duct blockage. Make sure both breasts are emptied during the nursing session.
If you must use a breast pump, clean breast pump properly between uses, dry thoroughly and put away in a clean, dry place.
EXPECTED OUTCOME
Usually curable in 10 days with treatment. If you are relatively early postpartum and your recurrent plugged milk ducts/mastitis seem to be tied to an overabundant milk supply, a little more time may be the best remedy. Hormonal changes occur by about 12 weeks (give or take a bit) that make milk supply more stable and you may notice less of a tendency to get the plugged ducts resulting in mastitis.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
Without treatment, may lead to breast abscess.
TREATMENT
GENERAL MEASURES
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Diagnostic tests may include laboratory blood studies, culture of pus or fluid, and, occasionally, ultrasound, mammography, and breast biopsy if something other than infection may be causing symptoms.
INFANT THROAT CULTURE
Occasionally, baby can have the bacteria in the back of his throat and be reinfecting mom with mastitis. This can be determined by swabbing the baby's throat. If the culture is positive, then baby should be treated along with mom. A culture of your milk can also help your health care provider better determine the best treatment (antibiotic-wise).
BREASTMILK CULTURE
Any time a lactating woman with mastitis symptoms has a fever for more than twenty-four hours she should contact her health care provider because she may need antibiotics in addition to the suggestions given below.
Cultures of the breast milk should be taken after the breast has been cleansed with water and the mother's hands have been thoroughly washed. The milk stream should be initiated by manual expression and the first three milliliters discarded to get a midstream clean-catch specimen.
BREASTFEEDING WITH MASTITIS
Continue to breast-feed, even though breasts are infected. Offer the affected breast first to promote complete emptying. Breastfeeding dilates the mammary blood vessels, thus improving the flow of blood to the area. The flow of milk also helps to clear milk ducts of infective organisms.
Continued breastfeeding is important during a bout of mastitis because weaning would increase the mother's chances of developing a breast abscess. An abscess is more complicated to treat, often requiring surgery to drain the infection. Continued breastfeeding will not be harmful to the infant because the mother is likely to have passed on bacteria from her milk before she experiences symptoms of mastitis. Weaning would deprive the infant of antibodies to the bacteria that would be transmitted through the mother's milk.
The mother needs to reduce the fullness as much as possible at each feeding to ease the inflammation and expel any milk plugs that may be present. Some babies may be reluctant to breastfeed on the infected breast because of an elevated sodium content in the milk. If the baby cannot be persuaded to nurse, the mother needs to express milk to keep her breast soft.
Normally, the mother should be advised to breastfeed on the affected side first. However, some mothers find it too painful to follow that advice. They may prefer to breastfeed on the unaffected side first, then switch to the affected side after the milk has let down. Some mothers express or pump some milk from the affected side while breastfeeding on the unaffected side.
Mastitis should be suspected any time a lactating mother experiences flu-like symptoms. Margaret Neville and Marianne Neifert, in Lactation: Physiology, Nutrition, and Breastfeeding, say "the adage 'Flu in the breastfeeding mother is mastitis until proven otherwise' should be considered whenever malaise and fever coexist in the nursing mother" (Neville and Neifert, 1983). If a woman recognizes the signs of mastitis early enough, the following techniques can help to alleviate the problem:
- Resting in bed. Mastitis is the body's way of telling the breastfeeding mom to slow down. Many times mothers who have recurring bouts of mastitis are not getting enough rest or are trying to do too much. If you have been very tired, busy, worried or stressed, mastitis may be the result.
- Applying warm compresses. The mother should apply wet or dry heat (whichever feels better to her) to the affected area. She can lean over a basin of warm water and soak her breasts several times a day, take warm showers, use hot wet packs, a heating pad, or a small hot water bottle.
- Massage nipples with cocoa butter or a cream recommended by your midwife or health care provider. She should gently but firmly massage the affected area gently starting behind the sore spot or plug while the breast is warm. Nurse the baby or hand-express milk immediately after treating the area with warmth.
- Apply an ice pack (ice in a plastic bag, covered with a thin towel) to the engorged breast 3 to 6 times a day. Use for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Don't use ice packs within 1 hour of nursing; use warm compresses instead.
- Breastfeed frequently, at least every two hours including during the night, on both sides, starting on the affected side first when possible. Frequent breastfeeding keeps the breast soft, allowing the milk to flow freely. Breastfeed frequently on both sides using different positions.
- Mothers with mastitis to check the baby's position at the breast making sure the baby is on his side with his whole body facing the mother so that he is able to grasp the nipple without having to turn his head. Proper positioning is important so that the baby's suckling will adequately compress the milk sinuses and permit milk to flow freely. The mother should also be encouraged to try different breastfeeding positions at each feeding, giving the baby a better chance to reach all the milk ducts. And she should loosen constrictive clothing, especially her bra. She may benefit from not wearing a bra at all while her breasts are sore and tender.
- Wearing an uplift bra during treatment may be helpful.
- The need for the mother to get as much rest and relaxation as possible is important. Fatigue and stress were the two most frequent factors preceding their mastitis. While it may be easy for a mother with one baby to take the baby into bed with her and rest most of the day, the mother with two or more children may need creative scheduling to get the rest she needs. Perhaps the mother can set up a resting room in which her other children can play quietly and safely while the baby sleeps and she rests. Lying down to rest for even ten or fifteen minutes at a time can help. Nap time, if your children are under school age, can be an excellent opportunity to lie down with the baby and get needed rest. If at all possible, the mother should get someone to help with the older children so she can rest.
- Since many women are advised never to wake a sleeping baby, women need to know that it is all right to wake and breastfeed a sleeping baby at any time she feels overly full. Some babies will nurse in their sleep.
- Because many cases of mastitis are preceded by plugged ducts that go either unnoticed or untreated, women can learn to check their breasts for signs of redness, tenderness, or hot spots so they can identify plugged ducts as soon as they occur. Women who wear bras check carefully along seam lines and edges to identify areas of the breast where the bra might apply pressure and possibly restrict milk flow.
RECURRENT MASTITIS
Recurrent mastitis can be a devastating blow to a woman's breastfeeding experience. While the highly dedicated mother may struggle through many bouts of mastitis without fear of failure, trying to breastfeed while frequently experiencing sore breasts or feeling weak and ill from mastitis leaves many women questioning their commitment to breastfeeding. In addition, the mother whose milk tastes salty from the higher sodium content during a bout of mastitis may get frustrated trying to keep her baby interested in breastfeeding long enough to soften her over full breasts.
While the list of possible causes of mastitis is too comprehensive to cover at a regular postpartum visit with a midwife or lactation consultant, professionals who help women with chronic mastitis should take time to explore every possible cause with the mother. It may be overwhelming to discuss all the causes of mastitis in one or even two conversations with a mother. Lactation consultants/midwives typically need to talk frequently with mothers who suffer from recurrent mastitis, perhaps calling them every few days through an illness and once a month thereafter to see if they are still facing problems.
Lactation consultants/midwives should encourage women with recurrent mastitis to check their breasts regularly for any signs of plugged ducts and watch carefully for flu-like symptoms. At the first sign of recurrent mastitis, the professional should emphasize the importance of going to bed and breastfeeding as frequently as possible in hopes of eliminating the problem. In addition, if a mother has mastitis that is being treated with an antibiotic, the professional should encourage the mother to complete the full course and not discontinue the medication as soon as she begins to feel better.
Some women with chronic mastitis have been treated successfully with long-term antibiotic prophylaxis. Following the usual course of antibiotics to treat the current infection, these women have been treated with low-doses of antibiotics taken once a day for two or three months to prevent recurrent episodes.
Women who experience chronic plugged ducts should be informed that dietary changes may also be helpful. Adding one tablespoon of lecithin a day to the diet to help women avoid recurrent plugged ducts is one dietary suggestion. Some mothers find they experience fewer plugged ducts when they eliminate or at least reduce the amount of saturated fats in their diets. See holistic recommendations below. For more detailed information about recurrent mastitis or plugged ducts, see:
KellyMom.com: Recurrent Mastitis or Plugged Ducts
Midwives, lactation consultants (such as a La Leche League Leader), and health care providers can do a great deal to help women with mastitis by providing information about the proper management of breastfeeding, guidance, support and education to help women to avoid problems.
ABSCESS DEVELOPMENT
If an abscess develops, stop breast-feeding on the affected side. Use a breast pump to empty the infected breast regularly, and continue breast-feeding on the unaffected side.
BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT
HOLISTIC & HERBAL RECOMMENDATIONS
MASTITIS: A NON-ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT (By KellyMom.com)
Take mom's and baby's clothes off, get into bed and nurse, nurse, nurse (mastitis appears to be the body's way of telling mom to SLOW DOWN). Get as much rest as possible. Between feedings, use a cold compress on the breast to help with any inflammation. Some moms use hot compresses directly before nursing, but others prefer to stick to the cold. Compresses/poultices that can be helpful:
- Make a rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) infusion: to make an infusion, add 2-4 teaspoons of fresh or dried rosemary to a cup of boiling water. Infuse (steep) for 10 minutes, then strain.
- Use a fenugreek seed poultice.
- Make a dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) compress: boil about an ounce of minced dandelion root in two to three cups of water until only half the liquid remains; use compresses of the resulting brew.
When your baby nurses on the affected side (use that side first), massage the breast towards the nipple. Massage the breast often during feedings and between feedings to help loosen the plugged area. If there is a fever, mom can take:
- Raw garlic - At least 2-3 raw cloves per day, 4-5 cloves a day if possible. Chop a clove into 5 or 6 pieces and then swallow the pieces whole like pills.
Raw garlic acts as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, without the added antibiotic side effects of the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, or the development of yeast infections or thrush. The antimicrobial property in garlic, allicin, is very sensitive to heat and is destroyed when cooked. In order for it to work, it needs to be raw. Swallowing the cloves with orange juice helps with the taste for some. Allicin is also what gives garlic its pungent odor, so the deodorized garlic capsules that some companies offer are essentially useless, if they are being taken for the antimicrobial properties. However, deodorized garlic is still beneficial for its blood pressure reducing properties and for stimulating the immune system.
- Tincture of echinacea, 3-4 times/day.
- Tincture of Oregon grape root, 3-4 times a day.
- Vitamin C (3000-5000 mg/day megadose).
- Another option: Mix a dropperful of echinacea tincture, three cloves of raw garlic and four to six ounces of carrot juice in a blender and drink the mixture every two hours.
A very warm shower can help - let the water just run over your breast. You can also take ibuprofen, which will help with inflammation and pain. If the mastitis does not improve or gets worse after using this treatment for 24-48 hours, contact your health care provider or midwife - you may need antibiotic treatment.
Mastitis Herbal Treatment made of a tincture mixture of Chamomile, Garlic, Rosehips, Echinacea and Fenugreek with the Bach Flower Remedies Walnut and Larch. Store in a 100ml Bottle. Dose 20 drops three times daily taken in a glass of cold Rosehips Tea. Drinking 3 cups of Rosehips daily (hot or cold) makes an immediate difference to your immunity and will assist the mix and the Castor Oil application to clear the Mastitis quickly. Chamomile Tea will provide extra fluid and will help relax the parasympathetic nervous systems responses involved in the letdown process.
PLUGGED MILK DUCTS:
The usual recommended dosage for recurrent plugged ducts is 3600-4800 mg lecithin per day, or 1 capsule (1200 milligram) 3-4 times per day. After a week or two with no blockage, the breastfeeding mom can reduce the dosage by one capsule. If there is no blockage within another 2 weeks she can reduce it again by one. The breastfeeding mom may need to continue taking 1-2 capsules per day if stopping the lecithin leads to additional plugged ducts.
For more information about lecithin and blocked ducts see:
HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES
Some moms have success with the following homeopathic treatment:
2 doses Hepar Sulphur and 2 doses of phytolacca (allow pellets to dissolve in mouth). The doses are to be taken as follows:First, take Hepar Sulphur 30C - 3 pellets,
3 hours later, take Phytolacca 30C - 3 pellets,
3 hours later, take Hepar Sulphur 30C - 3 pellets,
3 hours later, take Phytolacca 30C -3 pellets.
For more suggestions about postpartum breast care, engorgement, and mastitis, see these links:
MEDICATION
You may use non-prescription drugs, such as acetaminophen, for minor pain and discomfort.
Antibiotics to fight infection. Finish the prescription, even if symptoms subside quickly. A major risk factor for recurring mastitis is failure to completely recover from a previous bout of mastitis due to slow treatment, incorrect treatment (wrong antibiotic, for example), or treatment that was not long enough. Amoxil is often ineffective against the bacteria that causes mastitis. Some of the drugs "of choice" for treating this are Keflex, Dicloxacillin, and Erythromycin. Treatment should continue for 10-14 days.
If you follow the complete course of treatment with an appropriate antibiotic and the mastitis continues to recur, a treatment course using long-term, low-dose antibiotics for 2-3 months or even the duration of lactation may be recommended. This type of treatment has broken the cycle of repeated mastitis for some women. If this treatment is chosen, it's also a good idea to have an antifungal medication prescribed along with the antibiotic and/or to supplement the mother's diet with acidophilus to lessen the risk of thrush.
Note: Almost all drugs have been found to enter a nursing mother's milk, including acetaminophen (Tylenol) and others), alcohol, amphetamines, antibiotics, antihistamines, aspirin, barbiturates, caffeine, cimetidine (Tagamet), cocaine, decongestants, diazepam (valium), ergotamine, chlordiazepoxide (Librium), marijuana, nicotine, and opiates (codeine, meperidine [Demerol], morphine). Some of the effects of these drugs can have on an infant include diarrhea, rapid heart rate, restlessness, irritability, crying, poor sleeping, vomiting, and convulsions. In addition, some of these drugs may accumulate in an infant's body and cause addiction. Do not take any medication unless it is absolutely necessary and only under the direction of you health care provider or midwife.
ACTIVITY
Rest in bed until fever and pain diminish. Drink plenty of fluids. Breastfeed your baby as often as you can get him/her on the breast to keep the milk flowing out. To prevent plugged ducts, be sure to remove tiny drops of dried milk from the nipples and massage the breasts firmly to stimulate milk flow. If a duct becomes plugged, offer that breast first when sucking is strongest. Mastitis (breast infection) occurs when a plugged duct is left untreated. Mastitis can also occur if there are cracks in the nipple, allowing bacteria to enter. Be sure to wash hands and clean breasts before and after each feeding to help prevent further infection problems. Allow breasts to air-dry after feedings to prevent cracking.
Continue nursing on a breast with a blocked or plugged duct or tube. Cessation of nursing can increase the discomfort and endanger milk supply. But go carefully, nurse or pump every hour but just enough to empty the breast.
Right before nursing, use any of the warm compresses (see below under herbs) for five to 10 minutes.
Be sure to get plenty of rest. The blockage will usually clear within a few hours or overnight. Breast infections are almost always a sign of too little rest. Time to take a daily nap, and ten minute breaks every 2 hours: put up your feet, enjoy a cup of Violet leaf infusion (or other suggested herbal teas seen below); relax deeply. It is important to nurse often, keeping the breasts empty to promote prompt healing. Note: The breast infection will NOT make your baby sick.)
If you have further problems, contact your midwife or lactation consultant for more information and support.
DIET
No special diet specific to mastitis. Drink extra fluids while you have fever.
Eat regularly, and eat plenty of fresh food and vegetables. This will help to increase your resistance to infection. A vitamin C supplement can be helpful for any mom suffering from recurrent plugged ducts or mastitis. Eat plenty of brewer's yeast, eggs, nuts and seeds, and whole grains. Raw foods should be plentiful in the diet.
Discuss the need for supplements for your baby with your health care provider or midwife. Mother's milk (breastmilk) is nearly a perfect food. However it is low in vitamins C and D and iron. If you need to supplement breast milk, try almond milk, Rice Dream (made from brown rice, or a soymilk formula with a small amount of papaya (put through a blender). This resembles mother's milk. You can add a small amount of blackstrap molasses and brewer's yeast after the baby is a few months old. Always consult with you health care provider or midwife before making any changes in your baby's diet.
Lack of sufficient fluids can contribute to plugged ducts. Make sure you are drinking something each time you sit down to nurse or pump. If you feel thirsty, you are dehydrated.
Too much saturated fat in the diet can be a problem. Reduce animal fats / limit your fat to polyunsaturated fats and take one tablespoon of lecithin (a dietary supplement available at most pharmacies, health foods stores, etc.) Adding lecithin to the diets of moms with recurrent plugged ducts has been shown to be very effective.
Either too much salt or too little salt in the diet has been linked to this problem.
In recent studies, mothers who consumed garlic increased their babies' desire for milk, and the babies nursed longer. Garlic is good for both mother and baby, contains antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Garlic can be consumed fresh (best- but may not be sociable) with 2-3 cloves of fresh garlic eaten 3 times per day or it can be taken in Kyolic form, which is odorless and therefore more sociable. NUTRITIONAL & HOLISTIC RECOMMENDATIONS
HERBS
Any of the following herbs can be beneficial for the nursing mother: alfalfa, blessed thistle, dandelion, fennel, horsetail, and raspberry.
Nettle leaf has a tonic effect and contains iron in addition to many other nutrients.
Aloe vera juice helps to heal sore nipples when applied topically. Apply the fresh clear gel from a fresh aloe vera leaf to soothe and heal sore and cracked nipples. Be sure to wash it off before nursing as the taste can be quite bitter.
The following herbs decrease milk supply, and should be avoided until a woman is no longer nursing: black walnut, sage, and yarrow.
Continue to drink MoonDragon's Pregnancy Tea Formula after the birth of your baby while breastfeeding.
MOONDRAGON'S PREGNANCY TEA
2 parts red raspberry leaf (example: 2 ounces quality dried herb)
1 part nettle leaf (example: 1 ounce quality dried herb)
1 part alfalfa leaf (example: 1 ounce quality dried herb)
1 part peppermint leaf (example: 1 ounce quality dried herb)
Mix loose herbs together well and store in clean, dry, preferably glass container (such as a mason-jar). Use as ice tea (such as sun-tea) or as a hot drink. Drink at least 1 - 2 quarts daily throughout the day. Red raspberry leaf is a good woman's toning herb for her hormonal balance and uterus. Red Raspberry, Nettle and alfalfa are rich in calcium, iron and other vital nutrients needed during pregnancy and lactation. Peppermint is good for the digestion and soothes the stomach. It also adds a nice minty flavor to an otherwise "green" tasting herbal blend. This herbal tea blend can also be used as a good base for taking other herbs and tincture supplements. For lactation, Blessed Thistle or Borage leaves can be added to the blend. The tinctures can be added by dropper-dose right to the tea and taken internally this way.
The loose leaf herbs can be put into a "tea ball" or wrapped loosely in unfolded, layered 4X4 gauze pads that have been tied with string, or strained out of the tea after steeping is completed. Allow the herbs to remain in hot water to steep preferably overnight. Store unused tea in the refrigerator and drink cold or reheat, if desired. If you wish to sweeten it (which usually isn't necessary), add a spoonful of honey to your tea. You can obtain quality bulk herbs through Mountain Rose herbs (see below). If you buy your herbs from another retailer, make sure they are aromatic and quality fresh (they should have a pleasantly strong aroma for the individual herb, good green color, and contain few stems or other plant parts except for leaves).
SUSUN WEED'S NURSING FORMULA
1 ounce dried Blessed Thistle or Borage leaves
1 ounce dried Raspberry or Nettle leaves
1 teaspoon of any one of these seeds: Anise, Cumin, Fennel, Caraway, Coriander, Dill.
Place leaves in a half-gallon jar and fill to the top with boiling water. Cap tightly and let steep overnight. Strain out herbs and refrigerate liquid until needed. As you get ready to nurse, pour off one cupful of the brew and heat it nearly to boiling. Pour it over a teaspoon of any of the aromatic seeds. Let it brew and cool for five more minutes before drinking.
Blessed Thistle (or Borage) stimulates the milk flow and helps restore vitality to weary mothers. Raspberry and Nettle supply vitamins and minerals, notably calcium, needed for plentiful lactation. The aromatic seeds increase milk production and tone the digestive system; their powers are carried through the breast milk and into the child, curtailing colic and indigestion. This brew can be drunk freely, up to two quarts daily, if desired.
POULTICES FOR SORE BREASTS
(Susun Weed's Herbal for Childbearing Year)
Poultice, compresses, and soaks are the best general first aid for painful breasts. Hot water alone has a beneficial effect, as it stimulates circulation and eases the tension in taut tissues; herbs increase the effectiveness. Frequent (4-5 times a day), short (3-5 minutes), consistent applications work better than sporadic, lengthy treatments. If infection is present, throw away poulticing materials after use. If there is no infection, brews and towels may be reused a number of times.
Run a sink full of warm water. Bend over it with your breasts in the sink. Allow the milk to flow out, massaging down from the back of the breast toward the nipple. This relieves engorgement and eases pain. This can also be done while in the shower with hot water flowing on the breasts while massaging the milk from the back of the breast to toward the nipple.
Use a hot compress of Parsley to ease swollen and painful breasts. Place a handful of fresh or dried parsley leaves in a clean cotton diaper, tie with a rubber band, and steep in simmering water for 10 to 15 minutes. Compress the breast with the hot wet bundle.
Try a hot compress of Comfrey leaves, fresh or dried, to soothe sore nipples, soften engorged tissues, reduce the pain of swollen breasts, and help unblock tubes and ducts. Prepare and use like Parsley.
Prepare a cold poultice of grated Raw Potato to draw out the heat of inflammation, localize infection, and unblock clogged tubes. Grate raw potato and apply directly to the breasts, covering with a clean cloth. Remove or replace when dry.
Soak breasts in Slippery Elm and slimy Marshmallow root. It delightfully soothes tender tissues, opens clogged ducts and tubes, powerfully draws out infection, and diminishes the pain of engorged, inflamed breasts and sore nipples. Make an infusion of the dried root, steeping two ounces in a half gallon of boiling water overnight. Reheat the infusion to near boiling. Pour it into a sink or basin and soak the breasts until the infusion cools.
Gently warm a handful of dried Elder blossoms in just enough olive oil to cover; keep warm for twenty minutes. Strain, cool, and rub the oil into the nipples and breasts to relieve pain and sensitivity.
OTHER MASTITIS HERBAL REMEDIES
Treatment of mastitis with herbs should include hot applications to the breasts (see above) at least 4 times daily. Plenty of bed rest and nursing as often and as long as possible on the infected breast.
Poke root (Phytolacca) is a wide spread weed with tall magenta stalks and black berries. A tincture of the fresh (only) root stimulates lymph gland activity and clears mastitis quickly. Poke root is potent and the effect is cumulative; use no more than 2 drops of tincture daily. It can be combined with Echinacea, but it may be effective as a simple remedy.
Propolis is a substance secreted by bees as a glue. It has a history of use against infection in Russia and a strong following among midwives in North America. It is said to accelerate healing time by increasing the body's metabolism and general resistance to disease. A dose of the tincture is 10-15 drops twice a day. It combines well with Echinacea.
Elder root, dug and grated fresh into boiling water, makes an excellent poultice for mastitis.
Echinacea root (echinacea augustifolia) is an excellent treatment for even severe cases of mastitis. It can be used as a poultice and taken internally as a herbal medication. Use Echinacea as an infusion by steeping 1 ounce of the root in a pint of boiling water and steep it overnight or at least 8 hours. Drink two cups daily until fever comes down. Then make a lighter infusion; one ounce of the root in a quart of boiling water and drink one or two cups daily for another week. If you must resort to tincture, use 1/2 drop per pound of body weight as a single dose. Repeat the dose up to 6 times a day until the fever remits. Continue with 2-3 doses daily for another 7 days or until all symptoms are cleared.
ENGORGEMENT REMEDIES
Drink sage tea or infusion. Sage is an anti-galactagogue and dries up milk. If you want to continue breastfeeding, use this remedy carefully.
Take 2 drops of Poke root tincture daily to decrease swelling. The same dose can be used to prevent engorgement.
PREVENTING SORE NIPPLES
Expose breasts to air; do not wear braw all day and night. Wear you nursing bra with the flaps down whenever possible. Expose breasts to sunlight or brief periods of ultraviolet light (maximum of 3 minutes, but increase to this level very gradually). Make sure you place the baby correctly making certain that the entire areola (dark area) is in his/her mouth and that the nipple is centered.
Experiment with different nursing positions. Nurse often so baby doesn't get hungry enough to tear at the breasts. Avoid washing the nipples with soap. Soap removes the natural oils and predisposes the nipple to chapping and cracking. Cologne, deodorant, and powder should also be kept away from the nipples.
SORE NIPPLE REMEDIES
Apply crushed ice in a wet cloth or a wet and frozen gauze pad to the nipples immediately before nursing. Ice is a good local pain killer; it also helps bring out soft or small nipples or the nipple of a very full-breast so the baby can feed more easily.
Use comfrey root ointment to soften and strengthen nipples at the same time. Comfrey root ointments are exceptionally soothing to sensitive nipples and rapidly heal any fissures or bruises. Be sure to rinse any ointment off the areola before nursing so the baby can grasp the breast properly.
Yarrow leaf poultices or ointment totally relieves pain and heals cracked nipples rapidly.
Vitamin E can help heal and strengthen the nipples. Apply the oil after nursing. Be sure to use only pure vitamin E, not preparations or synthetics.
Rub olive oil, sweet almond oil, lanolin, or Comfrey root ointment into the nipples throughout the latter part of the pregnancy and the beginning weeks of nursing.
Try homemade or commercial Calendula ointment to heal and strengthen nipples.
CAUTION: Ointments containing antibiotics, steroids, and anesthetic (pain-killing) drugs are potentially harmful to you and your infant. Avoid these ointments.
MASTITIS-BREASTFEEDING SUPPLEMENTAL PRODUCTS
Information, supplements and products for breastfeeding, breast care, and nursing problems.
Wise Woman's Herbal For The Childbearing Year by Susun S. Weed
This is a complete herbal pharmacopoeia for dealing with every problem that might arise before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth. This is a great book for people interested in alternative medicine and herbs. Full of lots of hard to find information about herbs and remedies to take and not take while pregnant. Also good pre and post pregnancy and baby information. Simple, safe, remedies for pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, newborns. Includes herbs for fertility and birth control. Foreword by Jeannine Parvati Baker. Note: some of the remedies on this page are found in this book.Mammo Guard (Breast Health Assurance), 500 mg Each Capsule - 60 Caps
This 100% natural herbal product is based on proven Chinese decoctions, and effective western herbs used for improving mammary and lymphatic systems health. Including herbs that the Chinese have used in breast hyperplasia, cancer, lumps, acute or suppurative mastitis, inflammation and breast cellulitis, fibrocystic breast, etc.Poke Root Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Poke Root is usually used in combination with other herbs to cleanse the lymph. Use externally for skin infections, scabies, eczema, parasites, and other skin problems. Poke Root is a pain reliever and cathartic.
It should not be used more than one gram per day. When used in its higher dosage amounts, it acts as an emetic and a cathartic. Externally it can be used for scabies, eczema, skin infections and parasites, breast tumors, caked breasts, abscesses, and fungal infections. To make a poultice for breast tumors and caked breasts, mix the root powder with slippery elm and water, keeping the poultice on for three days and moistened. Change the poultice every three days. It can also be used as a spring tonic, high in minerals, by using the young shoots as a pot-herb, boiling them in at least two changes of water. CAUTION: This plant is extremely potent and poisonous if not used appropriately.
Suggested Dosage or Use: Use 2-5 drops in juice, water, under the tongue or as desired. May be taken 3 times daily. Shake well. Store in cool dark place. Keep out of reach of children.Nursing Milk (Increase) Tincture, 100% Organic - 2 fl. oz.
The Nursing Milk (Increase) Formula is for nursing mothers who wish to use herbs to increase their breast milk. Suggested Dosage or Use: Use 6-12 drops in juice, water, under the tongue, or as desired. May be taken 3 times daily. Shake well. Store in cool, dark place. Keep out of reach of children.
Ingredients: Blessed Thistle Herb, Sanicle Leaf, Marshmallow Root, Fennel Seed, Ginger Root, R/O Water, 12% Alcohol.Nursing Formula Tincture (Dry Up Milk), 100% Organic - 2 fl. oz.
The Nursing (dry up milk) Formula was created to help dry up breast milk. Suggested Dosage or Use: Use 6-12 drops in juice, water, under the tongue, or as desired. May be taken 3 times daily.
Ingredients: Sage; Yarrow; R/O Water, 12% Alcohol.Neuromins DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), Nature's Way 100 mg - 60 Softgels
DHA is an essential fatty acid is the primary structural fatty acid in the gray matter of the brain and retina of the eye and is important for signal transmissions in the brain, eye and nervous system. DHA is taken by expecting mothers to support fetal development, and by mothers while lactating to enhance breast milk.Prenatal Vitamin with Folic Acid, 100% Natural & Complete Nature's Way - 180 Caps
Nature's Way Prenatal Vitamin with Folic Acid is a complete vitamin formulated to support the health of the mother and child.Blessed Thistle Tincture, 100% Organic - 2 fl. oz.
Helps nursing mothers by stimulating the mammary glands and helps to increase breast milk supply.Squaw Vine Tincture, 100% Organic - 2 fl. oz.
Squaw Vine is often used for both menstruating and pregnant women and may be used as a salve and be applied to sore nipples while nursing.Anise Tincture, 100% Organic - 2 fl. oz.
Anise herb combats infection, promotes milk production in nursing mothers, and is helpful with menopausal problems.Lanolin Oil, NOW Foods 100% Pure, Liquid - 4 fl. oz.
Pure Lanolin Oil (Liquid Lanolin) is a very high quality thick liquid and may be thinned with, Olive oil, Emo oil or cocoa butter. Pure lanolin oil can be used like petroleum jelly on chapped skin and as a moisturizer.Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) Powder - 4 oz. Bulk
Modern uses of Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) include increasing milk supply for nursing mothers, memory improvement, increasing appetite and generally preventing sickness. Four different ways of using Blessed Thistle have been recommended.Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus indica) Herb Powder - 4 oz. Bulk
Prickly Pear is particularly useful in providing nutrients to the pancreas and liver, which support digestion and maintain blood sugar balance.
NOTIFY YOUR MIDWIFE OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IF...
If you or a family member have symptoms of mastitis.
During treatment, temperature rises to over 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C).
Nausea, vomiting or constipation.
Signs of a developing abscess (a localized area with increasing redness, pain, tenderness and fluctuance that feels like pushing on an inflated inner tube).
Mountain Rose Bulk Herbs
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