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Copywriting丨Dr. Li's health protection
Editor丨Dr. Li Health Guard
Breastfeeding is a wonderful time after the birth of a new baby, but it can also be a major health challenge for mothers. Acute mastitis, a common complication of lactation, often catches many women off guard. When high fever and severe pain suddenly strike, many mothers can't help but panic: will the medication affect the baby? Should I stop breastfeeding? How can I get back to health as quickly as possible?
Acute mastitis usually occurs within 6 weeks postpartum and occurs in about 2% to 10% of patients. It is caused by infection of breast tissue, and common symptoms include local redness, swelling, heat and pain in the breast, general fever, chills, fatigue, etc. If not properly managed, it can develop into a breast abscess, which can have serious effects on breastfeeding.
Timely recognition of mastitis symptoms is crucial. In addition to fever and pain, there may be a lump, redness, and tenderness on the affected breast. As soon as these signs appear, you should seek medical attention immediately so as not to miss the best time for treatment.
For the treatment of lactating mastitis, Chinese and Western medicine have their own strengths. Western medicine treatment is mainly antibiotics, supplemented by analgesic and antipyretic drugs. Commonly used antibiotics include penicillins, cephalosporins, etc., which can be given orally or intravenously depending on the condition. It is important to note that not all antibiotics are suitable for breastfeeding women, so it is important to consult your doctor before taking them.
Traditional Chinese medicine starts from the overall conditioning, believing that mastitis is mostly caused by qi stagnation, blood stasis, dampness and heat accumulation. In terms of treatment, it is mainly based on soothing the liver and regulating qi, clearing heat and detoxifying, and commonly used traditional Chinese medicines such as honeysuckle, dandelion, danpi, etc. At the same time, combined with acupuncture and massage, it can effectively relieve pain and promote milk discharge.
Regardless of the treatment regimen, continued breastfeeding is key. Many mothers worry that continuing to breastfeed will worsen the infection, but in fact it is the opposite. Emptying your milk in a timely manner can help reduce inflammation and prevent milk stasis from aggravating the condition. Even if the affected breast is not visibly ulcerated or abscessed, breastfeeding can be continued.
Pregnant women need to be extra cautious when it comes to medication. Most antibiotics are safe to use while breastfeeding, but there are still a few that can affect babies through breast milk. Commonly used penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics can generally be used with confidence. For antipyretic analgesics, acetaminophen is preferred, and aspirin and ibuprofen are avoided.
In addition to medication, physical therapies such as topical warm compresses and massage can also be effective. Warm compresses can promote local blood circulation and relieve pain; Massage helps to unclog the mammary glands and promote milk drainage. These methods are simple and easy for moms to operate at home.
Prevention is better than cure. The key to preventing mastitis is to maintain breast hygiene and avoid milk stasis. The nipples should be cleaned in time after each breastfeeding and kept dry; The breastfeeding position should be correct to ensure that the baby is fully latched; Adjust the frequency of breastfeeding appropriately to avoid overfilling the breasts.
It is worth mentioning that although breastfeeding is good, it should not be excessive. In order to increase the amount of milk, some mothers do not hesitate to breastfeed frequently throughout the night, which is easy to cause nipple damage and increase the risk of infection. The scientific approach is to follow your baby's needs and breastfeed in moderation.
For the treatment of mastitis, in addition to following the doctor's advice, the mother's psychological state is equally important. Breastfeeding women are generally emotionally sensitive, and they are more likely to fall into anxiety once they get sick. The support and understanding of family members is particularly important at this time, and more attention should be paid to the mother's emotions and create a relaxed and happy breastfeeding environment.
In recent years, with the deepening of people's understanding of breastfeeding, the treatment concept of mastitis has been constantly updated. Traditionally, people with mastitis should stop breastfeeding, but studies have shown that continued breastfeeding is harmless and can help inflammation resolve. This discovery gives hope to many distressed mothers.
And moms don't have to worry too much. Mastitis is common, but the prognosis is good when treated promptly. The vast majority of patients are cured after 5-7 days of standard treatment and do not cause long-term effects on future breastfeeding. Even recurrent episodes of chronic mastitis can be effectively controlled with comprehensive treatment.
It is important to note that some patients with mastitis may refuse to take antibiotics for fear of affecting their baby, which can lead to exacerbation. In fact, the vast majority of antibiotics have very little effect on babies and are nowhere near as risky as mastitis itself. Mothers should not shy away from medical treatment, and should actively receive standardized treatment.
The understanding of mastitis in Chinese medicine is unique. In the "Theory of the Origin and Syndrome of Diseases", it is called "jealous milk", which is believed to be related to factors such as emotion, diet, and external evil. In terms of treatment, it emphasizes soothing the liver and relieving depression, channeling and relieving pain, and commonly used prescriptions such as Xiaoyu San, Torrey Disinfectant San, etc. These traditional wisdoms, combined with modern medicine, provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of mastitis.
Recent studies have found that skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby is beneficial to establish a parent-child relationship, enhance infant immunity, and reduce the incidence of maternal mastitis. This finding provides a scientific basis for new parenting styles such as "kangaroo care", which is worth promoting.
With the progress of society, people's awareness of breastfeeding is deepening. However, there are still problems such as insufficient breastfeeding facilities in public places and poor breastfeeding environment in the workplace, which indirectly increases the risk of mastitis. It is the common responsibility of the whole society to improve relevant laws and regulations and create a friendly environment for breastfeeding.
For recurrent chronic mastitis, in addition to conventional treatment, attention should also be paid to regulating the physical condition. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that such patients mostly have evidence of liver depression and spleen deficiency, qi stagnation and blood stasis. Prescriptions such as Bupleurum Shugansan and Sijunzi Tang can be used for conditioning, combined with external treatment methods such as moxibustion and cupping, to treat both the symptoms and the root causes.
It is important to note that some mastitis may be related to underlying diseases such as breast hyperplasia and dilated ducts. After the acute treatment of such patients, further investigations are required to determine the cause and formulate a long-term prevention and treatment plan.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have guidelines for lactation. These authoritative guidelines provide an important reference for clinical medication, so that mothers can communicate with their doctors and choose the most suitable treatment plan for them.
With the advent of the era of precision medicine, individualized treatment of mastitis has become possible. Through genetic testing, microbiome analysis and other technologies, doctors can develop more targeted treatment plans for patients, improve efficacy, and reduce adverse reactions.
In conclusion, lactating mastitis is common, but not invincible. As long as scientific understanding, timely treatment, and persistent breastfeeding, the vast majority of mothers can successfully overcome the difficulties and continue to enjoy the good time of breastfeeding. I hope this article can provide a useful reference for breastfeeding mothers, and I wish every mother a healthy and happy breastfeeding period.
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