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Breastfeeding mastitis symptoms are important to be early recognized in order to avoid possible complications. Mastitis is the medical term that refers to the inflammation of the breasts which is quite common amongst women who are breastfeeding. This article explains you the signs and symptoms of mastitis as well as few treatment methods that help curing the condition and ease the symptoms.

The main symptoms of mastitis in women include tenderness, redness and breast augmentation of the affected parts of it. Many women feel their breasts hot, hard or swollen and generally they must cope with pain or discomfort. Pain caused by mastitis can vary from mild to severe, depending on how serious the condition is and what part of the breast has affected. Symptoms of mastitis in women also include fever, general malaise, and the skin of the affected breast may become tight and shiny, and streaked with red. The symptoms may vary depending on the specific cause of mastitis. When caused by and infection, fever is the first sign of mastitis, along with nausea, vomiting, pus-like discharge from the nipple and shivers. When caused by breast engorgement, a result of delayed feeds or because of not emptying properly the breast with each feed, the symptoms of mastitis are not as severe as in case of infection. The breasts usually become swollen and pain may be present, although not as severe as with infection. Also, women suffering from breast engorgement mastitis may feel thirsty all the time and uncomfortable. Blocked ducts causing mastitis are resulting in more localized symptoms, such as an area of tender and hard lumpiness.

Mastitis treatment is administered depending on what caused the condition in the first place. However, doctors consider that breastfeeding is the best mastitis symptoms treatment as it helps in emptying the breasts and easing the symptoms. Especially that there is no risk that the baby gets the infection that has developed within the breast, there is no reason to stop breastfeeding.

Women should consult their doctors as soon as they experience the first symptoms. The mastitis symptoms treatment considered when infection is the underlying cause of the condition includes antibiotics, or paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve the pain and discomfort. However, no treatment should be administered prior to the visit to the doctor.

Any woman who is breastfeeding is prone to developing mastitis while breastfeeding and when weaning her baby. There are however few measures that women may take to prevent developing this condition. These include making sure that the breasts are fully emptied with each feed, feeding more frequently or pumping the breasts if they feel lumpy after a feed and also, trying to get regular rest. Resting may be difficult for a new mother as the baby will request her attention quite often, but rest is important for her own health. Women are also advised to wear proper bras, which are not too tight and which are comfortable.

To conclude, breastfeeding mastitis symptoms is a term that refers to the symptoms that women may experience if they have developed mastitis due to breastfeeding and which must be closely observed because mastitis may lead to serious complications and pain.