{"id":31844,"date":"2020-05-14T10:57:55","date_gmt":"2020-05-14T16:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=31844"},"modified":"2023-06-23T11:48:34","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T17:48:34","slug":"help-for-mastitis-key-for-pain-while-breastfeeding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/help-for-mastitis-key-for-pain-while-breastfeeding\/","title":{"rendered":"Help for mastitis is key if you’re dealing with pain while breastfeeding"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Jenny
Jenny York with her little man, Hudson. She wants other women to know about getting help for mastitis. Photos: Cyrus McCrimmon for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It starts with a burning sensation in the breast. Then, redness and tenderness followed by aches, fever and fatigue. It feels like the flu but there\u2019s no vaccine for this illness. For some women, like Jenny York, it happens all too often<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cMastitis is the worst,\u201d said York, a mother of three who has endured the painful condition while breastfeeding each of her children and wants other mothers to know when to get help for mastitis.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know right away what it is,\u201d said York.<\/p>\n

But that wasn\u2019t the case when York breastfed her first baby, Madeline, now 6. York was relishing her perfect newborn daughter and breastfeeding was going well, a relief to the new mom. Madeline\u2019s tiny hands would grab her fingers tightly while she was breastfeeding, her eyes cast upward. But then, York’s breast began to feel sore and hard. She thought it was a clogged milk duct, a common issue that arises when milk builds up in the ducts. Soon, the symptoms worsened and the pain intensified. Her breast was red. Chills and body aches wracked the new mom. York headed to see her provider who diagnosed her with mastitis.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not something that I really knew anything about,\u201d said York. \u201cMastitis is not one of those conditions that are readily talked about and you just don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to happen to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Get help quickly if you think you might have a bacterial infection<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The body is full of naturally-occurring bacteria. These tiny microbes are on our skin, in our nose and mouth, and in our gut. Even brand new, tiny babies have bacteria in their mouths. If that bacteria gets into a milk duct, through a crack in the nipple for example, it\u2019s like a perfect storm.<\/p>\n

\u201cMilk ducts are breeding grounds for bacteria,\u201d said Allison Lock, physician assistant and instructor of breast surgery at the CU Medicine Breast Care Clinic at UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"The
The York family: Dr. Philip York, \u00a0Jenny, and their three children, Hudson, Madeline and\u00a0Blakely.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If bacteria settle in and multiply, mastitis symptoms appear. They may include a red, triangle-shaped patch on the breast, a palpable knot or mass, engorgement and flu-like symptoms including muscle aches and a fever.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can happen any time and it comes on very quickly,\u201d said Lock. \u201cIt\u2019s not something you want to miss.\u201d<\/p>\n

York knows first-hand. She got mastitis after Madeline, Blakely and Hudson were born. The third time around, she was not surprised when she developed symptoms. She knew that if you have it once, you\u2019re likely to get it again. As instructed, York emptied her breasts frequently and placed warm compresses on the affected area. She diligently took the antibiotics prescribed by Lock. But after two weeks, York was back in the office.<\/p>\n

Lock prescribed her another round of antibiotics and for a while, York was symptom free until she began feeling sharp pains in her breast.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was intense,\u201d said York.<\/p>\n

If left\u00a0untreated, mastitis can lead to an abscess<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Lock was concerned that York had developed an abscess, a collection of fluid and pus that forms a hard lump. It was not something that could wait. She wanted to do an ultrasound, and quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe longer you wait to treat it, the worse it can get,\u201d said Lock. Depending on the severity, an abscess may need to be drained or possibly surgically removed.<\/p>\n

\"Photo
Jenny York with her three kids, Madeline, Blakely and Hudson.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

York immediately loaded the kids in the car and headed to UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital, a place she had become familiar with recently.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlakely makes herself at home and knows all the nurses by name,\u201d said York.<\/p>\n

Despite the stressful situation, the three children were, \u201cperfect angels,\u201d said Lock. \u201cOur team recognizes that these are new moms who are exhausted, sick, frustrated and in pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one minds when little ones show up in the office,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

York didn\u2019t have an abscess – a relief to both patient and provider.<\/p>\n

\n

Breast Care Clinic: help for mastitis<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CU Medicine Breast Care Clinic at UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital is open and able to serve you, either at the clinic or through a Virtual Visit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Please call the clinics directly or visit MyHealthConnection to schedule an appointment for both in person and virtual health.<\/p>\n

New Patients: 720.516.2120<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

1500 Park Central Drive, Suite 203
\nHighlands Ranch, Colorado 80129<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI was thankful I could get in right then and not have to wait several days to see Allison,\u201d said York.<\/p>\n

Lock prescribed another round of antibiotics that did the trick. Finally, York was symptom free.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no full-proof way to prevent mastitis, but Lock recommends a few things that may help stave it off:<\/p>\n