How to Avoid Infections While Breast-Feeding

Breast infections and plugged ducts can be extremely painful, and sometimes even cause a breast-feeding relationship to come to a premature end. Most infections are easily treatable, but many of them can actually be prevented by following a few simple rules.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Nursing Bras
• Nursing Shirts

1. Wear comfortable, nonconstricting nursing bras and clothing. Anything that restricts the flow of milk can lead to an inflamed or plugged duct - usually a painful, reddish area, or even a sore lump in the breast.

2. Avoid putting unnecessary pressure on your breasts. Heavy bags with shoulder straps can compress the breast and lead to a plugged duct; so can tight bathing suits - even holding the breast tightly while you nurse can cause problems.

3. Nurse regularly, and try not to give supplementary bottles or use a pacifier during the early weeks of breast-feeding. If your baby skips a feeding, takes a bottle or falls asleep with a pacifier instead of nursing, you may become engorged.

4. Check your baby's latch. Improper positioning at the breast can mean that your breasts are not being emptied effectively; this can also lead to engorgement, as well as dehydration in your baby.

5. Get lots of rest. Although this can be difficult with a newborn around, it's an essential part of protecting yourself from infections and other health problems.

6. Drink lots of fluids. Dehydration can increase the severity of infections.

7. If you experience extreme nipple soreness or burning and find white spots on your nipples or in your baby's mouth, you may have a thrush infection. Contact your doctor or a lactation professional immediately.

8. Keep breast-feeding if you believe that you have a plugged duct or the beginning of an infection. Nursing frequently on the affected side will keep the milk flowing and prevent engorgement; it will also provide your baby with antibodies that protect against bacteria.

9. Vary nursing positions; this will help to relieve plugged ducts, as well as reducing pressure on the affected area.

Tips & Warnings

• Wipe your nipples with warm water after each nursing; this will prevent milk from drying on the nipple and clogging the milk ducts.

• If you have a fever accompanied by flu-like systems, call your doctor. You may have an infection that will require treatment with antibiotics.

• If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, double-check that it is compatible with breast-feeding (most are). This is especially important if your regular doctor is not able to see you.

• If you have a lump in your breast that doesn't go away, see your doctor. Perform regular self-examinations, which will help you become familiar with the texture of your lactating breasts.