Breast Inflammation
Breast inflammation is an umbrella term that includes engorgement, pockets of inflammation commonly called “plugged ducts,” blebs or nipple blisters, and mastitis.
We now understand all of these conditions as being on a spectrum of inflammation. Regardless of whether you have come to this web page because you want to prevent inflammation, or because you are experiencing it, we have found the following strategies to be very helpful:
Work on effective, frequent feeding from birth. Ineffective or infrequent feeding, as well as nipple damage, can worsen breast inflammation.
Use cold compresses to reduce inflammation (heat increases inflammation!).
Use gentle edema massage, also know as lymphatic drainage, to reduce inflammation. This image illustrates the technique.
Ibuprofen reduces inflammation. Talk to your provider to confirm dosage.
Read on for more information.
Engorgement is normal in the early postpartum days and occurs as a result of increased blood flow and lymphatic fluids in the breast (as well as milk!).
This short article from Milkworks.org outlines engorgement prevention and management strategies that we think every new parent should know.
IABLE has a similar short article. Read both, and feel empowered!
A “plugged duct” is an area of inflammation that can block milk flow. This not something that you need to “get out” through vigorous rubbing, massage, or pumping. These actions can increase inflammation!
This article from IABLE explains risk factors and effective management strategies for these pockets of inflammation.
Milkworks.org outlines management strategies in this article.
Blebs are tiny, often quite painful, spots on the nipple. You may see what looks like a tiny white or yellow blister on your nipple. Blebs are thought to be a result of inflammation in the breast.
Read more about blebs and how to deal with them here.
Mastitis is a condition of significant breast inflammation. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine describes inflammatory mastitis and bacterial mastitis. Both require prompt attention and treatment to avoid an abscess (believe us, you do not want that to happen).
Read the IABLE mastitis prevention and management strategies here.
Milkworks.org has a good resource on this topic.
Contact your provider right away if you have systemic symptoms such as fever, aches, chills, or spreading redness/red streaks on the breast; or if your symptoms worsen/do not improve after 24 hours.
If you’re a person who wants to do a deep dive into research, A Physician Guide to Medicine is a reliable source of information on this and other topics.
DISCLAIMER: We know when you surf the web for information, you can get conflicting results, and it’s not easy to know whether you are finding evidence-based, high quality recommendations. That’s part of our job here at Kodiak KINDNESS; we are here to support your informed decisions about infant feeding through your baby’s first year. We’ve done some background work, and to the best of our knowledge, this post reflects current best practices. However, the information contained in this post and any links contained herein is for your informational use only; it is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Furthermore, Kodiak KINDNESS is not responsible for the accuracy of any information contained in this post or links contained herein; it is for you to review at your own risk and discuss, as needed, with your health care professional in order to make a plan that suits your individual circumstances.