Lactostasis in a nursing mother, the symptoms and treatment of which can only be determined by an experienced specialist, is a fairly common disease. A woman experiences severe pain in the area of the mammary gland. Some even have the desire to abandon breastfeeding. If the treatment of pathology is neglected, the process of pus formation may begin in the glands.
What is lactostasis?
The mammary gland consists of several lobes, each of which has its own duct for excretion of the secret into the external environment. When one of them becomes clogged, lactostasis develops. In the first few days, the disease is not dangerous, but may be accompanied by fever and soreness. A protein of milk, gradually accumulating in the ducts, a woman's body perceives as a foreign body.
Lactostasis becomes dangerous on the third day. If the fever persists, consult a doctor. Approximately on the fifth day, inflammation occurs, which turns into infectious mastitis. It is strictly forbidden to treat it at home. Therapy should be prescribed by a doctor with the mandatory use of antibiotics.
External causes of lactostasis
Not a single woman is safe from milk stagnation . There are many factors that can lead to the development of the disease.
- If the shape of the nipple is not perfect, it is very difficult for the baby to take the breast correctly. As a result, a woman has to use special pads and express her breasts.
- Narrow ducts of the mammary gland can also contribute to lactostasis. If milk is of high fat content, they form caps very quickly.
- Among the removable factors leading to the development of the disease include improper attachment to the chest. Especially often this is encountered by primogenous women who have no experience in this matter.
- Another reason for lactostasis is the squeezing of ducts with tight linen or your own body when a woman is sleeping on her stomach. Many people prefer to hold their breasts with their hands while feeding, which also disrupts the outflow from some parts of the gland.
- Mechanical damage, injuries, hypothermia - all these factors contribute to stagnation of milk.
Breast lactostasis often develops against the background of non-stop pumping. Our grandmothers and some pediatricians are not tired of repeating that milk must be constantly expressed. As a result, the chest remains completely empty. The body receives a kind of signal about the need for additional nutrition for the child. The baby, in turn, does not need such a large amount of food. After the next feeding, milk remains in the breast, and the mother begins to express it. A vicious circle forms, which provokes stagnant processes.
Internal causes
With hyperlactation, milk secretion increases several times. It is formed several times more than the child needs. In addition, amid dehydration or constant stress, milk becomes excessively thick. This is what affects the likelihood of clogged ducts.
If mommy does not get enough sleep regularly and is full of household chores, emotional instability can occur. Stress also provokes lactostasis in a nursing mother. Symptoms and treatment of the disease in such a situation require an immediate reaction from the woman. The thing is that emotional overload at a reflex level causes muscle spasms in the ducts. That is why doctors recommend that young mothers rest more, try to avoid excessive stress.
Lactostasis in a nursing mother: symptoms
Both treatment and the likelihood of developing complications directly depend on timely diagnosis. Therefore, every lady should know the first signs of this disease.
- Breast soreness.
- Lumps and small irregularities protruding above the surface.
- Lumps in the chest.
- Redness of the skin.
- Discomfort when feeding.
If at the initial stage the signs of lactostasis are ignored, the nursing woman quickly begins to swell and swell the breast. The skin becomes hot and painful. The woman has a fever, weakness and chills. Expressing milk only brings discomfort. The baby refuses the breast, as he cannot capture it correctly.
Lactostasis Treatment
Having discovered the initial signs of this disease, it is necessary to immediately begin its treatment. At first, each mother can independently cope with the disease, without resorting to the help of serious drug therapy. All medical procedures should be aimed at normalizing the movement of milk.
The best medicine is the newborn himself. If he sucks well, he should be positioned so that the nose and chin rest against the affected area. Despite all the pain of this process, offering unhealthy breasts is recommended twice as often. The faster the full flow of milk through the ducts is restored, the sooner the discomfort will pass.
Now each feeding should turn into a real ritual.
- Initially, it is recommended that heat be used to increase the outflow of milk. To do this, make compresses, take a hot shower.
- Massage with lactostasis can increase the outflow of milk in the affected area. To reduce pain discomfort, you can use oil or a special cream.
- Part of the milk must be expressed regularly.
- If you periodically apply cold compresses to a sore spot, you can remove increased swelling.
After decantation, the baby must be carefully applied to the sore chest so that he can bring the therapeutic process to its logical conclusion. Such a therapeutic ritual can be repeated before each “meal”.
Drug therapy
Of the drugs that are prescribed at the first signs of the disease, use Traumeel cream, Malavit solution, as well as Arnica lactostasis ointment. A lactating mother should keep any of these funds in her home medicine cabinet, and if necessary, immediately resort to his help.
If stagnation of milk is provoked by stress or strong emotional feelings, you can take the No-Shpy pill before feeding. The drug helps relieve spasms of the ducts and facilitates the passage of milk. The medicine is recommended to be taken three times a day, but before that it is necessary to consult a doctor.
When a young mother's temperature rises with lactostasis, Ibuprofen can be taken. If it is not possible to get rid of the pathology in three days, doctors begin treatment with antibiotics. Amoxiclav and Augmentin are usually prescribed. Self-medication is not recommended, medications should not be started without a doctor’s prescription. Only in this case can the development of mastitis be prevented.
Physiotherapy
Some women are prescribed physiotherapy to increase fluid outflow. For example, ultrasound helps get rid of seals in just one session. If the desired effect cannot be achieved within several procedures, there is no point in continuing them. Also in medical practice, magnetotherapy, light therapy are actively used.
Physiotherapy should be part of a comprehensive treatment. Their use as the only treatment option is not very effective.
Folk recipes
Alternative medicine offers its own solutions to such a problem as lactostasis. Treatment at home with the help of folk recipes is recommended if kneading the chest did not give the desired results.
To reduce pain and alleviate general well-being, cabbage leaf can be applied to the affected area. It must be washed under running water and make several cuts. Then the sheet should be attached to the chest and fixed with a bra.
Chamomile infusion promotes the opening of the milk ducts. To prepare it, you need to pour two tablespoons of dry grass with a glass of boiling water, insist for an hour. Then in the solution it is necessary to moisten the gauze and put it on the sore chest. Repeat the procedure is recommended at least three times a day.
The proposed compresses can be used as an additional tool against a disease such as lactostasis. Treatment at home can reduce swelling and relieve discomfort. You should not reduce the frequency of feedings, because the main means against this ailment is still pumping.
Lactostasis Complications
The likelihood of complications increases if a woman is in no hurry to consult a doctor. Among the common negative consequences of this disease are the following:
- mastitis (inflammatory process in the mammary gland);
- tissue necrosis;
- gland abscess (the formation of purulent foci);
- hypogalactia (reduction in milk production).
Lactostasis in itself is a complication of the postpartum period. Against the background of this disease, a number of other pathological processes may develop.
Prevention
Unlike most ailments, the appearance of lactostasis can be prevented if you constantly monitor the condition of the chest and adhere to fairly simple rules.
- It is recommended to feed the baby in various poses, periodically changing the position of the body.
- It is necessary to pay increased attention to those areas of the gland where compaction is felt.
- It is better to use special underwear for nursing mothers, who do not have tight seams and bones.
- After discharge from the hospital, you must monitor your own daily routine, eat rationally. Observance of the correct drinking regimen allows milk to have an ideal consistency.
- Mom should not neglect the rest. If the child is restless, during his sleep it is better for the woman to postpone domestic affairs and devote time to herself. You can attract dad to take care of a newborn.
Do not underestimate lactostasis. In a nursing mother, the symptoms and treatment of this disease require special attention. If breast lumps are found , consult a doctor and follow all his recommendations. Be healthy!