Should I breastfeed my baby when I have a fever caused by mastitis?

Breast milk is the primary source of nutrition for infants. However, the mother is not always healthy during breastfeeding. Sometimes, mothers can get sick and have a high fever. So what to do? Let aFamilyToday Health learn about this issue.

Mastitis is a common condition in women who are breastfeeding. This disease causes high fever, tremors and usually appears in the first 6 months after birth.

When suffering from this disease, many mothers often worry and do not know how to handle it. Please follow the sharing below to find answers to the question: "Should I breastfeed when my mother has a fever?".

Why do mothers who are breastfeeding often have a high fever?

When breastfeeding, you are prone to mastitis, because the ducts block the milk, preventing the milk from flowing. In addition, infection of the mammary gland also leads to this condition. Mastitis usually occurs during the first six months. The main symptoms are high fever, chills, tightness and pain in the breast area.

In addition to the above symptoms, you may also have the following symptoms of mastitis:

High fever and chills

Indians

Pain or burning while breastfeeding

Swollen breasts

The breasts become soft

Fluid oozing from the nipple

Appearance of a tumor in the chest

Hot in chest area

Itching

Aches

Causes of mastitis

Mastitis often makes you have a high fever. The causes of this disease are due to:

Clogging of the ducts results in milk retention. This prolonged condition makes cleaning difficult, causing breast infection.

Bacteria on the skin surface of a mother and baby's mouth can enter the milk passage through a crack or crack in the skin of the nipple or through a hole in the ducts. The bacteria can multiply, causing breast infections , causing high fever and chest pain.

Should I breastfeed my baby when I have a fever?

If you have a high fever due to mastitis, you can still continue to breastfeed as this is not dangerous to your baby. In fact, breastfeeding regularly will prevent duct blockage and stagnation of milk.

Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic to treat you. However, most antibiotics pass through breast milk only in very small amounts and do not cause any health problems for the baby.

Preventive measures

To prevent mastitis, which causes high fever, you should have a healthy lifestyle. Here are some precautions you can take:

You should wash your hands before touching your breasts to breastfeed.

Place the nipple correctly and firmly attach to the baby's mouth while feeding.

Do not feed your baby too often, as this can lead to milk delay or blockage of the ducts.

Wear loose and comfortable clothing.

Avoid using breast creams or ointments.

Wash your breasts gently with soap and rinse thoroughly with warm water before feeding your baby.

When should I see a doctor?

Women who are breastfeeding with chest pain or high fever should see their doctor. Remember that you should only take any medications your doctor has prescribed or consult with your doctor before taking.

The above simple remedies will definitely help a lot of nursing mothers to avoid fever and infection. To ensure the health of your baby, first take care of your health first.