What is Mastitis? Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

First thing is… you’re not alone

Are you wondering if your symptoms are mastitis? Poor you — it’s such a rough experience. Let’s go through what mastitis is, the symptoms to look out for, and what you can do for relief.

How Common is Mastitis?

• Affects up to 30% of breastfeeding mothers (both direct feeders & pumpers)

• Most common in the first 6–12 weeks postpartum

• Usually affects one breast at a time

• Catching it early makes a big difference to recovery

Symptoms of Mastitis

You might experience:

• Fever (often over 38°C, sometimes over 40°C)

• Flu-like aches and chills

• Pain in the breast

• Thickened or lumpy breast tissue

• A red patch on the skin (may precede or come after the pain/fever)

• Feeling like you’ve been hit by a bus

• Pain when feeding, lying on that side, or lifting your arm

• A breast that feels hot to touch

• Headache

⚡ Symptoms can appear suddenly, which is why many women first mistake mastitis for the flu or think that it MUST be an infection..

When Symptoms Are More Severe

Seek medical help quickly if you have:

• Vomiting or fainting

• No improvement after 24–48 hours

• Cracked or damaged nipples (higher infection risk)

These may indicate infectious mastitis that could require antibiotics.

Can Mastitis Cause Headaches?

Yes — mastitis can lead to headaches. Reasons include:

• Fever and dehydration (sweating out fluids)

• Poor posture while resting or feeding

• Stiff neck and spinal strain from slouching when feeling unwell

• Inflammation in your system

Mastitis Treatment

The good news: there’s a lot you can do at home right now.

1st Stage Relief strategies:

• Heat: warm compress, wheat bag, or warm shower spray

• Cold: ice packs (wrapped), or cool cabbage leaves

• Pain relief: paracetamol or ibuprofen (use as directed)

• Gentle breast massage: focus on milk, blood, and lymph drainage — never deep, muscle-style massage

• Therapeutic ultrasound: helps move fluid congestion

• Keep feeding or pumping but only to your regular routine: continue gentle drainage, though please note that the feeling of fullness often comes from inflammatory fluid, not just milk. Over-pumping/feeding can lead to rebound milk overload (hyperlactation) when the mastitis has resolved.

Do You Always Need Antibiotics?

Not always. In fact often not.

• Mastitis is inflammation of the breast that may or may not be an infection.

• Antibiotics only help if infection is present.

• They won’t clear fluid congestion, which is why some women are left with lumps after treatment.

• Flu-like aches and fever occur even in the abscence of infection. Hard to believe for many, but it’s true! It’s caused by some components on the mastitis inflammation (ie. leukotrienes) travelling throughout your body via your bloodstream.

At our clinic, we work alongside doctors. If infection is suspected, antibiotics are essential — but other therapies are still needed for full recovery.

What Actually Happens in Mastitis?

• Pressure increases in the breast, usually from too great a milk volume

• Small milk-making glands rupture due to pressure overload (think bursting balloons)

• Milk leaks into surrounding connective tissues of the breast.

• This triggers an inflammatory reaction → swelling, heat, pain, fever.

• The thick, lumpy feeling is inflammatory fluid + escaped milk, not something you can pump out.

What Causes Mastitis?

Mastitis usually happens when milk doesn’t flow well increasing breast glandular pressure. Causes can include:

• Poor latch or positioning

• Damaged nipples increasing pain which impacts the let-down quality (inhibits oxytocin)

• Plugged/Blocked/Clogged ducts

• Oversupply or engorgement

• Skipped feeds or rapid weaning

• Ill-fitting bras, breast shells, or sling straps pressing on breast

• Illness in mother or baby

• Mum’s posture restricting lymph drainage

• Baby-related issues (tongue tie, lip tie, blocked nose, neck/jaw tension)

• Stressed-out mother – increases body inflammation (think cortisol) causing a vulnerability

Other Breastfeeding-Related Conditions

Engorgement

• Physiological (days 2–6 postpartum): swelling from milk + blood + lymph changes.

• Pathological: too much milk not drained, which may lead to mastitis.

Blocked Ducts

• Inflamed duct walls that encroach on the internal passageway → wedge-shaped lump, tenderness, sometimes mild fever, mild pink tinge.

Bleb

• A blockage at the nipple pore (“white spot” or “milk blister”).

• May be caused by trauma from strong pumps, poor latch, or biting, or also the clearing of a blocked duct after the inflammation settles.

• Can lead to mastitis if not cleared.

Preventing Mastitis

• Wear a supportive (not tight) bra

• Avoid overfilling the breast

• Don’t skip feeds

• Work on baby’s latch

• Break suction gently when unlatching

• Manage stress as best you can

• Alternate breasts to avoid overloading

• Rest where possible — fatigue increases risk

• See one of our practitioners for preventative treatment techniques

Watch Out for Breast Abscess

In some cases, mastitis infection can progress to an abscess.

Signs of a breast abscess:

• Firm, round lump that remains after other symptoms settle

• Skin over the lump may look red, brown, or grey, and peel

• Area may feel hot

Diagnosis & Treatment

• Ultrasound confirms an abscess

• Treatment usually includes drainage + antibiotics

• Sometimes requires hospital care

• Cultures may be taken to match the right antibiotic to the infection

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