Lactostasis in a nursing mother: symptoms and treatment, causes and prevention

Laktostaz in a nursing mother, whose symptoms and treatment can be determined only by an experienced specialist, is a fairly common disease. A woman experiences severe pain in the area of the breast. Some even have a desire to abandon breastfeeding. If we neglect the treatment of pathology, the process of pus formation can begin in the glands.

What is lactostasis?

The mammary gland consists of several parts, each of which has its own duct for secretion into the external environment. When there is a blockage of one of them, lactostasis develops. In the first few days, the disease is not dangerous, but can be accompanied by an increase in temperature and the appearance of soreness. Milk protein, gradually accumulating in the ducts, the body of a woman perceives as a foreign body.

Lactostasis becomes dangerous on the third day. If the temperature persists, consult a doctor. Approximately on the fifth day there is inflammation, which passes into infectious mastitis. Treat it at home categorically prohibited. Therapy should appoint a doctor with the mandatory use of antibiotics.

External causes of lactostasis

No woman is insured against milk stagnation . There are many factors that can lead to the development of the disease.

1. If the shape of the nipple is not ideal, 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.
2. Narrow mammary ducts can also promote lactostasis. If the milk is high in fat, cork is formed very quickly in them.
3. Among the removable factors leading to the development of the disease, is an incorrect attachment to the breast. Especially often this has to face primiparous women who have no experience in this matter.
4. Another reason for lactostasis is the squeezing of the ducts with tight underwear or your own body, when a woman sleeps on her stomach. Many people prefer to hold their breasts by hand while feeding, which also breaks the outflow from certain lobes of the gland.
5. Mechanical damage, trauma, hypothermia - all these factors contribute to stagnant milk.

Lactostasis of the breast often develops on a background of non-stopping expression. Our grandmothers and some pediatricians do not tire of repeating that the milk must be constantly expressed. As a result, the chest remains completely empty. The organism receives a kind of signal about the need for additional nutrition for the child. To the kid, in turn, so much food is not required. After the next feeding in the breast, milk remains, and my mother begins to express it. A vicious circle is formed, which provokes stagnant processes.

Internal causes

In case of hyperlactation, milk secretion increases several times. It is formed several times more than the child needs. In addition, on the background of dehydration or constant stress, milk becomes excessively thick. This is what affects the possibility of blockage of the ducts.

If the mother does not regularly get enough sleep and is loaded with domestic duties, emotional instability can arise. Stresses also provoke lactostasis in a nursing mother. Symptoms and treatment of the disease in this situation require an immediate response from the woman. The thing is that emotional overloads at the reflex level cause muscle spasm in the duct area. That's why young mothers are advised to rest more, try to avoid excessive stress.

Lactostasis in a nursing mother: symptoms

Both the treatment and the likelihood of developing complications directly depend on timely diagnosis. Therefore, every lady should know the first signs of this disease.

• Soreness of the breast.
• Bumps and small irregularities protruding above the surface.
• Seals in the chest.
• Redness of the skin.
• Discomfort during feeding.

If at the initial stage to ignore the signs of lactostasis, a breastfeeding woman quickly swells and swells. Skin becomes hot and painful. The woman has a fever, there is weakness and chills. Expressing the milk brings only unpleasant sensations. The baby refuses the breast, as it can not capture it correctly.

Treatment of lactostasis

Having discovered the initial signs of this disease, it is necessary immediately to start its treatment. At first, each mother can independently cope with the disease, without resorting to the help of serious medication. All treatment procedures should be aimed at normalizing the movement of milk.

The best medicine is the newborn. If he sucks well, place it so that the spout and chin rest against the affected area. Despite all the painfulness of this process, it is recommended to offer unhealthy breast twice as often. The faster the full flow of milk through the ducts is restored, the sooner the discomfort will be.

Now every feeding should turn into a real ritual.

1. Initially it is recommended to increase the outflow of milk with heat. To do this, make compresses, take a hot shower.
2. 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.
3. Part of the milk should be regularly expressed.
4. If you periodically apply cold compresses to a sore spot, you can remove the increased swelling.

After expressing it is necessary to carefully attach the baby to the sick chest so that he can bring the therapeutic process to its logical conclusion. Repeat such a therapeutic ritual is possible before every "meal".

Medication Therapy

Of the drugs that are prescribed at the first signs of the disease, use the cream "Traumeel", the solution "Malavit", as well as ointment with lactostasis "Arnica". Any of the listed products, the nursing mother should keep in the home medicine chest, and if necessary, immediately resort to his help.

If milk stasis is provoked by stress or strong emotional feelings, you can take a "No-Shpy" pill before feeding. The drug promotes the removal of spasms of the ducts and facilitates the passage of milk. It is recommended to take the medicine three times a day, but before that it is necessary to consult a doctor.

When a young mother has fever with lactostasis, you can take Ibuprofen. If you can not get rid of pathology in three days, doctors start treatment with antibiotics. Usually they designate "Amoxiclav" and "Augmentin". It is not recommended to engage in self-medication, taking medications should not be started without prescribing a doctor. Only in this case it is possible to prevent the development of mastitis.

Physiotherapy

Some women are prescribed physioprocedures for increasing fluid outflow. For example, ultrasound helps to get rid of seals in just one session. If the desired effect can not be achieved within several procedures, there is no point in continuing them. Also in medical practice, magnetotherapy, light therapy is actively used.

Physio procedures should be an element of complex treatment. Their use as a single option of therapy is not very effective.

Folk recipes

Alternative medicine offers its own solutions to such problems as lactostasis. Treatment at home with the help of folk recipes is recommended in the event that kneading the breast did not give the desired results.

To reduce pain and ease the general state of health, a cabbage leaf can be applied to the affected area. It must be washed under running water and made several incisions. Then the leaf should be attached to the breast and fixed with a bra.

Chamomile infusion contributes to the uncorking of the milk ducts. To make it, you need to pour two spoons of dry grass with a glass of boiling water, insist for an hour. Then in a solution it is necessary to moisten a gauze napkin and attach it to a sick chest. Repeat the procedure is recommended at least three times a day.

The proposed compresses can be used as an additional remedy against such a disease as lactostasis. Treatment at home can reduce puffiness and relieve uncomfortable sensations. Do not reduce the frequency of feeding, because the main means against this ailment is still pumping.

Complications of lactostasis

The likelihood of complications increases if a woman is not in a hurry to see a doctor. Among the common negative consequences of this disease are:

• Mastitis (inflammatory process in the mammary gland);
• Tissue necrosis;
• Abscess of the gland (formation of purulent foci);
• Hypogalactia (reduction of 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 by constantly monitoring the state of the breast and adhering to fairly simple rules.

1. To feed the baby is recommended in different positions, periodically changing the position of the body.
2. It is necessary to pay special attention to those areas of the gland, where the compaction is felt.
3. It is better to use special underwear for nursing mothers who do not have tight seams and bones.
4. After discharge from the hospital, you need to monitor your own schedule, eat well. Observance of the correct drinking regime allows milk to have an ideal consistency.
5. The baby's mom should not neglect the rest. If the child is restless, during his sleep, it is better for a woman to postpone household affairs and devote time to herself. You can attract the dad to take care of the newborn.

Do not underestimate lactostasis. In a nursing mother, the symptoms and treatment of this disease require special attention. If you find seals in your chest, you should consult your doctor and follow all of his recommendations. Be healthy!