Associated symptoms | Milk congestion

Associated symptoms

Accompanying symptoms of milk congestion can be very different. From hardening, sensitivity to touch, chest pain during lactation and reddening of the breast, a general feeling of illness with flu-like symptoms, fatigue, malaise and fever can also occur. If the milk congestion lasts longer, an inflammation of the mammary gland tissue can occur, the so-called mastitis puerperalis.

It occurs in about one percent of women and is usually caused by germs from the nasopharyngeal cavity of the infant. During breastfeeding, these germs spread via small injuries to the nipples and cause inflammation of the breast tissue, especially in cases of milk congestion. In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, overheating of the affected breast and enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit are typical ().

In addition, pus secretion can leak from the nipples. In this case the mother should be treated with antibiotics. Fever may occur during the breastfeeding period.

A slight fever may already occur during the milk injection, two to four days after delivery. If a fever occurs (especially during the postpartum period), the nursing mother should ask her midwife or a lactation consultant for advice and consult a doctor. If fever is caused by bacteria in the context of mastitis puerperalis, antibiotic therapy should be administered. Breastfeeding is still possible even in the case of inflammation of the breast and while taking medication.

Treatment and therapy

If milk congestion is suspected, the woman concerned should ask her midwife, a lactation consultation or her doctor for advice. If possible, the mother should continue breastfeeding so that the milk can drain away and the breast is completely empty. If necessary, the woman should breastfeed more often and possibly express milk.

It may also help to stroke out the breast a little before breastfeeding. Before breastfeeding, the mother should warm the affected breast to stimulate milk flow. Possibilities for heat treatment include a hot shower, cherry pit pillows or hot water bottles.When breastfeeding, always start with the affected breast so that it is drunk completely empty.

The baby should be positioned with the chin or lower lip facing the painful area, because this is where the baby sucks most strongly and therefore the probability is high that the milk will be completely drained off in this way. After breastfeeding, the mother should cool her breast, for example with a cooling pad or cold (quark) compresses. Measures that stimulate milk production should be reduced.

Very important for the mother is physical rest, if possible complete bed rest. She should also drink enough. After consultation with the doctor or midwife, various types of tea (for example sage tea or peppermint tea), homeopathic measures or acupuncture can also help to alleviate the symptoms.

In case of pain and fever, painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol can also be taken while breastfeeding, after consultation with the attending physician. In the case of bacterial inflammation of the breast (mastitis puerperalis), the affected woman should be treated with antibiotics. Further information can be found here: Milk congestion – what can you do?