If you’ve ever had the misfortune to come down with mastitis (or have arrived at this post after searching “how to treat mastitis naturally”), I am so sorry.

Mastitis is the worst.

I have had mastitis multiple times (once you’ve had it one time, you’re more “prone” to getting it again) and it’s awful.  It’s like the flu… times ten.

I also had the misfortune of getting mastitis on a weekend the first (and second… and third…) time, so I had to figure out how to treat it naturally since my practice was closed and I didn’t fancy a trip to the emergency department on a Saturday night.

These are the tips I’ve learned along the way as I’ve treated my mastitis naturally upwards of five times (with three different babies).

Mastitis is an infection of the breast, so sometimes you will need to go on an antibiotic.  Obviously use your best judgment and speak with your healthcare professional about the best treatment for you.  Like I said, though, I have often gotten mastitis over the weekend so I have never gone to the doctor for it.  However, if your symptoms have not improved over 24 hours of self-care and natural remedies, you must seek medical attention (ditto if your baby is under two weeks old or the infection is in both breasts).

These remedies have always worked for me and I’ve improved well before the twenty-four hour mark.  You can also do all of these things while you’re on antibiotics… they will work in conjunction!

Again, I am not a doctor. Consult your health care professional for medical advice.

How to Treat Mastitis Naturally

Rest

This is obvious, but I hate to tell a mom with mastitis that she needs to rest more, because clearly she hasn’t been able to rest properly or she may not have gotten mastitis in the first place! (Sometimes it’s not caused by that, though. You can also get mastitis from an ill-fitting bra, after lifting weights, or after travelling.) Call on any available friends or family members to help you if you can. Try to let let everything non-essential go and lay down to rest as much as possible.  The old advice for mastitis stands true: take your baby to bed with you and stay in bed all day!

Nurse, nurse, nurse!

I always completely forgo my normal routine when I have mastitis and nurse as often as the baby will cooperate!

Nurse on the infected side first

Try to empty that side fully each time you nurse. (I preferred to keep a warm wash cloth on the breast while nursing.)  It may be too painful to nurse on the infected side first, so just do what you can do to keep nursing, even if it means starting on the other side.

Hot MOIST compresses

You can use a heating pad or a sock filled with rice, but make sure you’re also using a WET wash cloth directly on the breast so that the heat is moist.  This is my number one tip!!  Place the wet wash cloth on your breast, cover with a heating pad or rice sock, and rest. Repeat.

Reposition

Try different nursing positions such as the football hold and “the cow” (what I like to call it when I lay the baby down on the middle of the bed and nurse over top of him/her… great for letting gravity do its thing to get the clog out).

Essential oils

If you have them on hand, melaleuca or tea tree essential oils are both great for infections. Massage melaleuca (diluted in a carrier oil to 10-20%) on the painful lump on your breast, avoiding the nipple.  Wipe off before nursing.  (If you’re prone to mastitis, I recommend going ahead and ordering melaleuca so you have it when you need it! There are many other uses for it, so it’s worth buying!)

Hot showers and massage

If you can find time, take a long, hot shower.  Try and also massage the infected breast while you’re in the shower.  Massage from the clog towards the nipple.  You can also lather up a large toothed comb with some conditioner and run that along your breast from the clog to the nipple.

Go bra-less

While at home, go bra-less or switch to a very loose-fitting sleep bra that won’t dig into the sides of your breast or compress the clog.  I like this one!

Raw garlic

This is totally disgusting, but so great for helping infections. What I did was toast a piece of whole wheat bread, butter it (LOTS), and add at least a clove or two of raw, freshly minced garlic. Swallow fast! You can also try stirring a few cloves of raw garlic into hummus or another dip in order to get it in.

Probiotics

Eat some yogurt, or drink some kefir or kombucha.  Fill your body with healthy probiotics!  (This is especially important if you’re on an antibiotic.)

Avoid sugar

I also cut out sugar completely because sugar can compromise the immune system.

Pain reliever

I have always taken over-the-counter pain reliever to help with the fever/chills.

Water

Drink lots and lots of water!  Drink more than you think you need, and then some more.

Final word…

DO keep in mind that mastitis really takes it out of you!  Even once your body has fought off the infection, you will still feel very tired and weak for a day or two.  Plan on resting as much as possible.

Also, my favorite online resource for breastfeeding help is Kelly Mom. This article on mastitis and clogged ducts is really helpful!

Have you ever had mastitis? Do you have any tips to add to this list?

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In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, I wanted to share two posts about breastfeeding topics I don’t see talked about a lot… nursing bras and mastitis.  Today I’ll share about the three bras every nursing mom needs, and later this week I’ll share tips for surviving mastitis!

A little background if you’re new here.  I have four lovely children whom I have had the privilege of breastfeeding.  (My youngest is eleven months and still nursing.)  I know not everyone is able to breastfeed or chooses to do so, but I count it a precious gift and I don’t take it for granted!  I’ve now nursed for a total of fifty-six months, and I’ve experienced many hurdles along the way (engorgement, clogged ducts, cracked nipples, mastitis, nursing while pregnant, ETC.).  I’ve learned a lot, and I hope to be able to share that with other moms, especially since so many moms have shared their wisdom with me!

Keep reading to learn about my favorite nursing bras!

Tips for finding a good nursing bra

It’s important to find a great nursing bra, but it can be challenging to find the time to shop!  While you can purchase a nursing bra before your baby arrives (and probably should), your size and shape probably will change after baby has made his or her appearance.  I’ve always gone bra shopping right after my six-week postpartum checkup.  At that point, things have regulated a good bit and you’re probably ready to find a supportive bra you can wear every day.  If you breastfeeding longer than a year, you may need a different size bra at that point.

I love shopping at my local bra/breastfeeding store.  (Local friends, it’s across from the hospital.)  The owner is so knowledgeable about breastfeeding, babies, and bras, and she’s an expert at finding the perfectly fitting bra for you!  In case you’re wondering, getting fitted for a bra is not awkward or weird.  She’ll measure you in the store (over your shirt) and let you know what size you should try on.  At my store, there is a spacious fitting room and she gives you plenty of time to try on your bras and find a great fit.

One tip: make sure to unlatch the clasp and fold down the cup like you would when nursing so you can see if that style will work for you.

Another tip: put your shirt back on over the bra so you can see if there is enough coverage and if you like the shape that this particular bra gives your body.

If you don’t have a store like that in your area, try to find a store (maybe a department store or a regular bra store) that will give you a fitting.  Then shop online at a retailer that offers free returns so you can try on a few styles at home and send back what doesn’t work.  Even big-box stores like Target have a better selection online, and many times you can take returns back to the store instead of mailing them.

Throughout this post I’ll be linking to Amazon.com, but I found good (sometimes better) prices (and of course excellent service) at my local bra store!  Shop local if you are able to and support these wonderful stores that help support us in our breastfeeding journeys!

Here are the three bras you need:

1. A Workhorse Bra

This is the first bra you should invest in… a super-amazing, could-wear-it-every-day, supportive, fits-like-a-dream bra.  It may take trying on a slew of bras to find “the one,” but when you do, you’ll know!  (And you’ll wonder why you’ve settled for a bad bra up until this point!)  I really like this one because it doesn’t have underwire (which doesn’t seem to work for me anymore), but if you don’t mind underwire, this one is also really great!   Getting a the right size and trying it on is crucial (like I said already).  You’ll want to make sure you like the closure, the way the cups feel, and the coverage offered by the cups.

2. A Comfy Bra

You’ll also want a super-comfortable bra for sleeping in and for the early days when you’re home a lot.  (And you can wear this while your main bra is in the wash!)  Just because a bra is comfortable enough to sleep in doesn’t mean it needs to be frumpy!  I adore this one for lounging, sleeping, and light workouts such as yoga (but you’ll need something more supportive for running marathons, haha!).  I love the soft pink color, but it does come in a couple of other colors.  Another good option is this one!

3. A Pretty Bra

Finally, if you’re planning on breastfeeding for any length of time, you’re going to want something pretty you can wear for special occasions!  This is not as essential as the other two bras, but I still think it can make a difference in how you feel when you’re still breastfeeding at the 9-month, one year, or 18-month mark.  I bought this one because it is so feminine and pretty (and it’s comfortable too)!  I haven’t tried this one on, but it also looks nice.

A final tip: take care of your bras by washing them (regularly!) on the delicate cycle and hanging them up to dry.

Also, I should add, when I felt a little woozy spending this much on bras (I bought all three of these on the same day), I just remembered how much infant formula costs! 

Feel free to pin this image for future reference, or to share with other mom friends!

Happy breastfeeding!

Aliesha Caldwell is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.