What Should I Do If I Have a Breast Infection with Pus Formation?
During lactation, women are prone to breast inflammation, which can lead to suppuration in severe cases. Some women may also experience fever due to inflammation. In such cases, it is important to promptly reduce the fever and temporarily stop breastfeeding. This allows for the use of medication without causing adverse effects on the baby during feeding. Let's briefly discuss what to do when breast inflammation leads to suppuration.
Steps to Manage Breast Inflammation with Suppuration
1. Reduce the Fever First
When experiencing symptoms of breast inflammation with suppuration, the first symptom to appear is fever. Therefore, it is crucial to reduce the fever before addressing the inflammation. When taking oral fever-reducing medication, it is essential to choose a medication that does not irritate the baby, as the mother is breastfeeding. Medication should be taken with caution during lactation.
2. Temporarily Stop Breastfeeding
During the treatment of breast inflammation with suppuration, it is advisable to avoid breastfeeding the baby. The breast milk can be expressed and discarded. Due to excessive pain in the breasts, a warm towel can be applied to promote the automatic expulsion of milk. If the effect is still unsatisfactory, a breast pump can be used to extract milk containing purulent secretions, as this milk is not suitable for the baby.
3. External Application of Chinese Herbal Medicine
Consulting a doctor about the use of Chinese herbal medicine for external application to the breasts can be very effective in treating breast inflammation with suppuration. Once the suppuration is controlled and the symptoms of breast inflammation are alleviated, the fever will also disappear.
4. Local Ice Pack Application
In cases of suppurative breast inflammation, local ice pack application can be used to reduce milk secretion and prevent the condition from worsening. If the symptoms of breast inflammation are severe, breastfeeding should be temporarily suspended.
It is crucial to treat the symptoms of suppurative breast inflammation during lactation with caution. While taking internal medication, it is essential not to forget the importance of local care. External application of Chinese herbal medicine combined with hot compresses can be very effective in recovering from breast inflammation with suppuration. The symptoms of suppurative breast inflammation usually come on quickly but also resolve quickly with cautious treatment.