A – Z of Illnesses & Conditions

Mastitis: Mastitis is a condition that causes a woman's breast tissue to become painful and inflamed. Mastitis usually only affects one breast, and symptoms often develop quickly and can include:

•     a red, swollen area on your breast that may feel hot and painful to touch
•     a breast lump or area of hardness on your breast
•     a burning pain in your breast that may be continuous, or may only occur when you are breastfeeding
•     nipple discharge, which may be white or contain streaks of blood

Mastitis most commonly affects women who are breastfeeding (lactation breastfeeding) although sometimes this condition can occur in women who are not breastfeeding.

In most cases lactation mastitis occurs within the first three months after giving birth but it can happen later during breastfeeding. The condition can leave you feeling exhausted and run-down, making it difficult to care for your baby. Sometimes mastitis leads a mother to wean her baby before she intends to. But you can continue breastfeeding while you have mastitis.

•     a baby not properly attaching to the breast during feeding
•     a baby having problems sucking
•     infrequent feeds or missing feeds

If you think you might have mastitis it's important to see your doctor promptly because there is a risk that mastitis could lead to a breast abscess (a painful collection of pus), which may need to be drained surgically.