This weekend, a nursing mom’s pain sidelined my plans in the form of the dreaded mastitis. While I’ve had plugged ducts a few times in my not-so-stellar nursing career with my other kids (a story for another time), I’ve never felt anything like mastitis in my life! I learned a quick lesson on how to recognize a clogged duct and to deal with mastitis naturally with herbs and rest.
Toward the end of last week, I noticed my right breast felt kind of a numb soreness (numb on the surface and sore beneath), but it felt better when relieved by pumping or nursing. I also felt like I was starting to get a little more done during the day so despite my post on learning to let it go, I burned the candle at both ends several nights in a row. In the meantime, my nursing baby started to sleep a little longer during the night so I went longer periods (maybe 5-6 hours) without nursing or pumping. Here’s what I learned…
Exhaustion + extended periods without nursing = clogged ducts
Unfortunately, I was too tired to process that information clearly because I was on an adrenaline high during the day. So, I just kept pumping and nursing during the day and burning that midnight oil – literally. Then I learned something else – and this time I had to listen!
Clogged ducts + exhaustion = mastitis
When I woke Sunday, I felt pretty bad but I thought if I got up and got moving I might feel better. WRONG! Within a few hours, I felt light headed and like I might pass out. I was down for the count! Back to bed I went. When I was awake I was miserable and definitely shed some tears over the offending breast. Mastitis is no joke!
Want to know what mastitis feels like? Start by running in front of a MAC truck (for the all-over aches), hopping into a fire pit (fever), jumping into an ice bath (mad chills) and then smashing your breast with a hammer a few times. Does it feel hot and swollen yet? Ok, smash it a few more times. Yep. That’s about right.
I went looking for old wives’ tales online about natural remedies. The thing about old wives’ tales is that there is usually some truth to them. I wanted to avoid antibiotics if at all possible. The mom forums seemed to agree on a protocol.
1. Rest! There it is again. You’d think I’d learn right? Susan Weed, one of my herbalist heroines says that mastitis is almost always the sign of an over-busy nest. I went straight to bed and I did not get up for about 24 hours. This is essential to a quick recovery from mastitis.
2. Nurse or pump every 2 hours just to empty the breast. Massage the breast while nursing or pumping to help break up the clogs and keep the milk flowing. Waiting longer will result in a longer infection. Using a hot compress prior to nursing or pumping is helpful.
3. Echinacea infusions or tinctures. I used a tincture since I always keep it in my house. 2 drops per pound of body weight up to 6x/day while the fever stuck. Now, I’m down to 3x/day for the rest of the week. (The redness and swelling are almost gone). A friend who had mastitis multiple times over the course of a few months used it instead of antibiotics and she finally kicked it!
4. Vitamin C 3-5000 milligrams daily – I drank EmergenC a few times each day.
5. 4-6 fresh garlic cloves a day. No, garlic pills are NOT the same as fresh. Fresh garlic contains powerful medicine to knock out infection. Here’s a tip. Don’t smash or chop the garlic. Slice it. It’s less “bitey” this way. I popped some bread in the broiler, took it out and topped it with butter and 3 cloves of fresh garlic. DEEE-licious!
6. Do a castor oil pack. Some swear by hot compresses. I did those but this was even better. Thanks for the advice, Sarah! The pain decreased right away and it really helped clear the clogged ducts. Pump or nurse first. Then wet a piece of flannel or cotton cloth with warm water, slog some castor oil on it and place on the affected breast. Cover with plastic wrap, a heating pad or hot water bottle and a towel. Lie down and relax for an hour. Afterward, carefully wash the breast with a little baking soda and water or a mild soap to get the castor oil off before baby nurses again. It can cause diarrhea otherwise. This helped so much with the pain.
7. Nurse on the affected side while lying on the opposite breast. Lie on the side that doesn’t hurt and carefully lean over to let your baby nurse on the side that hurts. Gravity helps the milk to flow. Just don’t squish the little guy/gal. Some mamas nurse on all fours but I didn’t find that too comfy and my kid didn’t like it.
8. Frozen Cabbage leaves. USE WITH CAUTION! If mama has supply issues, cabbage leaves are not a good choice. They can dry up a supply. However, mamas with oversupply may benefit from freezing some clean, green cabbage leaves and sliding them into their bra. I’ve heard it feels good and relieves the pain.
9. Grip the Nip. Wise advice from a friend. “Grasp your nipple between your thumb and middle finger. Pull your nipple out and roll it firmly back and forth between your fingers. This helps to break up any curdled milk that may dislodge from a clogged milk duct.” It really worked. Thanks Becca!!
10. Other good advice. Nurse, Hand express or pump in a hot shower. Drink lots of water. And wear looser clothing on your breasts so the milk can FLOW free, just until you’re past the worst of it. Take a look at your clothing and make sure you haven’t been wearing anything too constricting that might be causing those blocked ducts!
As with any natural remedy, the secret to it working is to start using it as soon as you feel bad, not waiting until you’re 3 or 4 days into mastitis. I’m happy to report that using these natural methods, I kicked mastitis within a few days and I didn’t have to knock out my whole immune system with antibiotics.
I’m a big believer in nourishing the body so it can fight its own battles. However, I want to be clear that I would have sought antibiotics if I hadn’t seen an improvement within 24-36 hours. Thankfully, my fever subsided within 24 hours. The red, swollen and sore feeling in my breast is almost gone 3 days later. I usually find that herbal methods work faster and more effectively for these kinds of problems than antibiotics anyway.
The mamas in my circle inform me that it’s really easy to get mastitis again once I’ve had it so I’ll be putting out that candle at night and taking a nap when I need it. I do not want to get this again!
So, I’ve learned to avoid mastitis I need –
Rest + frequent nursing = clear and hopefully mastitis-free milk ducts
Know a friend who can’t seem to kick mastitis? Please share!
*As always, I’ll remind you that I am not a doctor. These are common sense remedies I use for my family, especially because they support the immune system rather than simply masking the symptoms of illness. I have taken the time to research any herbal recipes carefully myself and have consulted with my local herbalist and doctor. I encourage you to always do the same before choosing to take or administer any kind of remedy, whether herbal, prescription or off the shelf at a local drugstore.**
wow. this was so good. really. It needs to be broadcast everywhere. An in the trenches story that really really works. So glad you are getting some relief. And….I owe you a phone call. 🙂
It really was in the “trenches”! LOL. Feel free to broadcast!
I just want to add that If you have an issue of mastitis reoccurring, take a lecithin supplement daily for prevention. I had this problem and after taking lecithin daily until weaning, I never had another mastitis infection.
I can attest that these natural remedies work!!! Unfortunately, I had taken antibiotics for two separate infections and ended up with thrush! It was worse and harder/took longer to get rid of it.
Thanks, Melissa. I love when moms add their wisdom to these posts!! 🙂
Thanks for the helpful hints! Thought I might add what my midwife gave me for the mastitis. There are 2 different naturopathic remedies that combat mastitis, the 1st being phytolacca and the 2nd being belladonna. Both are available from the company Boiron. I was instructed to take 2-3 pellets every 1/2 hour and take a total of 6 doses. No eating just before or just after taking. Dissolve pellets under your tongue. Start with the phytolacca and if you are not seeing an improvement within 24 hours try the belladonna.
Thanks for the info, Rory. I want to point out that these remedies are HOMEOPATHIC, not herbal. Belladonna homeopathic tablets are not the same as belladonna taken as an herb. Always appreciate other mama insights and experiences.
on my 4th bout of mastitis in 12 weeks. I obviously NEED to rest, it no longer a matter of not having time to rest and nurse more often. I appreciate this posting. (I even printed it for my fridge, hopefully as a reminder instead of needing it later!) This is the 3rd time ive treated it naturally, hopefully the last, its time to kick it for good!
I can also attest that this works
I think I have this but not sure. I breast feed both my boys now 5 and 2. I noticed a small lump on the side of my nipple a few months after I stoped breast feeding my second son when he was a little over a year old. It did not hurt at the time. I went to the doctor and she said its a pimple. I thought for sure it was a clogged milk duct but she was sure it was not. She gave me anibotics and said if it doesn’t clear up by the time they are gone I will have to go back and she would have to pop it. It dose not look anything like a pimple and you can’t really even see it. The anibotics didn’t work but I never went back to the doctor because honstly I am scared. Their will be weeks go by that it doesn’t hurt at all and then other times I get little shoting pains coming from my nipple and soreness.it seems to go back and forth. Please if anyone has any advice for me I would really appreciate your help. I don’t know what to do.