Mastitis is a condition that affects about 10% of breastfeeding mothers, and antibiotics may be necessary—especially if there is an infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
As counterintuitive as it may seem, it's helpful to continue breastfeeding even when mastitis is present. The most common complication of mastitis is a breast abscess, which can be prevented with early treatment and continued breastfeeding.
Generally, these are the go-to treatments for mastitis:
Antibiotics prescribed by a medical provider:safe and effective antibiotics for mastitis include cephalexin, cefaclor, cloxacillin, flucloxacillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, clindamycin, and ciprofloxacin.
Reduce inflammation:try cold compresses on the breasts and ibuprofen to decrease swelling.
Empty the breast:you must remove the milk efficiently, by expressing milk manually, with a manual or electric breast pump, and/or by continued breastfeeding. Your baby can safely continue to nurse as you fight off mastitis.
Tons of REST.