Currently, pediatricians recommend breastfeeding babies on demand, and not by the clock, as was the case before. That is, the child should eat as much as he wants.
Each woman sooner or later learns the joy of motherhood, however, in addition to the positive aspects, there may be some he alth nuances that can be avoided by learning about the possibility of their occurrence in advance. So, there may be a seal in the mammary gland during feeding. This problem occurs in almost all nursing mothers. This appears due to certain reasons, and in almost all women.
Causes of compaction in the mammary gland during feeding can be different:
- Infection (abscess).
- Clogged milk ducts (lactostasis).
- Inflammatory process of a general nature (mastitis).
It should be noted that sometimes during pressure on the tubercle, the temperature rises and pain appears. In such a situation, you should immediately run to the doctor. The fact is that self-medication can lead to aggravation of the disease and toloss of milk altogether.
Thickening in the mammary gland during feeding, as mentioned above, may be a sign of lactostasis, which develops as a result of blockage of the milk ducts. Milk begins to accumulate because the breast is not completely emptied, therefore a seal appears. In order to determine whether it is lactostasis, it is necessary to measure body temperature in several places: under both armpits, in the groin and at the elbow. In the event that it is the highest under the armpits, this is considered a sign of milk stagnation or uninfected mastitis.
Swelling in the mammary gland during feeding can be a sign of infected mastitis - a disease that occurs as a result of infection from the outside. But even in this case, it is not necessary to wean the baby from the breast, unless there is an abscess.
In any case, a woman should go, if not to a gynecologist, then immediately to a surgeon who will help determine the diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Thus, it will be possible not only to eliminate the seal in the mammary gland during feeding, but also to avoid the development of inflammation.
There are several factors when the presence of such a seal should be of particular concern:
- It is still and tight.
- Blood comes out of the nipple.
- The shape of the nipple is unusual: retracted or tilted more than usual.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
If these signs are present, you should be screened for cancer.
Mammary gland hardening in women can occur not only during breastfeeding, but also under other circumstances. This could be evidence:
- Cysts are small cavities where fluid accumulates. To the touch, it has a smooth shape, firm texture and mobility. Pressing on it causes pain.
- Mastopathy. The nodules in this case can be the size of a pea or even a walnut. Sometimes with the disease, discharge from the chest may appear. You should start worrying if they turn brown or bloody.
- Thrombophlebitis. The wall of the vein becomes inflamed, resulting in a blood clot. Signs: redness at the site of formation, fever, chills.
