Your body after baby

• Lots of things happen to your body right after giving birth.
• Some body changes are painless, others are uncomfortable.
• Stress and fatigue can leave you feeling lots of emotions.

What is mastitis?

Mastitis is a breast infection that’s caused by bacteria. Bacteria usually get into the breast during breastfeeding.

Bacteria from your skin and your baby’s mouth can get into the breast through a crack in the skin of your nipple. Bacteria also can enter your breast through the opening to milk ducts in your nipple.

Signs of mastitis include:

• One or both of your breasts feel sore, hard and hot.
• One or both of your breasts swell and get red.
• You have a fever.

Mastitis can be painful, but it usually doesn’t lead to serious health problems. Your provider may give you antibiotics (medicines that kill infection caused by bacteria) or acetaminophen (like Tylenol) to reduce your fever and help you feel better.

Even though it may hurt, it’s best to keep breastfeeding or breast pumping if you have mastitis. This helps empty your breasts and takes away some of the painful pressure. You can’t pass the infection to your baby through breast milk, so it’s safe to keep breastfeeding.