Did you know – More women suffer from Mastitis at Christmas than at other times of the year?
What makes mastitis more likely at Christmas? General Christmas busyness and stress may mean skipped feeds or longer gaps between feeds. Breasts can become engorged, leading to blocked ducts which can cause mastitis.
- Going longer between feeds or expressing because there’s so much more going on.
- Pass the Baby – lots of people offering to hold baby may mean longer gaps between feeds
- Skipping a feed because you’ve had a drink (It’s OK to have a Christmas drink, but you may need to express to prevent engorgement)
- Travel – increasing the time between feeds, sitting for a long time, even wearing a seatbelt on a long drive can put pressure on your breasts.
- Dressing-up – Christmas clothes may be less breastfeeding friendly, tighter clothes, swapping your feeding bra for a prettier, but tighter, bra can increase the risk of blocked ducts.
Preventing Christmastitis
Feed, Feed, Feed – no more, but no less, than normal.
- Feed as normal! Watch out for baby feeding cues & feed when baby shows cues.
- Reclaim your baby. Yes, Great-Grandma may want to cuddle baby, but baby needs to come back to Mum regularly to feed. (& you get to take break from all the fuss when you’re breastfeeding)
- If travelling over Christmas, take regular breaks to feed baby.
- Christmas clothes can be pretty, without being too tight across your breast.
- If you are having a drink, so can’t breastfeed for while, then express.
- Stay hydrated and look after yourself too.
What to do if you do get mastitis
- Feed responsively, whenever baby needs feeding
- No extra pumping, as increasing your supply can increase inflammation
- Ice or cold compress to reduce inflammation.
- Very gentle massage towards the armpits – No firm massage or kneading
- Take anti-inflammatories; paracetamol or ibuprofen.
If you need feeding support over Christmas contact me directly or via The Breastfeeding Cafe