These can occur anytime a mother is nursing her baby.  The onset of symptoms is usually quite dramatic, especially with mastitis.

• Painful, heavy breast, ranging from uncomfortable to downright excruciating;
• Redness and swelling of one or more specific areas of the breast;
• Fever, commonly very high (104 is not unusual);
• Body aches and chills;
• Feeling “like you got hit with a truck.”

• Get in bed with your baby and rest, drink lots of water, and NURSE, NURSE, NURSE
• Offer the affected breast first with every feeding
• Massage from the chest wall toward the nipple to encourage emptying of the affected duct.  This will hurt, but is very necessary.
• If possible, offer the breast is a position that will allow maximum drainage of the duct.  Kneeling on hands and knees over baby is great.  Also, lie down on the side of the unaffected breast.  Offer the affected breast to baby on this side.  You will lay over baby this way, but the duct will drain well.

• Alternate hot castor oil packs and cold cabbage leaf/potato packs.  Sounds crazy, but is very helpful: Pre-heat a heating pad as warm as you can stand it.  Tear a sheet of plastic wrap and place it on your work area.  Get a washcloth damp with hot water; place it on the plastic wrap.  Pour about a tablespoonful of castor oil on the cloth; smear it around.  Place the whole thing over the affected area of the breast.  Lay down with a heating pad on it; rest for at least 20 minutes with this on.  Keep it on as long as it feels good.  Wash the oil off your nipple before baby nurses again; it can cause diarrhea.
• When you are ready for a change, get out your oldest bra and T-shirt.   Grate a potato, and squeeze out the excess water.  Place the potato in a cold cabbage leaf, and place it in your bra.  The potato juice does stain, so please do wear old things.  Go back to bed and rest and drink more water.

• Homeopathics can be very helpful for mastitis.  Phytolacca 30C every 3-4 hours is wonderful in general.  Belladonna 30C every 3-4 hours can be fabulous if the breast is very red and hot.
• Vitamin C 1000 mg with bioflavinoids every 4 hours
• Echinacea tincture: Calculate your body weight; divide in half.  This is the number of drops you can take every hour during the acute phase of a sever infection.

You should feel much better within 24-36 hours of this regime.  If not call your doctor; you may need antibiotics.  Mastitis can get very serious if left untreated.