.png)
The first time I experienced mastitis I was probably one week postpartum with my oldest, Santi. At first I thought I had the flu - I experienced horrible body aches and a fever. Then I noticed the redness and pain on my breast and realized it was not the flu, but mastitis. Knowing the implications of antibiotics and the potential impact it could have on myself, but more importantly my newborn breastfeeding baby, I was determined to do whatever I could to prevent the need for antibiotics. I was (and am) a strong believer in the power of essential oils and with diligent use, I was able to avoid taking antibiotics for my infection, which resolved within about 24 hours. I got mastitis twice more with Santi, each time healing myself with my essential oil and protocol.
Then came my second son, Arlo. Because of my strong milk let down and Arlo’s slight tongue tie, he learned that he could slow down my flow by clamping down slightly with his mouth - smart boy! Unfortunately this led to recurrent mastitis - SEVEN TIMES! Each of these times I was successful in treating my mastitis with my essential oil protocol, adding in a few new supplements and products, avoiding antibiotics every one of those seven times. Apparently I was great at treating, but awful at preventing! I learned that if I started my protocol at the very first signs (for me that was neck soreness and body aches - before I had any breast redness or tenderness), I was able to prevent it from coming on fully.
Maybe I should back up a bit and explain what mastitis is - for those of you lucky enough to have never experienced it! Mastitis is most often caused by milk getting trapped in the breast or a clogged milk duct. It’s therefore most likely to affect women who are nursing. There are many reasons one might experience mastitis, but it’s a result of bacteria entering the breast tissue and growing in the stagnant milk. The most common symptoms of mastitis include flu-like symptoms, fatigue, breast pain and redness, headaches, nausea and vomiting, breast lumps, and nipple discharge. If you come to most conventional doctors with this infection, they are most likely going to recommend antibiotics as a form of treatment. My concern with this form of treatment is that the antibiotics end up in your breastmilk (like just about everything else a mother consumes) and it is about the last thing I would personally want my little one consuming if it’s at all possible to avoid it. There are a plethora of reasons why you would not want your baby exposed to antibiotics, but that’s a conversation for another time!
SO, determined to avoid antibiotics, I began this protocol:
Internally:
Echinacea root tincture every 30 minutes
High dose liposomal vitamin C - 2000mg (or as much as you can handle without getting diarrhea)
Onguard essential oil - 2 drops every 2 hours
Sunflower lecithin - per bottle guidelines (thins milk for easier flow)
Zinc - per bottle guidelines (boosts immune system to fight infection)
Elderberry syrup - per bottle guidelines (boosts immune system to fight infection)
Lots of fluids throughout the day to thin milk
Homeopathic arnica for the body aches and discomfort
Externally:
Thinly sliced potatoes from the fridge to help move interstitial fluid
Heated black tea bags on nipples if they’re cracked
Nip Dip cream after each feed if nipples are cracked to help protect and heal
Warm washcloth with lavender before each feed to help loosen clog
Just a note - it is completely safe (and beneficial) to continue breastfeeding. It helps to remove and drain the stagnant milk. You can also use the haakaa with warm salt water to help pull the clog from the infected breast (look it up online if you don’t know what I’m talking about or are having a hard time envisioning this).
Mastitis occurs most commonly within the first 6 - 12 weeks postpartum. With both boys, I was grateful to have pumped and stored a few bags of milk for the freezer because there were a few feeds that were just too painful and I had to default to a bottle feed. The discomfort of mastitis is something I was totally unprepared for the first time around and I remember thinking “Why did nobody tell me about this!?”. My protocol lineup grew and evolved a bit over time as I played around with what seemed to work best. I would encourage any expecting mamas to have at least a few of these products on hand because the earlier you act, the less severe the symptoms and the easier the recovery. My goal is always to help mamas and babes to work with their bodies, rather than against them, by utilizing natural remedies and boosting our bodies’ amazing healing potential.
As always, this is not medical advice - please discuss this protocol with your trusted healthcare practitioner prior to beginning.
Sources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15613-mastitis
Comments