Care for Mastitis and Nipple Pain
Breastfeeding should be a joyful experience but inflammatory conditions of the breast can affect many aspects of the postnatal period, causing debilitation, pain and stress. Our Osteopaths have further training in Lactation for Health Professionals courses to help manage cases such as mastitis, breast engorgement, nipple blebs and nipple trauma. Since these inflammatory breast conditions develop quickly we triage these patients to be seen within 24-48 hours. For best outcomes, our Osteopaths work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with doctors, midwifes and lactation consultants to help woman get the best possible outcomes. We have a qualified IBCLC at our clinic along with two of our Osteopaths training to be IBCLCs at present.
Professional advice and self-management techniques can also be taught via Telehealth to help women actively manage symptoms themselves until they are able to access face to face care. In some circumstances home visits may also be possible.
Conditions we treat:
Treatment available:
Mastitis and Ultrasound Therapy
Inflammatory breast conditions such as mastitis can be very painful, reducing milk volume and ability of the baby to transfer milk. Urgent management of mastitis as soon as symptoms arise is therefore recommended. Some common symptoms of mastitis are breast pain, redness, swelling, heat and discomfort in the affected breast, sometimes accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as fever and fatigue. Mastitis can be very overwhelming to manage, especially if it impacts your daily activities.
Therapeutic Ultrasound can be used as a gentle treatment and management of mastitis by helping to reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms. The treatment uses sound waves to create gentle vibrations deep within the breast tissue to increase blood flow, soften blockages, and promote healing. It can rapidly reduce pain, swelling, and redness in the affected tissue.
Research has shown that 41% of woman with mastitis improve immediately after one treatment of ultrasound therapy and 64% within 24 hours. We usually advise three treatments of ultrasound therapy.
As part of your consultation for mastitis, we provide instructions on lymphatic drainage techniques and “boob yoga” exercises. These techniques can assist with drainage of inflammatory cells and fluid that collects in the breast as part of the inflammatory process. The techniques provided are gentle and should never be painful. When performed regularly they can assist with relieving inflammation and assisting in preventing further episodes. Therapeutic taping and/or tube-grip may also be used to assist with further lymphatic drainage of the breast after the above treatment.
Nipple Pain using Low Level Laser Therapy
Nipple pain can be complex and often multifactorial in its clinical presentation, requiring a team approach to find a resolution of this pain. Some causes of nipple pain can arise from incorrect flange size, thrush, vasospasm, complex pain syndrome and shallow latch. The anatomy of the nipple may have skin irritation, grazes, blisters, cracks or open wounds, which can create significant challenges when breastfeeding or expressing. The most common cause of this nipple trauma is poor or shallow latch, resulting in increased friction. Other factors include breast engorgement, nipple shape, plugged ducts, white spots (blebs) and infection. It is important that your GP rules out infection of the nipple especially if an open wounds is present.
Low level laser therapy can be used as a treatment for nipple pain and trauma. During laser therapy light energy is absorbed into the tissue creating a photobioactivation effect which helps promote tissue healing and reduce pain.
As the laser uses light without heat there is no risk of sunburn. Studies have demonstrated laser therapy resulted in a significant reduction in nipple pain during breast feeding when applied over three consecutive sessions.
Laser therapy is pain free and takes around 5-10 minutes per session. Your baby will need to be cared for while you are having laser treatment. If you have any questions regarding how laser therapy may help your nipple pain please contact our clinic, as we will be more than happy to discuss in more detail the benefits of laser therapy.
Caring for mastitis and Nipple Pain
Ultrasound
Therapeutic ultrasound for management of inflammatory breast conditions including mastitis to support healthy milk supply and blocked ducts
Laser treatment
Low level laser therapy for nipple pain and trauma, reducing inflammation while breastfeeding
Boob Yoga and Lymphatic Drainage
Exercise to helps reduce breast discomfort by improving lymphatic drainage relieving inflammation and assisting in preventing further episodes.
Taping/Tube grip
Assist with lymphatic drainage of the breast by giving anatomical support through taping measures