How to Tell if You Have Mastitis
Instructions
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1
Take your temperature. Symptoms of mastitis are a fever, accompanied by chills. Sometimes your whole body will ache and you'll feel like you have the flu.
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2
Feel your breast to see if it is engorged, even after the baby is finished nursing. The breast will feel hard and uncomfortable, like it's still full of milk.
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3
Feel the temperature of your breast. Is the breast hot to touch? And check in a mirror at the color of the skin on the breast. Is the skin red, or streaked red in one area? Especially check a mirror if you can't see underneath the breast.
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4
See how you feel when the baby nurses. When the baby goes to latch on, there will be some pain while he nurses.
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A combination of any of these symptoms signals mastitis. You should contact your doctor who will want to see you, and may prescribe antibiotics. You should continue nursing your baby on both breasts to keep milk flowing. Your baby will be fine -- the baby can't get the infection -- the germ probably came from the baby's mouth anyway.
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