How often should a mother breastfeed during mastitis treatment?

How often should a mother breastfeed during mastitis treatment?

• A. Stop breastfeeding completely
• B. Only feed at night
• C. Continue breastfeeding every 2-3 hours
• D. Limit breastfeeding to once daily

Answer: (C)

When managing mastitis, the goal is to keep milk flowing and clear the blocked area. Continue breastfeeding regularly, about every 2–3 hours, to fully drain the affected breast. Frequent drainage relieves milk stasis, helps infection resolve, and allows the prescribed antibiotics to work effectively. Baby can continue to receive breast milk safely during treatment. Stopping breastfeeding completely would let milk pool and worsen the infection. Feeding only at night or limiting to once daily wouldn’t drain the ducts adequately and would prolong symptoms. If fever or severe pain occurs, or latch problems arise, seek guidance, but in most cases you can and should keep nursing on a normal schedule.

When managing mastitis, the goal is to keep milk flowing and clear the blocked area. Continue breastfeeding regularly, about every 2–3 hours, to fully drain the affected breast. Frequent drainage relieves milk stasis, helps infection resolve, and allows the prescribed antibiotics to work effectively. Baby can continue to receive breast milk safely during treatment.

Stopping breastfeeding completely would let milk pool and worsen the infection. Feeding only at night or limiting to once daily wouldn’t drain the ducts adequately and would prolong symptoms. If fever or severe pain occurs, or latch problems arise, seek guidance, but in most cases you can and should keep nursing on a normal schedule.