what is the treatment for milk fever?
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Answers:
Anytime you have a fever greater than about 100.5 for more than 48 hours you should call your physician. In the early postpartum period, two possible causes of fever are uterine infection and mastitis -- a breast infection. Both are conditions that warrant prompt medical attention. Neither would normally require you to stop nursing.
In the 18th century "milk fever" was a term commonly used to describe mastitis. Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast and can be infectious or non-infectious. Usually infectious mastitis has a sudden onset with noticeably sore breasts, generalized body aches and fever. Sometimes the breast is pink in the area of greatest congestion. Mastitis most commonly occurs in the first few weeks after the baby is born. It can be present in one or both breasts.
The most important aspect in the treatment of mastitis is effective removal of milk from the breast. The best way to remove milk from the breast is with a baby who is breastfeeding effectively and comfortably with good position and latch. If you have mastitis I would encourage you to breastfeed as often as the baby will allow. Interrupting breastfeeding during a bout of mastitis would generally prolong your symptoms and greatly increase your risk of complications.
In addition to breastfeeding very frequently, you need to be evaluated by your physician to see if an antibiotic is needed. If this is necessary, the doctor can prescribe an antibiotic that is compatible with breastfeeding so you can continue to safely breastfeed your baby.
To help you to feel more comfortable, your doctor may also recommend a pain reliever, such as ibuprophen, which will also help with the inflammation and fever. Warm, wet compresses can be applied to the breast for comfort and you should rest as much as possible and drink plenty of fluids.
As treatment begins it is often helpful to evaluate what may have made you vulnerable to mastitis so you can avoid a recurrence. Milk stasis, a back up of milk in the breast, can increase your risk of mastitis. Conditions that increase milk stasis are; restrictive breastfeeding schedules, poor position and latch that inhibit milk drainage, overabundant breast milk supply , bras or clothing that pinch or bind the breast and a sudden reduction in breastfeeding . An increase in supplemental feedings, pacifier use, or use of solid foods would also result in a reduction of breastfeeding.
Please be sure to see your physician to evaluate the cause of the fever. I hope you are feeling better soon.
Other Answers:
Antibiotics and warm compresses.
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