>Bacteria enters the body from a damaged nipple through the blood supply not
>the milk supply.

Ann, my understanding is that bacteria in the blood would cause
septicaemia. I still don't believe bacteria can get in the nipple and cause
mastitis high up in the breast. In the nipple itself, possibly, but not
inches away inside the breast. But then, I could be wrong.

And just because antibiotics 'cured' the mastitis in particular cases, it
doesn't mean it wouldn't have resolved without them but with the other
measures we usually suggest. This has been shown by other posters here.

I hope you all don't get me wrong. I am just puzzled by the explanation of
the causes of mastitis. I am not saying what I think must be right. I just
want people to think *critically* about the information we are taught in
books, etc in light of our own experiences and observations. And what
better place to 'argue' over the facts and theories than here on Lactnet. I
love to try to get people to 'think out of the box'.

******************************************************************
Joy Anderson B.Sc. Dip.Ed. Grad.Dip.Med.Tech. IBCLC
Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia Breastfeeding Counsellor
Perth, Western Australia.   mailto:[log in to unmask]
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