Martha

having got rather a backlog of Lactnet I was surprised that no-one has
commented about the timing of prescription of antibiotics for mastitis.
In the Uk we have been looking at information that most mastitis - by
definition inflammation of the breast - does not, if treated quickly involve
bacteria and therefore doesnt need Rx of antibiotics instantly. Sally Inch
and Chloe Fisher have been advocating adequate draining of the breast as
often as possible and looking at positioning and attachment. They suggest
that antibiotics often work as powerful anti-infalmmatory agents rather as
anti-bacterials in the early stages, which is why mum gets better and we all
assume she need a'biotics.

So in this case Martha could the mother have fed often and/or expressed the
milk to "empty" the breast and maybe taken ibuprofen to lower temp and reduce
inflammation - and waited till the morning for A'biotics without harm?

If antibiotics are Rx less hopefully there will be fewer cases of thrush too.

Inch and Fisher - 1995 - Mastitis: infection or inflammation? Practitioner
239 472-476
(also reprinted in MIDIRS)

Wendy Jones
Breastfeeding Network Supporter Uk and Pharmacist

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