We are excited that this month, our own Ellen Chetwynd is presenting at two conferences: the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) and the International Consortium of Oral Ankylofrenula Providers (ICAP). At ILCA, Ellen is presenting specifically on research on mastitis and therapeutic breast massage done here at WBWC – a project that many of you have contributed to by volunteering for training sessions!
Mastitis is a common complication occurring in approximately 3-22% of breastfeeding women postpartum. Standard treatment includes prescription antibiotics once fever develops, making mastitis the most common reason for antibiotic use in the postpartum period. However, both providers and patients prefer to avoid the use of antibiotics unless necessary.
In September of 2014, all WBWC lactation consultants attended a workshop or staff training on Therapeutic Breast Massage in Lactation (TBML) for mastitis and plugged ducts. In November of that year, we taught the midwives, nurse practitioners, and nurses what we had learned. We have repeated the training several times since so new staff receive the same education. Recently, we reviewed charts from two years before and two years after the initial training to see if the training had made a difference. We looked at a number of factors including whether antibiotics were prescribed, and if the patient ended up taking them.
We found that while many patients still needed antibiotics to treat mastitis, the odds of receiving a prescription for antibiotics were significantly lower after the training, and the odds of patients actually needing to start taking antibiotics were also significantly lower. WBWC providers, nurses, and IBCLCs continue to frequently provide TBML for patients with plugged ducts or symptoms of mastitis – sometimes avoiding the need for antibiotics, and sometimes working alongside antibiotics to help relieve pain and engorgement, and speed healing. We have seen that patients feel more empowered when they learn that a treatment for plugged ducts and mastitis can be literally in their own hands!
**If you think you have mastitis, never hesitate to page your WBWC midwives or your own obstetric care providers to be seen for care ASAP.**
Yes! I had mastitis 5 times in the first 6 months of breastfeeding, but I only needed antibiotics once. The first time I had it was by far the worst. Luckily, in addition to prescribing antibiotics, midwife Jessica sent us to see Ellen, who taught me and my husband the massage techniques. We were able to beat the next rounds of flare-up at home without a prescription and minimal pain!