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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffFor mastitis, your first appointment will likely be with your regular health care provider, such as an obstetrician-gynecologist, family doctor or nurse practitioner. For problems related to breast-feeding, you may be referred to a lactation consultant.
What you can do
To prepare for your appointment:
- Take note of all your symptoms, even if they seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Review key personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes.
- Make a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements that you regularly take.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor, listing them from most important to least important in case time runs out.
For mastitis, some basic questions to ask include:
- Will my infection clear on its own or will I need treatment?
- What can I do at home to relieve my symptoms?
- How might my condition affect my baby?
- Is there any reason why I should stop breast-feeding my baby?
- I'm still breast-feeding. Is the medication you're prescribing safe to take while breast-feeding?
- How long will I have to take the medication?
- What are the chances that the infection will recur? What can I do to minimize my risk of recurrence?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor may ask you questions about:
- How long you've experienced symptoms
- Whether you experience any breast pain and the severity of your pain
- Whether symptoms occur in one or both breasts
- Your breast-feeding technique
- Whether you've had previous breast infections
References
- Non-cancerous breast conditions. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003180-pdf.pdf. Accessed June 6, 2012.
- Dixon JM. Lactational mastitis. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed June 6, 2012.
- Spencer JP. Management of mastitis in breastfeeding women. American Family Physician. 2008;78:727.
- Cusack L, et al. Lactational mastitis and breast abscess: Diagnosis and management in general practice. Australian Family Physician. 2011;40:976.
- Gabbe SG, et al. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1528/0.html. Accessed June 6, 2012.
- FAQ on mastitis. La Leche League International. http://www.llli.org/FAQ/mastitis.html. Accessed June 6, 2012.
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