Mastitis

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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Things that put you at increased risk of mastitis include:

  • Sore or cracked nipples, although mastitis can develop without broken skin
  • A previous bout of mastitis while breast-feeding — if you've experienced mastitis in the past, you're more likely to experience it again
  • Using only one position to breast-feed, which may not fully drain your breast
  • Wearing a tightfitting bra, which may restrict milk flow
References
  1. Non-cancerous breast conditions. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6X_Non_Cancerous_Breast_Conditions_59.asp. Accessed Feb. 19, 2010.
  2. Dixon MJ. Lactational mastitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 19, 2010.
  3. Spencer JP. Management of mastitis in breastfeeding women. American Family Physician. 2008;78:727.
  4. Walker M. Conquering common breast-feeding problems. Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing. 2008;22:267.
  5. Breastfeeding: Common concerns. National Women's Health Information Center. http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/concerns/. Accessed Feb. 19, 2010.
  6. FAQ on mastitis. La Leche League International. http://www.llli.org/FAQ/mastitis.html. Accessed Feb. 19, 2010.
  7. Dixon MJ. Inflammatory disorders of the breast. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 19, 2010.
DS00678 March 25, 2010

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