Ask The Pros
Birth Plans
Birth Stories
Bookstore
Boy or Girl
Cesareans
Chat Room
Complications
Doulas
Educators
Episiotomy
FAQs
Feeding Baby
Fertility
Finding a Class
Health
Interactive
Labor
Message Board
Monitoring
Newborns
Newsletter
Postcards
Postpartum
Pregnancy
Reviews/Awards
Search
VBAC
Week by Week
Who We Are

Ask A Lactation Consultant

Q. I have been nursing my baby for 2 weeks, and this morning I woke up with chills and body aches. One of my breast feels very sore. It is also red around the aerola and it is very hot. Should I be concerned?

A. I hope you're feeling better by the time you get this or have been in to see your health care provider. If your breast is still red and sore this morning and you are still feeling aches and pains - see your cares provider. It sounds like it could be mastitis. If you didn't have the fever and aches, it may just be a plugged duct. You need to try to keep the breast empty by breastfeeding your baby frequently on that side, drinking fluids, and resting. If you still have a fever this morning - call your care provider and tell her/him what you've told me - you may need antibiotics

You can continue to breastfeed through either of these conditions - in fact it's very important that you do keep the breasts fairly empty.

Good luck,
Stephanie

Stephanie Ryan, RN, BSN, ICCE, IBCLC answers your breastfeeding questions.