First 3 monthsGuideline
Sore, red breast? Know the new first steps
Keep feeding, use ice, take paracetamol. No hard massage or heat.
Why It Matters (Clinical Guidance)
- Mastitis is swelling, not a blocked pipe to force open. Hard massage and heat make it worse.
- Pumping extra to 'empty' the breast makes more milk and more swelling.
- See a doctor if it is not better in 24 hours, or with fever or a lump that stays.
Primary Citation: Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, Protocol #36 (2022)
Last checked: October 2026 • Medical review panel forming