Mastitis management question

[ladybugsea]

My lecturer stated that management for mastitis included pumping and dumping because the breastmilk is loaded with bacteria. Do you think she just meant to dump any milk that was pumped in addition to actually breastfeeding the baby? I know that management for mastitis includes breastfeeding and it is safe to do so, so at first I thought she was giving out-of-date information, but then I wondered if she just meant don't keep any pumped milk. Although she didn't say anything about breastfeeding being part of the management of mastitis. I can't ask the instructor about this. I'm worried I will get a test question about this and not know what to answer to get the point. And just to clarify, I looked in my NCLEX book (and in my text) and there was nothing about pumping and dumping, so this is not true for the NCLEX, right? Thanks!

[maryloufu]

Hmm. I have always heard to take the baby to bed with you and position the chin of the baby where the clogged duct is. The baby is much more efficient than the pump. I am sorry that I have never heard of pumping and dumping for this reason- the milk would have antibodies I think.

[Jolie, BSN]

I have never heard of advising a patient to discard milk during treatment for mastitis. I do not believe that the milk is in any way harmful to the infant. Most mothers find nursing to be a much more effective means of emptying the breast than pumping, and if a mother is not already skilled at pumping, trying to learn how to do so while the breast is painfully inflammed is difficult, at best. I think your instructor's information is outdated and questionable.

Perhaps you could direct your question to a lactation consultant for a definitive answer.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I've never heard pump & dump for mastitis. If anything, you want to nurse that baby almost as often as he opens his mouth in order to clear the milk from the duct(s) that need emptying.

In VERY rare instances (I mean maybe ONCE) I've heard of a mom having to pump & dump because her mastitis was so severe and the only abx she could take (due to allergies) were ones that aren't compatible w/ breastfeeding. They pumped & dumped in the meantime to keep up the milk supply. But like I said, that's NOT the norm. In most cases, BFing is encouraged.

[ladybugsea]

Thank you so much. I know the info is wrong from my own experience with LLL, just wanted to make sure it was universally so across nursing (meaning RN, not breast!). I am going to bring it up with my course coordinator, that way I will cover myself if there is a test question.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Let us know what she says, ok ladybug?

[NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN]

I'm wondering if they meant don't save what you pump to prevent reinfection. I know with thrush, it was ok to nurse the baby or feed him right away. I was told to get rid of anything saved from that time though to keep the infection from recurring. Don't know . . . . .

[CEG]

Here's a link to La Leche League articles on management of mastitis: http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVMarApr93p19.html It mentions pumping for comfort. The only time it mentions dumping any milk is if the milk is to be cultured, the woman should pump and discard the first three ml in order to obtain a clean-catch specimen. Please do bring this up with your instructor or course coordinator-- even though you know better, your entire class has just been misinformed and will go out and spread that knowledge around.