Breast Pumps and Mastitis in Breastfeeding Women: Clarifying the Relationship

Abstract

Mastitis is a debilitating condition that can impact around 20% of mothers and is characterized by fever, flu-like symptoms and tender, swollen areas of the breasts. Despite the emerging evidence that breast milk dysbiosis is an underlying cause of mastitis, breast pumps have been implicated as a predisposing risk factor in the pathophysiology of mastitis in breastfeeding mothers. Previous studies have suggested that the use of a breast pump increases a mother's risk for developing mastitis, however, incidence rates of mastitis over the stages of lactation do not match breast pump usage rates. Furthermore, breast pumps, even when used at low vacuum, still promote some breast drainage, thus avoiding milk stasis, which is considered a key factor in the development of mastitis. As a consequence, these data suggest that the literature association of breast pumps with mastitis is more a case of reverse causation and not direct association. Moreover, it is important to note that breast pumps are actually a part of the conservative management of mastitis. In combination, these data show that the breast pump should not be considered a driver in the pathophysiology of mastitis in women.

General Surgery Faculty Knowledge and Perceptions of Breast Pumping Amongst Postpartum Surgical Residents

“…This may not be well-known and as a result, comments such as suggesting a resident delay pumping while scrubbed, are ill-informed. Additional education should include information on the average frequency and time required to breast pump, as well as the benefits of pumping [ 33 ]. Such education may demystify its practice and increase understanding.…”

Augmenting Telepostpartum Care With Vision-Based Detection of Breastfeeding-Related Conditions: Algorithm Development and Validation

“…The assessment of breast conditions is vital as pain and discomfort experienced during breastfeeding is a major barrier faced by parents who want to continue to provide their child with breastfeeding. About 80% of mothers are estimated to suffer from nipple pain and fissures, while 20% are estimated to experience mastitis [28,29]. Our pipeline incorporates automatic detection of visually discernible painful breastfeeding-related conditions such as nipple cracks and fissures related to poor latching and positioning, skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, thrush, or herpes, and risk of mastitis spectrum issues such as engorgement, abscess, and nipple blebs.…”

“…When not properly treated, a case of milk bleb or galactocele can evolve into phlegmon, bacterial, or inflammatory mastitis, which may require patients to treat it with medications and sometimes medical procedures to drain the inflammation fluids from the breast in case it becomes an abscess [ 46 , 47 ]. Conditions associated with mastitis are painful and include symptoms such as redness in the breast, influenza-like symptoms, hardened skin surface in the location of the milk blockage, formation of blisters in the nipple, and even blood in the milk [ 29 , 48 ].…”