With BAITed Breasts: Home Treatment for Engorgement, Plugged Ducts, and Mastitis (And when to call your doctor)

Breast and nipple pain are very common in the early postpartum period. They are easily in the top 3 concerns I get calls about! While relieving nipple pain is a lot more complicated, most of my clients get relief from breast pain within hours using the BAIT protocol. Some even get relief with breast massage alone in a matter of minutes.

Breast care: Massage toward your armpit using long strokes with the pressure you would use to pet a cat. Do this any time you'd like. It's particularly helpful right before nursing or pumping. Keep pumping and breastfeeding as normal (don't increase or decrease).

Advil/Ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. Take as directed.

Ice to reduce inflammation. Ice for 10-20 minutes after or between feedings.

Tylenol/Acetaminophen for pain. Take as directed. Consider alternating it with the NSAID.

When to call your doctor

I highly recommend working with an IBCLC at the first sign of breast pain. While it is common, it is not normal, we want to make sure it goes away and stays away! Your IBCLC can help you find the root cause of pain and get you on the road to feeling better very quickly. If, however, your breast is not feeling better in a couple days, you develop fever or chills, or your breast (or some part of it) turns red or becomes hot to the touch, contact your OB/GYN. These are signs of mastitis warranting antibiotic treatment.

For more information

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine put together a brand new protocol on "The Mastitis Spectrum" in 2022. It is jam-packed with information, but it is not meant to be for parents in the throes of this spectrum. This spectrum ranges from engorgement all the way to abscess. Because there are photos all along the spectrum, and the protocol is written for clinicians and not parents, I do not recommend opening this if you're feeling anxious or overwhelmed.