If you are breast-feeding and you think you have an infection, see your doctor. He will give you a prescription for an oral antibiotic such as a penicillin derivative or erythromycin that should clear up the infection in one to two weeks. You can continue to nurse your baby, since the antibiotic won’t affect your milk. Aspirin will help relieve the pain and tenderness. You should, however, refrain from nursing your baby with the infected breast until it heals.
It’s a good idea to keep your nipples clean and dry between feedings. You might want to apply a soothing ointment to your nipples to keep them from drying out and cracking—and thus encouraging another infection.
If an abscess forms in your breasts, even after taking the antibiotic, your doctor will want to drain it of fluid. If one of your breasts becomes infected and you aren’t currently breast-feeding—or haven’t for some time, if ever—see your doctor immediately. A breast infection in a non-nursing woman is rare—except when breast cancer is present.
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