Here is everything you need to know about mastitis (including how to prevent it)

Until I was in the throws of it while breastfeeding my first baby, I had never really heard much of mastitis or knew just how horrific it can be.

And it struck fast. One day we were happily breastfeeding away, no problems at all, other than the fact that my little four-month-old had just cut her first tooth, and was starting to chomp away at my nipple every time it was in her mouth. The next my right boob was red, inflamed and felt full of knots, I had a fever and literally felt like I had been run over by a bus – I was so sick. "Mastitis," said my nurse best friend, and told to go see my GP. Which I did, and actually wept with pain even trying to get my bra off for him to look at my poor boob. Yikes. I was so ill, in fact, that my doctor prescribed an antibiotic, and normally being of the opinion that these are best avoided altogether, I felt so weak or horrible that I saw no other way out than to take the tablets (ones where I could still keep breastfeeding my baby). The good news is that having gotten medicine, the mastitis cleared up fast. The bad news was that I did get it again a couple of months later. And again once more before my daughter got to one and we wrapped up the breastfeeding. The other times I was slightly less sick than the first time it struck, and avoided getting an antibiotic for clear it up. The thing is; mastitis is a pretty common thing for breastfeeding mamas, but there are ways to prevent it – and au natural ways to treat it should it happen. From painful, swollen breasts to chills, fever and feeding through the pain – here is what you need to know about mastitis: What exactly is mastitis? While mastitis can affect any woman, it occurs most often in women who are breastfeeding. Mastitis is a painful inflammation and infection in the breast tissue that can result in breast pain, swelling, warmth, fever, and chills (flu-like symptoms). It can be caused by engorgement, plugged ducts, milk stasis (milk that remains in the breast after breastfeeding or pumping) or just generally letting yourself get run down," explains Jennifer Lezak, a feeding consultant and international board-certified lactation consultant at LOOM to Mother. How do you get plugged ducts? Plugged ducts are often caused by pressure on some part of the breast that stops the milk from flowing through the duct. A poorly fitted bra (especially an underwire one), sleeping on your stomach, or a baby carrier with tight straps across your chest are things to watch out for. This is why you need to make sure your baby drains your boobs properly Ducts can also get inflamed or plugged up when your breasts become too full because the milk isn’t being effectively removed. If you need to be separated from your baby, or if he suddenly sleeps all night without nursing, make sure you hand express or pump some milk to keep it flowing. This can also happen when you’re in the process of weaning your baby and is one reason that gradual weaning is usually recommended. What should you do if you have a plugged duct? When you detect a plugged duct, encourage your baby to feed frequently on that side. Try different positions in case one is more effective in getting the milk to flow through that particular duct. What can you do to prevent mastitis? "Prevention is key and easy to do: Rest and empty your breasts," Lezak explains. "Continuing to empty your breasts of breastmilk on a regular basis either with the baby, hand expression, or a breast pump can help to keep you free of plugged ducts, which can cause mastitis. Avoid restrictive clothing such as bras or tight tops. Vary breastfeeding positions so all ducts are emptied. Not trying to do too much too soon after childbirth, getting enough rest and sleep, and staying hydrated with a good diet are all good ways to keep mastitis at bay.” Remember, responding to a plugged duct quickly will help to prevent it from turning into mastitis. Can cracked nipples lead to an infection? If you have cracked or bleeding nipples, keep them clean to prevent infection. The best protection: your own milk, which has antiseptic properties. Express a little milk after each feeding, drip it onto your nipples, and let it dry there before putting on clean nursing pads. When you shower, use plain water on your breasts and nipples, then use milk on the nipples again. Should I stop breastfeeding since there is an infection in my breast? Even with mastitis, your milk is not harmful to the baby, and it will help you recover more quickly if you continue breastfeeding. Occasionally a baby won’t like the slight change in taste of the milk on the affected side. If that’s your baby, keep breastfeeding on the unaffected breast and pump the breast with mastitis, using heat and massage and hand expression to keep the milk flowing. (If you’re pumping, you may see some of the thickened milk come through, or you may see small amounts of pus or blood in the milk. These are not harmful to the baby.) You may need to supplement temporarily. Do I need to see my doctor? If the mastitis doesn’t improve or seems to be getting worse after 24 hours, see your doctor. You may need antibiotics. Is there anything I can do myself to treat it? "Cabbage leaves on the breast can also help as they have anti-inflammatory chemicals," Lezak explains to Mothermag.com. "My main advice for mother’s who call with early symptoms of mastitis is a simple routine: Heat, Rest, Empty the Breast." Some home treatments can include resting, drinking lots of fluids, eating Vitamin C rich foods and Echinacea to help boost your immune system. (Feature image: The Mothers of Instagram)