Mastitis primary prevention

Effective measures for the primary prevention of mastitis include avoidance of the risk factors as well as adhering to optimum breastfeeding practices example:^[1] early contact of infants with their mothers, early start of breastfeeding usually within the first hour, infants should stay in the same bed as their mother, or close to her in the same room, breastfeeding mothers should receive skilled help and support for proper breastfeeding technique, whether or not she has breastfed before, to ensure good attachment, effective suckling and efficient milk removal.

Effective measures for the primary prevention of mastitis include avoidance of the risk factors as well as adhering to the following:^[1]

• Early contact of infants with their mothers, and early start of breastfeeding usually within the first hour.

• Infants should stay in the same bed as their mother, or close to her in the same room.

• Breastfeeding mothers should receive skilled help and support for proper breastfeeding technique, whether or not she has breastfed before, to ensure good attachment, effective suckling and efficient milk removal;

• Every mother should be encouraged to breastfeed ‘on demand’, whenever the infant shows signs of readiness to feed, such as opening the mouth and searching for the breast.

• Every mother should understand the importance of unrestricted and exclusive breastfeeding and of avoiding the use of supplementary feeds, bottles and pacifiers.

• Women should receive skilled help to maintain lactation if their infants are too small or weak to suckle effectively.

• When a mother is in hospital, she needs skilled help at the first feed and for as many of the subsequent feeds as necessary.

• When a mother is at home, she needs skilled help during the first day after delivery, several times during the first two weeks, and subsequently as needed until she is breastfeeding effectively and confidently.

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