Mastitis Treatment: How to Support Recovery

Mastitis is one of those things that can hit you like a freight train 🚂—one moment you’re feeling fine, and the next, you’re aching all over, feverish, and your breast is red, sore, and swollen. It’s exhausting and painful, and many women aren’t prepared for just how awful it can feel.

At Uplift Women’s Health Collective, we see mastitis all too often—up to 30% of breastfeeding women experience it, especially in the early weeks postpartum. That’s why we want to share what works, why it works, and how we can support you through it. The best part? We have a 24-hour mastitis treatment policy, meaning we’ll see you for treatment within 24 hours of contacting us 💨

Let’s take a look at how we treat mastitis and why fast, gentle care really matters.

What exactly is mastitis?

Mastitis happens when milk gets stuck in the breast (called milk stasis) and triggers an inflammatory reaction. While many people think mastitis is always an infection, that’s not the full story.

In fact, mastitis begins as inflammation—caused by milk escaping the ducts and entering surrounding tissue, which the body sees as a problem. This triggers swelling, pain, redness, fever, and flu-like symptoms. That fluid (inflammatory and milk) forms the lumpiness you can feel—but this fluid does not re-enter the ducts, so “pumping it out” won’t resolve mastitis alone.

Antibiotics are only helpful if bacteria have entered the breast and caused an infection—something we help screen for and refer on when needed. But most mastitis is inflammatory, and that’s where physiotherapy shines 🌟

Common Causes of Mastitis: Why It Happens

Mastitis is most common in the first 6–12 weeks after birth. Contributing factors include:

👶 Poor latch or positioning
💔 Nipple damage
🧼 Blocked ducts or blebs
🍼 Oversupply or infrequent feeds
⏰ Rapid weaning
🎽 Tight bras or pressure on the breast
😴 Sleeping on your stomach
😷 Illness in mum or bub
📉 Uneven drainage of breasts

Knowing the causes means we can address them early—through feeding support, gentle treatment, and changes to positioning or feeding habits.

Therapeutic Ultrasound: Evidence-Based Relief

One of our most effective tools for treating mastitis is therapeutic ultrasound. This non-invasive treatment uses high-frequency sound waves to penetrate deep into breast tissue. These sound waves cause gentle vibrations that:

🔹 Stimulate tissue healing
🔹 Increase blood flow
🔹 Soften blockages
🔹 Reduce inflammation
🔹 Relieve pain

It’s safe, quick, and many women notice a difference after just one or two sessions!

📚 And the science backs it up:

👉 A 2017 study in the Journal of Physiotherapy found that therapeutic ultrasound significantly reduced pain, tenderness, and breast hardness in women with mastitis. Even inflammatory markers in breast milk were reduced after treatment.

👉 Another 2015 study in Breastfeeding Medicine showed women who received therapeutic ultrasound had faster symptom resolution than those who only received standard care (like antibiotics and rest). These women received five sessions over five days, and their results were impressive: less swelling, reduced pain, and quicker recovery.

💡 At Uplift, we personalise your treatment, so you may not need five sessions—but you’ll always be seen within 24 hours so we can start helping you feel better fast.

Breast Massage: Gentle, Targeted, Effective

Massage is a much-underused but incredibly helpful strategy for mastitis. But not just any massage—breast tissue is delicate, and it needs to be handled with care. We provide gentle, specialised massage that supports:

💆 Milk drainage
💆 Lymphatic and blood flow
💆 Swelling reduction
💆 Tissue softness and healing

This type of massage doesn’t try to “push milk out” aggressively. Instead, it supports the fluid dynamics of the breast—helping not just with milk, but also inflammatory fluid and circulation. It’s all about working with your body, not forcing it.

Other Helpful Tools & Tips for Mastitis Management

Here’s what else can help you feel better and recover more quickly:

🧊 Cold packs – Help reduce pain and inflammation. Always use a cloth between the ice and skin to avoid burns.
💊 Paracetamol or ibuprofen – Safe to take as directed, even while breastfeeding. These help manage aches, fever, and pain.
🍼 Frequent, gentle drainage – Keep feeding or pumping as normal, even though it might be uncomfortable. Don’t over-pump—remember, the lumpy feeling might not be milk, but inflammation.
💧 Hydration and rest – Your body is fighting an inflammatory response or infection. Treat yourself gently and rest when you can.

Antibiotics: When They’re Needed (and When They’re Not)

Because mastitis symptoms don’t tell us whether it’s inflammatory or infectious, antibiotics aren’t always the answer. They help if:

• Symptoms haven’t improved within 24–48 hours
• You’re vomiting or fainting
• There’s nipple damage, which provides an entry point for bacteria
• There’s a high fever that doesn’t settle

We don’t prescribe antibiotics at Uplift, but we work closely with your GP and will refer you promptly if we suspect infectious mastitis. Even when antibiotics are needed, they don’t remove fluid congestion—that’s where our treatment is essential. Otherwise, you risk being left with post-mastitis lumps.

Blocked Ducts & Blebs: What You Need to Know

Many cases of mastitis begin with a blocked duct or bleb—so recognising and treating them early can help prevent things from escalating.

🛑 Blocked ducts feel like a wedge-shaped lump and often lead to mastitis if not resolved. They’re caused by clogs within the duct.
⚪ Blebs are blockages at the surface of the nipple (they look like white or yellow pimples). They can make draining milk difficult and also lead to mastitis.

Both need gentle care—not force. Our treatment can help soften, drain, and resolve these before they become mastitis.

You’re Not Alone. We’re Here to Help 💕

Mastitis can feel isolating, painful, and incredibly overwhelming. But with the right care—and the right information—you can recover and feel like yourself again. At Uplift Women’s Health Collective, we’re here to provide expert, compassionate support with a 24-hour appointment guarantee for mastitis.

Don’t suffer in silence. Book an appointment with us today and let’s start your recovery journey together.

📞 Call us or click book now to book online—we’re here for you 💗

References:

1. Amir, L. H., Forster, D. A., McLachlan, H., Lumley, J., & Cullinane, M. (2015). Incidence of breast symptoms and related care in breastfeeding women: A prospective cohort study. Breastfeeding Medicine, 10(4), 181–187. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2014.0142
2. Anderson, L., Kynoch, K., & Kildea, S. (2017). Effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound for the treatment of lactational mastitis: A systematic review. Journal of Physiotherapy, 63(3), 151–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2017.05.012