Ask Dr Sears
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
MENUMENU
  • Pregnancy & Childbirth
  • Feeding & Eating
  • Parenting & Behavior
  • Health Concerns
  • Brain Health
  • A to Z Topics
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Wellness Institute
  • Home
  • Topics
  • Feeding & Eating
  • Breastfeeding
  • Common Breastfeeding Problems
  • Breast Abscess

Breast Abscess

Engorgement, mastitis, or a plugged duct can sometimes lead to a breast abscess. (This is unlikely if you continue to breastfeed your baby frequently during an episode of mastitis or when you have a plugged duct.) An abscess is a pus-filled area, like a boil under the skin. Your healthcare provider will suspect an abscess if the lump remains tender and does not go away with the treatment listed under plugged ducts and mastitis. An ultrasound of the breast may be necessary to locate an abscess deeper in the breast. An abscess often requires surgical drainage, plus antibiotic therapy.

In addition to the medical treatment recommended by your doctor, it’s important to continue to empty the breast with the abscess. Depending on the location and the extent of the abscess, you may or may not be able to nurse on the infected breast. Your healthcare provider can help you determine whether this will be possible. If you are temporarily unable to breastfeed on the breast with an abscess, use an electric breast pump to empty the breast and nurse baby more frequently on the other breast. Apply moist heat to the affected area before nursing or pumping to help the milk flow.

August 12, 2013 June 22, 2018 Dr. Bill Sears
The Health Brain Book
Become a Dr. Sears Certified Health Coach
Dr Poo: The Scoop on Comfortable Poop

Juice Plus+ - The next best thing to fruits and vegetables.

Vital Choice

About Ask Dr. Sears

AskDrSears.com is intended to help parents become better informed consumers of health care. The information presented in this site gives general advice on parenting and health care. Always consult your doctor for your individual needs.

Recent Articles

  • Can You Help Your Kids Grow Taller? – 5-Step Action Plan
    Can You Help Your Kids Grow Taller? – 5-Step Action PlanDecember 27, 20220
  • Dr. Jim on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)November 8, 20220
  • "You've Got This!" - Martha's Breast Cancer StoryOctober 30, 20220


Resources

  • Sears Parenting Library
  • Dr. Sears Family Newsletter
  • Dr. Sears Wellness Institute
  • Prime-Time Health

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

  • support@askdrsears.com
  • Contact Ask Dr Sears
  • About Ask Dr Sears
  • About Dr. William Sears
  • Dr. Sears Wellness Institute
  • Media Relations Information


© 2020 AskDrSears.com All Rights Reserved.