Final answer:
Mastitis should be managed by continuing to breastfeed or express milk, applying warm compresses, and consulting a healthcare professional for possible antibiotics. Sudden cessation of breastfeeding can cause breast engorgement and leakage due to hormonal influence on milk production.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mastitis refers to an inflammation of the breast tissue that can result in breast pain, swelling, warmth, and redness. If a mother has breast pain and suspects mastitis, the best advice would be to continue breastfeeding or expressing milk to help clear the blockage causing the mastitis, apply warm compresses to the breasts, ensure proper breastfeeding techniques, and see a healthcare professional for possible antibiotic treatment. Mastitis is often caused by an obstruction in the milk duct or bacteria entering the breast, and if not treated properly, it can lead to an abscess or more serious infection.
Lactation, the process by which milk is synthesized and secreted from the mammary glands of the postpartum female breast, is heavily influenced by hormones such as prolactin and oxytocin. When breastfeeding is suddenly stopped, it can lead to breast engorgement and leakage due to the continued production of milk without the natural relief that occurs when a baby nurses. This is similar to the initial postpartum period when the body is still adjusting to the milk supply demands of the newborn.