Breast inflammation and possible infection
A red, painful, swollen area of the breast can be inflammation or sometimes infection. Contact your care team for assessment rather than treating it yourself.
Most important
Call your care team
Call if you have a painful red area, especially with fever or feeling unwell.
What may happen
- Assessment by a clinician or lactation consultant.
- Advice on feeding or pumping during recovery.
Why
Inflammation can happen when milk flow is blocked or tissue is irritated.
What varies
Deep breast massage is no longer recommended by our source. Only a clinician can decide whether antibiotics are needed.
Questions to ask
- Is this inflammation or infection?
- Should I keep feeding or pumping from this side?
Prototype draft. Not yet clinically reviewed. Your own care team's instructions come first. About this app
Sources
Summaries are drafted from these public sources. No hospital has endorsed this app.
Henry Ford Health · Detroit-area system
How To Overcome Common Breastfeeding Problems(opens in a new tab)- Published
- 2024-10-29
- Checked
- 2026-10-24
- Access
- Page read in full
Applies to: Published by one health system. Procedures at your hospital may differ.
Limitations: Do not infer infection or recommend antibiotics from symptoms alone.
Henry Ford Health · Detroit-area system
Lactation Consultants(opens in a new tab)- Published
- Date not stated
- Checked
- 2026-10-24
- Access
- Read from a search index copy
Applies to: Published by one health system. Procedures at your hospital may differ.
Limitations: Access varies by location; no guarantee of immediate consultation.