Looking for Lactation Osteopathy in the Doreen/Mernda region? Our Mernda-based osteopaths are trained to help with common breastfeeding problems, such as Mastitis, blocked ducts and engorgement. Our caring practitioners have undertaken specialist training in alleviating symptoms of inflammatory conditions of the breast and will work with you to help support you and your baby to continue on your breastfeeding journey.
What is Mastitis?
Mastitis is inflammation of the mammary gland occuring in the ducts, alveoli and surrounding connective tissue. Mastitis often presents with some or all of the following symptoms: a painful lump, redness, fever or generally feeling unwell.
Not all breastfeeding women experience Mastitis, but there are several factors that can lead to mastitis, including:
- Poor latching
- A change in breastfeeding schedule (like stretching out feeds)
- Nipple damage
- Very full breasts or hyperlactation
- An overly tight bra
- Suddenly stopping breastfeeding
- We take a full history, including pregnancy and birth history, to help understand what may be causing the inflammation in your breasts. This helps us tailor treatment and advice to prevent recurrence.
- We use a range of hands-on treatment techniques in conjunction with therapeutic ultrasound to encourage lymphatic drainage which helps reduce the inflammation.
- Treatment is usually over three consecutive days.
- We will explain what is causing the symptoms and give you home exercises to to assist with reducing the pain and swelling in your breasts.
- We also work closely with other health care professionals, such as lactation consultants, general practitioners and maternal child health nurses and will refer if necessary.
How does therapeutic ultrasound help?
Therapeutic ultrasound is focused on the painful, swollen or red areas of your breast tissue. It uses vibrations to move the tissues and encourage lymphatic movement or drainage in the inflamed region of your breast tissue, which alleviates symptoms.
- Mastitis always needs to be treated with antibiotics. The research and updated guidelines by the Academy of Breastfeeding in 2022 do not support antibiotics as a first line of treatment for mastitis. Antibiotics are only needed for infectious mastitis.
- I need to massage my breast firmly to remove the blockage. Research has now shown that mastitis is caused by inflammation in the mammary glands. Firmly massaging the breasts can further increase the inflammation in the breasts and cause damage to the breast tissues. Any soft tissue techniques should be very gentle and used to help move lymphatic fluid.
- I need to stop breastfeeding my child. It is important to continue to breastfeed your child on demand to prevent engorgement of the breasts. Changes in feeding schedule and suddenly stopping breastfeeding are potential causes of mastitis.
- I need to increase my breastfeeds or pump to clear the blockage. Mastitis is caused by inflammation not a blockage of the ducts. Increasing feeds or pumping may lead to hyperlactation which can lead to mastitis.
Lactation Osteopathy Services in Mernda & Doreen
Contact Us Today
Our team at Bodywell Healthcare in Mernda is here to help you with Mastitis, engorgement and blocked ducts so you can continue with your
breastfeeding journey.
Please note: Appointments for inflammatory conditions of the breast can only be made by calling the clinic on 9717 1200. We hold appointments daily to ensure you are seen as soon as possible.
FAQs about our Services
Below you can find some of the most common and frequently asked questions we get.
Call our friendly reception team to make an appointment on (03) 9717 1200 or you can Book Online
We do understand sometimes things come up and we are more than happy to reschedule your appointment. We do require a minimum of 12 hours notice for rescheduling of an appointment. Due to the high demand for our service, this allows the clinic sufficient time to offer the appointment to another waiting patient. Therefore, please be aware that a late cancellation may incur a fee.
You will receive a confirmation email the day prior to your initial consultation, in this email there is a link that we ask you to please fill in prior to your appointment.
Allow up to 45 minutes for your first consultation and please bring any x-rays, scans or other relevant medical reports to the appointment. For new patient babies please bring along their Maternal and Child Health ‘green’ book to the appointment as well as a bottle if not breastfeeding.
Your practitioner will ask questions about your problem and symptoms and take a detailed medical history. Then they will conduct a thorough examination of the body which includes the area where you have pain/discomfort and related areas, to help determine how best to manage your condition. Once the osteopath has finished their examination they will formulate a diagnosis and discuss a treatment plan with you.
Your treatment will be tailored to your condition and may include soft tissue massage, manipulation, articulation, stretching, and gentle balancing techniques. Treatment may also include advice on stretching and strengthening exercises, posture, diet, ergonomics and stress management techniques.
As osteopathy is a ‘hands on’ manual therapy, often the practitioner will ask you to remove some clothing, e.g trousers or top, depending on the area of your body requiring treatment. It’s important that you feel comfortable, so you may want to wear loose pants or bring a pair of shorts to change into.
Your initial consultation will take up to 45 minutes. This will enable your osteopath to take a thorough history, examine and treat you. Follow-up treatments are shorter and take up to 30 minutes. If you are a current client of the clinic and feel like you would like an extended consultation we do offer long return consultations that are up to 45 minutes long.
As a private paying patient you don’t need a referral to see an osteopath. Osteopaths are registered with the Australian Health Regulatory Agency and are primary healthcare practitioners. The only times you will require a referral from your General Practitioner (GP) is if you want to claim through Medicare on a Chronic Disease management (CDM) Plan or if you are a Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) client.