Mastitis guide

Mastitis treatment online while you breastfeed

For adults who breastfeed or pump, with a sore, red, warm, or swollen area in one breast that started in the last 7 days, or full, hard, painful breasts in the first days after birth.

Start online

Start a $59 online review for Mastitis (breastfeeding).

Mastitis is swelling and soreness in part of the breast while you make milk. The area can be red, warm, firm, and painful, and you may get a fever or chills. Most of the time it gets better with home care and does not need an antibiotic. Sometimes it turns into a germ infection, and then an antibiotic helps. You can keep breastfeeding. A lump, pus, or signs of a serious illness need care in person.

If treatment is appropriate, your physician can send a non-controlled prescription to your pharmacy and provide portal instructions for the next step.

Start this visit See response times

Quick facts

You must be physically located in Virginia or West Virginia at the time of request.
Starts at $59
No insurance needed
No app download
Physician review around the clock
Non-controlled prescriptions can be sent to your pharmacy when appropriate
A work or school note can be included when medically appropriate
Response times apply 24/7, every day

Common symptoms

A sore, red, warm, or swollen area in one breast
A firm, painful spot while you are making milk
Fever, chills, or feeling achy like you have the flu
Full, hard, painful breasts in the first days after birth

May fit online care

Adults 18 and older
You are 18 or older and you breastfeed or pump now
One breast has a sore, red, or swollen area that started in the last 7 days
No hard lump, no soft bump full of fluid, and no pus
If you already take an antibiotic for this, you are getting better, or it has been less than 2 days

Look for another care setting

Confusion, fainting, trouble breathing, chest pain, a racing heartbeat at rest with feeling very sick, cold or blotchy skin, or vomiting so you cannot keep fluids down (call 911 or go to the ER).
Heavy bleeding, a seizure, a very bad headache or vision change, pain or swelling in one leg, or very bad belly pain (call 911 or go to the ER).
Hearing voices, seeing or believing things that are not real, or barely sleeping for days and feeling wired (call 911 or go to the ER).
Any thought of hurting yourself or your baby (call or text 988, or call 911).
A hard lump, a soft bump full of fluid, or pus.
Taking an antibiotic for this for 2 days or more without getting better.
Mastitis in the last 3 months, or 3 or more times since this baby was born.
Started more than 7 days ago, or not making milk now.
Both breasts red and sore after the first days after birth.
Orange-peel skin, a newly turned-in nipple, or redness that does not hurt (see a doctor in person within a few days).
A fever with belly pain, bad-smelling discharge, or a red or leaking C-section cut (see your pregnancy doctor today).
A weak immune system, breast implants, recent breast surgery, or past breast cancer.
Kidney disease, liver disease, or a blood thinner.
Metformin or probenecid.
MRSA, or a baby in the NICU or with a weak immune system.
Pregnancy.

What to have ready

When the sore area started and how it has changed
Any fever: how high and for how long
Every medicine you take, and any antibiotic allergy and what happened
A photo of the sore area if you want to add one (you do not need to show the nipple)

What happens next

Standard

$59

Within 6 hours

Priority

$99

Within 3 hours

Rush

$149

Within 1 hour

Start the request on the website, answer a few questions to check that this visit fits you, and choose how fast you want an answer (the response window). If your concern still fits this service, a physician reviews it and sends you a secure update after you sign in. When appropriate, non-controlled prescriptions can be sent to your pharmacy, and a basic work or school note can be included at physician discretion.

Your physician

Every visit is personally reviewed by Ankur Fadia, MD. He is board-certified, has extra training in heart care (a cardiology fellowship), and is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, a medical honor society. He is licensed in Virginia and West Virginia, and your care is never handed off to someone else.

About Ankur Fadia, MD Verify Virginia medical license Verify West Virginia medical license Verify board certification

Do I need an antibiotic for mastitis?

Most of the time, no. Home care helps most people get better. Your doctor may send an antibiotic if you have a fever or chills for more than 24 hours, if the red area spreads or gets worse, or if you are not better after 1 to 2 days of home care.

Can I keep breastfeeding?

Yes. Keep feeding your baby when your baby wants. Milk from the sore breast is safe for your baby, also while you take the antibiotic. You do not need to empty the breast or pump extra.

When do I need to be seen in person?

See a doctor in person within 1 day if you feel a hard lump or a bump full of fluid, if pus drains, or if you are not better after 2 days on an antibiotic. Call 911 or go to the ER for confusion, fainting, trouble breathing, chest pain, or heavy bleeding.

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