Carenotes > Breast Abscess Drainage (Discharge Care)

Breast Abscess Drainage

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• A breast abscess (AB-ses) is a pocket of pus inside your breast. You can get a breast abscess when germs enter your breast through your nipple. The germs usually get into the milk glands and ducts (tubes).
  
  
• You may get a breast abscess from breast feeding while you have cracked nipples. You may get one if you stop breast feeding your baby too quickly or after having mastitis (mas-TI-tis). Mastitis is a breast infection (in-FEK-shun). You may also get an abscess from breast problems that are not related to breast feeding. To get rid of the pus, your breast abscess may need to be opened and drained. Antibiotic (an-ti-bi-OT-ik) medicine may be needed to fight the infection. With treatment, you should be better in about three weeks.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Medicines:

• Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicine. Do not take any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers.
  
  
• Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Do not quit taking your medicine until you discuss it with your caregiver.
  
  
• Antibiotics (an-ti-bi-OT-iks): If you are taking antibiotics, always take them exactly as ordered by your caregiver. Keep taking them until the last one is gone, even if you feel better. If you stop taking the medicine, it may not work the next time you need it to treat an infection. If you think your antibiotic is not helping or you are having side effects, call your caregiver.
  
  
• Pain medicine: You may be given medicine to take at home to take away or decrease pain. Your caregiver will tell you how much to take and how often to take it. Take the medicine exactly as directed by your caregiver. Do not wait until the pain is too bad before taking your medicine. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it. Tell caregivers if the pain medicine does not help, or if your pain comes back too soon.

When is my next medical appointment?

Ask your caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.

How should I care for my incision?

• Use heat to decrease pain or swelling. Heat brings blood to the injured area and may help it drain and heal faster. Use a heating pad (turned on low), a hot water bottle, or warm, moist compress (towel). Ask your caregiver how often you should use heat and for how long. Do not sleep on the heating pad or hot water bottle. This could cause a bad burn.
  
  
• Follow your caregiver’s instructions for cleaning your incision area and changing your bandages.
  
  
• You may bathe and shower as usual. If there is a drain in the incision, wait until the drain is removed before washing the incision. Then, you may wash the incision gently with water and mild, unscented soap. Put on a clean, dry bandage afterward.
  
  
• Do not do any heavy exercise or activity for three weeks.

How can I help myself heal and feel better after the procedure?

• Resting: Rest as much as you can.
  
  
• Drinking liquids: Men 19 years old and older should drink about 3.0 Liters of liquid each day (close to 13 eight-ounce cups). Women 19 years old and older should drink about 2.2 Liters of liquid each day (close to 9 eight-ounce cups). Good choices for most people to drink include water, juice, and milk. If you are used to drinking liquids that contain caffeine, such as coffee, these can also be counted in your daily liquid amount. Some food items such as soup and fruit also add liquid to your diet. Ask your caregiver how much liquid you should have each day.
  
  
• Diet: Eat a variety of healthy foods from all the food groups every day. Include whole grain bread, cereal, rice and pasta. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, including dark green and orange vegetables and legumes (dry beans). Include dairy products such as low-fat milk, yogurt and cheese. Choose protein sources such as lean meat and poultry (chicken), fish, beans, eggs and nuts. Ask your caregiver how many servings of fats, oils, and sweets you may have each day, and if you need to be on a special diet.
  
  
• Avoiding smoke: Do not smoke. Stay away from others who are smoking. If you smoke you may heal slower. You are more likely to have a heart attack, lung disease, and cancer if you smoke. Babies and children who are around smokers get asthma (AZ-muh), ear infections, and other sicknesses more often. Help yourself and those around you by not smoking.

What should I do if I am breast feeding?

• Do not nurse your baby from the abscessed breast for about two weeks. You may keep nursing from the other breast.
  
  
• Use a breast pump on the infected breast to keep up your milk supply. Pump as often as you would nurse your baby. Do not feed this pumped milk to your baby. Throw the milk away.

How can I help keep my nipples from being sore and cracked? Here are some ways to take care of your breasts and nipples if you are breast feeding:

• Relax and gently massage your breasts before a feeding to help your milk let-down.
  
  
• Make sure your baby opens his mouth wide to properly attach to your breast. Your nipple should go deep into your baby's mouth.
  
  
• Position your baby correctly at the breast. Use different positions so that your baby is not always nursing in the same way. Then your baby's mouth position on your nipples will be different each time. Ask your caregiver for more information about positioning your baby during feedings.
  
  
• Express some breast milk onto your nipples before feedings to soften the nipple and the area around it. This may help your baby correctly attach and suckle at your breast.
  
  
• Use your finger to release your baby's suction before you take him off the breast. Leave your breasts open to the air for a few minutes after each feeding. Express a small amount of breast milk and massage it onto the nipples and areola. You may also rub a thin layer of vitamin A and D or lanolin ointment on your nipples after feedings.
  
  
• Wear breast shells inside your bra to keep clothing and wet breast pads off your nipples. This helps prevent further irritation and pain. Do not use plastic-lined bras or bra pads. Also, change your bra and bra pads as soon as possible when they get wet in order to keep your nipples dry.
  
  
• Use only warm water or mild, unscented soap and water when washing your breasts and nipples. Avoid soaps, lotions, or creams that have alcohol in them.
  
  
• Breast feed your baby often. You may breast feed every two to three hours, or eight to 12 times in 24 hours.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have pain, swelling, redness, pus, or bleeding coming from the incision.
  
  
• You have a fever (increased body temperature).
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your abscess, medicine or drainage procedure.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have trouble breathing all of a sudden. This could be a sign that you have a blood clot in your lungs. It could also mean that you are allergic to a medicine you are taking.
  
  

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.