Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast tissue that is common during breastfeeding. If you have mastitis, you may have flu-like symptoms, and you will have a sore, red or firm area on your breast. You can help prevent mastitis by: Making sure your baby is well attached to the nipple Allowing your baby to feed for as long as they want Treating sore nipples or damaged skin as soon as possible Alternating breasts during feeding Expressing or pumping milk if your baby is not feeding well Resting, eating proper meals and keeping up your water intake Mastitis can develop quickly and should be treated at the first sign of symptoms. Continue to feed your baby as normal. Gently massage any breast lumps towards the nipple during feeding. You may be able to improve milk flow by applying a heat pack to the sore area during feeding. Consult your doctor if you don’t start feeling better after a few hours. They may prescribe antibiotics to manage the inflammation.