These are more serious problems you may encounter while breastfeeding. Most can be easily resolved and should not stop you from continuing to nurse your baby.

Clogged Milk Duct

A clogged milk duct is fairly obvious — you feel a small lump in your breast, and it can be painful. (The lump can be anywhere in the ducts, which run all over.) To treat it, put a warm washcloth over it for five minutes, then massage the lump gently, pushing the milk down toward your nipple. Then start nursing your baby, making sure the baby is positioned so she faces the clogged duct, and continue massaging. The more you nurse, the faster the clogged duct will drain.

Breast Infections (Mastitis)

Breast infections are serious. If you have flu-like symptoms, a low fever, red streaks or patches on the breast skin, pain in your breast, or a hard lump in your breast, you may have one. Check with your health care provider. She may prescribe antibiotics (which won't hurt your baby). She will also tell you to go to bed, drink lots of fluid, apply warm compresses on the infected side, and continue to nurse on the infected side.

Absolutely do not stop nursing, as that will only make the infection worse. Do not delay treatment of a breast infection, since untreated infections can abscess and require surgery.

Thrush

Also called a yeast infection, thrush may present with cracked nipples that burn the entire time your baby nurses. Your baby may also develop thrush in her mouth (white patches) and diaper area (rash). Talk to your health care provider for a definite diagnosis. To control thrush, make sure your nipples and everything that touches them are clean, use a nipple wash (one teaspoon of vinegar in one cup of water), or nystatin cream (a prescription drug) that stops yeast from reproducing.

Common Drugs: Are They Safe for the Baby?

Be sure and tell your doctor that you are breastfeeding before he prescribes any medication. Most are safe for your baby, but here is a list of common drugs and whether they are considered safe for nursing infants.

Safe	Not Safe
Acetaminophen	Tetracycline
Antihistamines	Cyclosporine (maybe, check with your doctor)
Ibuprofen
Robitussin (guaifenesin)	Amphetamines
Antidepressants	Nicotine
Decongestants	Anticancer drugs
Most antibiotics
Antacids
Thyroid medications
Insulin
Kaopectate
Vitamins
Vaccines