Mastitis Service

Barossa Physiotherapy and Cascade Women's Health are excited to be joining forces to offer therapeutic ultrasound as a treatment for Barossa women experiencing mastitis and blocked ducts.

Mastitis and blocked ducts are painful inflammatory breast conditions that affect many women during their breastfeeding journey, usually during their baby's first few months of life when supply is regulating. Mastitis is part of a spectrum of inflammatory breast conditions, which begins with narrowing and blockage of the ducts that the milk travels through. When the ducts in a particular area of the breast become blocked, this can cause the surrounding breast tissue to become inflamed, resulting in heat, tenderness and redness. This is known as ‘inflammatory mastitis’. If left untreated, the inflammatory reaction can become system wide, resulting in fever and chills. If mastitis worsens, an infection and associated complications can occur (e.g. an abscess). Long story short, we need to identify and treat inflammatory breast conditions as quickly as possible!

Including a number of other first line treatments, therapeutic ultrasound can be used to administer micro-massage and gentle warming of the tissue, encouraging movement of the static milk causing the blockage. Therapeutic ultrasound also has well known benefits of reducing inflammation and swelling within the tissues.

Women experiencing first signs of inflammation in the breast are encouraged to contact the clinic on 8562 3441. Please advise reception staff that you require a mastitis appointment, and they will triage you to be seen as soon as possible by one our treating clinicians.

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If you experience onset of symptoms on Weekends or Public Holidays please call 0494 113 000 (if we don't answer, please leave a message and we will give you a call back as soon as we cant *please note this call will come from a private number, and weekend rates apply to any appointments*)

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If you are experiencing fever and chills, please speak with your GP. For difficulties with breastfeeding, you can contact the Australian Breastfeeding Associations free 24/7 helpline on 1800 686 268, seek help from the midwives at CAFHS or see a lactation consultant.