'I don't want to be a guinea pig' - Swedish women's experiences of breast abscess treatment

Background: It is well known that breastfeeding plays an important role in the health of women and children. However, women are not always given optimal support and most do not reach their breastfeeding goals. About one in five, breastfeeding women report mastitis and a small proportion of these develop a breast abscess. Our aim was to describe the experiences of a group of Swedish breastfeeding women who developed a breast abscess.

Methods: A qualitative cross-sectional study with 18 study participants was undertaken in Sweden in 2017–2018. Potential participants were identified through electronic medical records at a university hospital and invited to participate in audio-recorded telephone interviews. Women were between 2 and 24 months postpartum at the time of the interview, on average 8 months. We conducted a thematic analysis in six steps according to Braun and Clark.

Results: Our analysis identified two themes: 1) Seeking care and receiving treatment was long and unpleasant, and 2) Importance of adequate professional care. Women who experienced a breast abscess were uncertain about where to ask for professional help. They often had a long wait for the right time to undergo the unpleasant and painful procedure of draining their breast abscess. The women felt it was important to receive professional care with respectful communication, continuity of care, and to receive adequate information, but they did not always receive this level of care.

Conclusions: Women with puerperal breast abscesses often fall between medical specialty areas. No longer under the care of obstetricians and maternity services, their problem is too complicated for general practitioners or emergency departments, but not regarded as serious by breast surgeons. Healthcare professionals urgently need adequate training in order to deal with breastfeeding problems and be able to offer women-centred care.