What should be emphasized to a mother to reduce the risk of mastitis?

Emphasizing the importance of regularly emptying the breasts is crucial in reducing the risk of mastitis. When a mother breastfeeds, it is essential for her to ensure that the breasts are fully emptied during each feeding session. This promotes adequate milk flow and helps prevent milk stasis, which can lead to infection and inflammation of the breast tissue, known as mastitis.

Regularly emptying the breasts keeps the milk production process at an optimal level, prevents engorgement, and allows the mother to maintain milk supply. It also supports better latch and feeding dynamics with the infant, contributing to a more effective breastfeeding experience overall.

While the other options may seem relevant to breastfeeding practices, they do not directly address the physiological cause of mastitis in the same way. For example, limiting breastfeeding time could lead to inadequate milk removal and thereby increase the risk of complications.