What common symptom may indicate a mother has mastitis?

Mastitis is an infection of the breast tissue that results in breast pain, swelling, warmth, and redness, and can be accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fever and chills. When a mother experiences these symptoms, it suggests that her body is combating an infection, which is a common response to conditions like mastitis.

Fever and chills may indicate the presence of infection and inflammation, serving as warning signs that prompt further assessment and treatment. Monitoring these symptoms is essential, as they can signal the need for antibiotics or other medical interventions to resolve the infection. The other options, while potentially relevant to general postpartum conditions, do not specifically correlate with the indication of an underlying infection like mastitis does.