Could it be thrush?

[Slh122]

I am in so much pain at every feed I am seriously considering giving up breastfeeding. DS is 7.5 weeks old and I've had no issues feeding him until the last week or so. 2 weeks ago he had thrush on his bum that I've been using a prescription cream on but there's still a couple of spots.
He hasn't got any sign of thrush in his mouth but over the past week my left nipple has become so cracked and sore. I'm in so much pain at every feed, and now my right one is starting to go the same way. I've tried jelonet, Lansinoh, air drying, everything.
I know it's not his latch because a breastfeeding counsellor observed a feed on Thursday and said his latch is fine. Nothing is making it any better. Could it be thrush?

[Romily]

Sounds like you should take a trip to the docs. I had thrush and there was no sign of it in DS mouth.

[Slh122]

I've just phoned nhs direct as I'm in so much pain feeding him now. The cracks just aren't seeming to get any better and I'm at a complete loss. No idea what to do and formula is a complete last resort.

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

I had thrush and dd2 had spots in her mouth. I had cream for me and for her. Someone once described thrush as feeling like passing glass shards through your nipples and I though that was quite accurate. Your poor thing. Mine lasted about three weeks. Get yourself to the doctors. Or have you got a HV or Breastfeeding counsellor that could refer you ?

[Slh122]

It's the initial latch that's painful, the rest of the feed isn't really so I'm really unsure of what it could be :(

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

Nipple shield?

[chainstore]

It does sound like thrush. If it's in the breast you might need a course of oral anti fungals. Start off with putting oral daktarin on your nipples and all inside baby's mouth. Sometimes it can be difficult to see in the baby's mouth. Maybe try expressing if the latch is too painful.

[HumphreyCobbler]

Don't let them air dry! The initial pain will be the crack re splitting if it has formed a scab.

This has just happened to me and thanks to advice on here I went to the GP and was prescribed flucanozole for the thrush and started moist wound healing on the crack so that it could heal properly.

I SO sympathise, it feels like ground glass being scrunched in when the baby latches on.

[HumphreyCobbler]

oh and take painkillers

[Slh122]

Thanks everyone. Went to the GP she thinks it's thrush so I have canesten cream for my nipples and nystatin for DS's mouth

[HumphreyCobbler]

sorry to be a pain but i am not sure you have been given the correct treatment, have a look at this threadn particularly PacificDogwood's post
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding/904699-Please-help-before-contacting-GP-tomorrow-re-thrush-breastfeeding-is/AllOnOnePage

[Slh122]

Humphrey shall I go back? I've done a google and a few people say it cleared theirs up.

[HumphreyCobbler]

It is entirely up to you! I was given an internal treatment which I think would be more effective. I would worry about it getting in the baby's mouth and it surely would be a pain to keep washing it off every time.

But as I say, your call. Hope you feel better soon.

[Slh122]

Thanks Humphrey me too. I did want to ask for the fluconazole (is that what it's called) but she said to try this first and come back if no change.