Thrush

[hiss42]

I'm suffering so badly with thrush in my milk ducts I just want to give up. My baby is only two weeks old and we've been doing really well so far with everything.

I went to the GP today having diagnosed myself online, (had everything pointing to thrush) and she diagnosed mastitis instead, giving me antibiotics. I then went to baby cafe and the midwife said it was definatley thrush in my milk ducts.

If i can make it through the agony of tonight, what exactly do I have to make sure I come away with tomorrow? I've read lots online and am really confused!
I have really deep breast pain that happens randomly through the day, as well as really badly for half an hour after feeds. It's in both breasts and my nipples are cracked and raw and discoloured. What can I do in the meantime to help me through the night? :(

[RitaMorgan]

Google for the Breastfeeding Network Thrush leaflet - print it out and take it to your GP (maybe see a different GP) and demand treatment. IIRC you'll need a 10 day course of fluconazole, and a treatment for the baby even if they don't have symptoms.

[Solo]

IME of at least 12 bouts of ductal thrush, the pain when baby latches on is immeasurable.
What you describe sounds like what I had with mastitis.

[Solo]

If you can afford it, THESE are very fast healing for the cracked and sore nipples. I couldn't afford them, but bought them anyway and my cracks went in under 24 hours. Well worth the money.

[Solo]

Hiss I have PM'd you.

[RitaMorgan]

12 bouts! Why did you keep getting it if you don't mind me asking?

[Bert2e]

Sorry that you are so sorry Hiss, I know you say things have been going well but if you are red raw I'm guessing that you haven't got the latch right (you may then have got thrush but the latch would have been what caused it). I agree with Rita about the BfN leaflet and you can take ibuprofen for the pain.

A long list of Qs now that will help us (probably not me as I'm off to bed I'm afraid!) help you
How is your baby?
White patches on her tongue?
Settled?
How long are feeds lasting?
How many feeds in a 24hr period?
How many wet nappies a day?
How many poos a day?
Colour of poo?
What day is your local bf drop in?

[Bert2e]

and more:

Do you have a temperature?
Feel fluey?
Is the pain one sided or bilateral?
How is baby's weight gain?
Instrumental delivery?

[Bert2e]

Sorry that you are so sorry Hiss sore not sorry - it's late, I'm ill :-(

[hiss42]

Baby is really unsettled, I think maybe from me cutting feeds short a bit from pain. Has a reallly bad tummy aswell, not sure if there's any relevance there.
No obvious signs of thrush in his mouth though. He's been very sicky the last day or so aswell.
Feeds last about 10 mins, about every two hours. he feeds really well and have been this short from the start. Midwife hasn't turned up last few days (am going to ring AGAIN tomorrow) so not sure of current weight gain, but he put on 1lb in his first week so feeding was going well even though it's only 10 minute feeds.
Lots of nappies, at least 10 or more a day. Like I saidhe seems to have a runny tummy. It's normal yellow colour for him.
I'm tired and hot but not sure if this is generally what people with a 2 week old feel like?
I went overdue so at 42 weeks had a sytocin IV induction, and a forceps delivery in theatre and both me and DS were in hospital on IV antibiotics for 5 days after birth because I had a high white blood cell count.
Also the veins on my boobs are huge and potruding.

Hopefully that can give you a bit more insight? Thanks everyone for your help!
Those silver cups look great, will have a chat with DP tomorrow to convince him they're worth the money!

[Solo]

I have no idea why I had it so often, but it was spread over a long period of time. I had IV ab's during labour and that's what caused it...IV ab's will often give you ductal thrush.

They are worth their weight in well... silver seriously, they are excellent. Make sure you have some bicarbonate of soda in when you order them as you will need some.

[Bert2e]

Don't worry about the runny poo - it should be like chicken korma sauce - bf poo isn't solid at all!

It really does sound like your latch needs some tweeking and your local bf clinic will be the best place for that or you can see if you have any local bf counsellors / lactation consultants who would be willing to see you at home. The national helplines will be able to give you help with this as well and LC details are here: www.lcgb.org/ www.realbabymilk.org has good lists of local drop ins. Your notes from hospital will probably also have local details in them.

Antibiotics do increase the likelihood of thrush but what you are describing could also be engorged breasts where the baby is unable to effectively remove the milk from them - do they feel hard as well?