possible thrush?

[magicfairy]

DS2 is 5 weeks old and we have had feeding problems from the start; bad latch, cracked nipps, mastitis in both boobs, double course of antibiotics, continued pain and discomfort feeding.

I have had peer supporters, bf counsellors, mat support workers and anyone willing to watch us feed, all say positioning and attachment look good, and he is feeding well etc.

So why am i still in pain, i have sharp pain when he latches on, then occasional pain throughout a feed, my nipples are sore when not feeding esp in if my clothes brush them or i shiver, and my boobs itch and have a strange pain in them all the time. i am starting to walk huncehd up in case anyone or anything knocks them.

DS2 doesnt have any white spots or nappy rash.

Does this ound like thrush, should i make a docs app?

[Eirlys]

hello,

My nipples felt like yours, have you seen the thread on nipple vasoconstriction? sorry to say it wasn't until 10 weeks that my breasts stopped hurting, but glad I stuck it out.

Other things to consider are does your DS have a tongue tie, or does he compress your nipple (does it come out of his mouth with a ridge, or white)? It could look like a perfect latch but he can be squishing your nipple against the roof of his mouth. A tongue tie can be snipped, and there are exercises that can teach him to be gentler on your nipples.

sorry not an answer on the thrush but some other ideas from my personal experience.

Hope this helps.

[goldenpeach]

I thought I did reply to this but something must have happened! Here I go again.
After doing a course with Bfn (www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/), I realised that their counsellors have more answers re attachment.
Some babies start with good attachment and then slip down on the nipple and clamp on it. As Eirlys advised, check the shape of the nipple, if it is squashed, looks white or has a dent in it, your little one is clamping on it. Sometimes the clamping stops the circulation and then when it resumes you get horrid pin and needle pain in it during the day. I experienced this myself but had to bear with it till it got away as I asked for help too late. So don't give up looking for help, bfeeding shouldn't hurt if attachment is good.
RE trush, it's best to see your health visitor/gp.

[goldenpeach]

Quick update. I volunteer at a bf cafe as helper and today a mum arrived with same symptoms. The supporter suggested that she might have trush, apparently it could be there even if there are no spots. The woman was advised to talk to her GP to rule it out.