2 week 5 day old, thrush and cracked nipples, ouch, help!!!

[duejuly2010]

Guys any advice would be appreciated. My ds is 2 weeks and 5 days old and for the last week I've had thrush on my nipples which has progressed to the ducts (started from ds), and for the past 3 days my nipples have been cracked on top.

It's agony to breast feed :(. Pain from the trush and the cracked nipples. I've been doing some expressing/feeding, have got to the point where he's had 4 bottles of formula because my milk supply is wondering what on earth is going on and he's been hungry, and tried nipple shields.

Don't know what to do as everything I'm trying isn't working. My milk supply is back up after spending all day yesterday and today expresing...cracked nipples are now worse, groan! I have clotromosole cream and the tablets, he has nystan. Thrush is not going....

I would call the NCT as they will have a bf counsellor who maybe able to help you more. Sorry to not be more helpful.

So sorry to hear you've got thrush - I had it at the same time and it's no fun . The pain from the cracked nipples and thrush is awful...

I was prescribed daktarin cream (not sure if that's the same as clotromosole?) for my nipples and daktarin gel for my DS. I then bought the flucozonale tablets over the counter myself as GP wouldn't prescribe them and I needed them to shift it from my ducts. But I needed two tubes of daktarin and DS needed two tubes of daktarin gel before it shifted so it could take a little while before your treatment starts to work. But the cracks should clear pretty soon once the thrush is under control.

I'd also advise hot washing all bedding, bras, towels regularly, cutting down on sugar and eating yogurts/drinking those probiotic drinks to try and get the thrush under control. Also some people have had good success with grapefruit extract and acidophilus capsules. I took pau d'arco supplements as well (I found Kellymom website to have good info on thrush).

I also used nipple shields and expressed, but found that I got blocked ducts so just let my baby feed as the pain of cracks and blocked ducts was too much for me (I took ibuprofen and parcetemol to ease the pain - both are fine while BFing).

I'd also recommend jelonet and lansinoh for the cracks. I used silverettes as well (I tried everything for the cracks! But really it was that the thrush wasn't spotted until 4 weeks when the symptoms had started at just over a week so nothing I tried worked until the thrush was treated...).

When I was finally clear of thrush and cracks feeding became so easy. I'm glad I stuck with it as DS is now just about to turn 21 weeks and I really enjoy BFing him.

Good luck - I really hope it clears up soon.

I had great success with Grapefruit Seed Extract. With both my DDs we had thrush as they had antibiotics post delivery. I took GSE tablets twice a day, then washed my nipples with a solution of GSE liquid in water (20drops in 30ml water)before and after each feed, I also swabbed DDs mouth withthe solution before and after each feed - I used a little olive oil on my nipples to keep the moist but not lansinoh as it keeps the nipples moist and thrush breeds in moist, warm dark places (in your bra)

I wouldn't be expressing yet unless there is a particular reason. The more he feeds the more your supply will increase. Also get someone to check your latch.

I used daktarin and it took a few days to kick in but it did work. Also re. checking the latch, do, do, do this as it can make a lot of difference.

Big hugs, hun, it's shit but it will go away eventually.