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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Is this thrush something to worry about?

5 replies

Trillian42 · 30/08/2010 11:01

Almost a month ago we noticed there was white on my 11 week old's tongue, and as she was thrashing about during feeding as well, presumed it was the thrush. Brought her to GP who diagnosed thrush and prescribed Mycostatin for her (& nothing for me, because I was symptomless).

A fortnight later, her tongue was still white and my nipples were a little sore, so brought her back to the GP (the thrashing by the way seemed to be more of a phase and stopped almost straightaway).

The GP gave me a new prescription for Mycostatin and gave me Daktarin Gel for me - for my nipples. The gel was messy and uncomfortable as it doesn't dry - which surely isn't conducive to clearing up thrush.

DD's mouth is still no better, but no worse - it's only on the back of her tongue with no spots anywhere else. I've a relation who is a GP and she said as it doesn't seem to be bothering DD that it is probably better to leave it alone. I was happy enough to go with that, as it has been a month & while my nipples are a little sore, nothing compared to the agony I've read about on other threads here I've researched, and DD doesn't seem to be affected by it.

But DD seems to be pulling off the nipple a good bit when feeding at the moment & I'm worried it is bothering her now. She's also got a tooth coming up though... could it be that? My other worry is that I can't freeze milk that I express, in case I re-infect her.

I wanted to be armed with some info to take to the GP as she doesn't seem to know much about it, but also to get your opinions on whether it sounds bad enough to go back again.

Thanks again in advance for all your advice.

OP posts:
eachpeach80 · 30/08/2010 16:40

hi, I don't know much about thrush at all but would say that it is definitely something you want to nip in the bud as I think it is likely to worsen. it is interfering with her feeding and that is reason enough to sort it out. the breastfeeding network does a good leaflet (below) which you could print and show your gp. your nipples should not be sore. hopefully someone who knows more than me will be along to advise soon.

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/BfN_Thrush_leaflet_Feb_2009.pdf

thisisyesterday · 30/08/2010 16:43

if it was thrush i can almost guarantee that you would both be in quite a lot of discomfort by now

babies do sometimes have a white tongue, from the milk. does it wipe off at all?

soreness could just be that you aren't getting a great latch as she is fidgety, or because of the tooth coming through

i've had thrush a few times, and within a week it was agony for me

MoonUnitAlpha · 30/08/2010 18:10

DS had thrush in his mouth (though it didn't seem to bother his much, and my nips were a little pink and itchy), and we were prescribed the Daktarin oral gel - I applied it to my nipple before a feed, and then rubbed a little gel in his mouth after a feed, 4 times a day. It cleared up within a few days.

Trillian42 · 31/08/2010 16:33

Thanks for the replies. The white stuff doesn't wipe off her tongue - the GP was sure it was thrush. Regarding the pain not being too bad, I thought maybe the Mycostatin was keeping the thrush in check, even though it wasn't getting rid of it?

The pain is like a shooting pain in my nipple after feeding. It's not sore all the time but just comes in waves. My nipple is pinky-purple all the time, and kind of white immediately after a feed (not a white coating).

I talked to my relative who's a GP again (we've to pay £50 for GP visits here & this will be my third trip for this so avoiding another wasted trip!!), & she suggested trying the Daktarin gel for DD, so I'll try that first.

OP posts:
lizzytee · 01/09/2010 14:26

Trillian

This leaflet on best practice treatment for thrush is worth a look and something to show your doc/relative.

BFN thrush leaflet

It does sound as if your lo has oral thrush and best practice is always to treat both of you. However Daktarin oral gel is not an effective treatment for any thrush on your nipples, and the attached leaflet explains this. There is a different version suitable for topical application to your skin.

It may also be worth considering other approaches as well eg grapefruit seed extract. Also, the description you give of how your nipple looks after feeds suggests to me that you might seek RL help from a breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultant?

HTH

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