Itchy nipples - Thrush?

[Katherine]

Hi - I'm pretty sure we've had thrush in the last few days. DD2 is now 10 days old and a couple of days ago she had a sore bum, like little blisters which I recognised from when DS had thrush. Couldn't really see much in her mouth but slapped some calendula ointment on her bum and my boobs just in case. Then I went a bit uncomfy below so used some Canestan on me.

However yesterday my nipples became really itchy. They are driving me mad. I'm persisting with the calendula but DD2 is now pretty much clear and I am fine below.

Could this itching be due to thrush (last time with DS I didn't have any symptoms) or could I be reacting to the ointment. Feel this is unlikley as I used it with both my others.

Any suggestions what it might be or how I should treat it?

hello katharine, just a thought but if it is thrush, perhaps the calendula cream is making it worse not better. My thrush was definitely aggravated by it anyway, I thought perhaps it was because it is 'sugary'.
No tother ideas so sorry that's not helpful

I'd go and see your doctor.If it's thrush you will both need to be treated or else you will reinfect each other. Does your dd have any white patches in her mouth which are the usual signs of oral thrush.

At my 6wk check-up with DS the Dr diagnosed thrush and prescribed hydrocortizone which left both me and DS in agony and completely raw. So I really don't want to go down that route and would prefer to treat it myself.

Morrocco I didn't know about the sugar content thing but maybe you are right although calendula itself is meant to be anti-fungal. They do a cream version in boots which may be better. Was reading on one website where they suggested washing the nipples with diluted vinegar! And another suggested chamomile tea - sounds better than vinegar anyway. Seems to be worst in the fullest breat if that makes sense.

I read somewere a good cure is stuff called "gentian violet". You paint it on nipples & put in baby's mouth with cotton wool bud before feeding, bit messy , everything goes purple !!! but supposed to help. Ask pharmacist for more information

If it's thrush, your baby will get it in his mouth and you'll just transfer it between the two of you until you either give up b/feeding or try something to make it work.

My missus had this after about three weeks of breastfeeding and NOTHING would make it go away. She was desperate to continue feeding, and in the end we made it work with nipple sheilds, which might look silly, but work, once the baby has got the hang of it (took a couple of days). It's something extra to steralise, but the option was either quit breastfeeding or use the shields.

We used the shields, and she breastfed for 7 months, using the shields all the time (muggins here was cheif steraliser )

Hope this helps

It was thrush and has lingered for ages in babies mouth but never seemed to make me go sore. I cured the itchy nipples by buying some bigger bras but I still go itchy is my breast pads get soggy.

Word of advice for anyone else - try to avoid using daktarin oral gel on your nipples (Drs often recommend this as a way of getting it into small babies mouths) - trouble is its very sticky and your breadt pads stick! Ouch!

Nystatin seemed to do the trick for DD2 in the end.