Thrush!

[WelshMoth]

Quick bit of advice needed - a friend of mine's little baby has had an attack of oral thrush following some anti-biotics. Baby is 4 months. She's feeling sore also but GP this morning has only prescribed drops to the baby and nothing for her.

I thought they both needed treating since they can pass spores back and forth to one another, and the cycle of thrush will continue. GP examined her nipples and said that since they weren't cracked, that they couldn't have any thrush so no treatment for her, only baby.

This is her 3rd bf baby though and feels that her boobs aren't right.

Has she been given correct advice?

No, she hasnt. She needs a cream for her boobs, you are right, she will just re-infect the baby.

The doctor could have prescribed tablets if she thought that cracked nipples had led to the infection spreading to the milk ducts deep in the breast tissue (this is very painful and should be avoided at all costs, tell her to watch her latch carefully and go back to docs immediately if she feels this pain)

She can use the same cream (or oral gel) for the baby for her nipples too, or ask for something over the counter at the chemists. Bear in mind that most instructions say to use twice a day, but the bacteria grows back every 90 mins, so you really want to apply it more often/after every feed.

KellyMom website has lots more useful info
www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/thrush/index.html

cream is the same one for athletes foot (dedactin, something like that). I was prescribed this and nyostatin for the baby. In the end I just smeared the nyostatin on my nips.

One to watch - the nyostatin induced spectacular vomiting in my DD

I've been given both the oral gel for baby and cream for me too. And I don't have cracked nipples, just sore. I'd get your friend to call the gp back.

The breast feeding network has a great leaflet on thrush with section for drs/nurses. If she has breast pain it's probably in the ducts and she needs 10d of fluconazole at decent dose. Safe when breastfeeding (not licensed so bnf-drs drug bible- says no but dose given to baby via milk less than dose for newborn baby) .worth taking leaflet to gp appt. Can take more than 1 treatment.if nystatin doesn't work get miconazole gel to rub all over mouth and gums after every feed. Leaflet covers all drugs doses and reasons.on phone so can't do link x

here is the bfn thrush leaflet. You are right, mother and baby both need to be treated, please encourage her to go back to the GP and take a copy of the leaflet with her :)

Thanks for link twinklegreen x