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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

11 day old has 'white bits' in his mouth - what can it be?

21 replies

jaggythistle · 29/04/2012 10:39

my DS2 is 11 days old and for the last couple of days i have noticed occasional white bits on his tongue and gums. he's been bringing up wee bits of milk so I'd been thinking it was sick in his mouth - today I've realised it's 'stuck' and not bits that wash away.

feeding has been going fine and neither of us seem to have any other symptoms.

was wondering if it is likely to be thrush, or something else?

thanks in advance. :)

OP posts:

rainbowinthesky · 29/04/2012 10:42

SOunds like thrush. You both need treating. Check though as it's been years since I've had a baby.

fusam · 29/04/2012 10:42

Thrush is the only thing that comes to mind. It's probably worth taking him to the GP.

GinPalace · 29/04/2012 10:43

Does sound suspiciously like thrush. If it isn't just a milky mouth, thrush is most likely option.
I would go to the doctor sooner rather than later to have it looked at, as if it is thrush and it gets established and cross-infects to your breasts it will be harder to treat and not pleasant.

Congratulations on your gorgeous new baba. :)

Meow75isknittinglikemad · 29/04/2012 10:43

My first thought when I read your title was thrush. It's certainly the most likely explanation, especially as you say he's been bringing up bits of milk. Nice warm, moist conditions WITH a food supply. Candida's favourite.

Not sure what the advice is for such a little one. Got a local pharmacy open today? Boots?

BikeRunSki · 29/04/2012 10:44

Thrush. Get to gp for ABs.

Original poster

jaggythistle · 29/04/2012 10:52

the gp surgery has a no appointment session tomorrow morning so will take him to get seen first thing. will maybe check with pharmacist today if possible.

it was all going so well this time too! he was back to his birth weight within 7 days and has been feeding great.

hopefully if it's thrush we'll catch it early enough. :(

OP posts:

fapl · 29/04/2012 10:54

GPs can be crap with knowing about breastfeeding and thrush and it can be really hard to get rid of. You haven't mentioned if you are breastfeeding.

The breastfeeding network has a great leaflet about breast feeding and thrush, do read it www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/BfN_Thrush_leaflet_Feb_2009.pdf

Print a copy off and take it with you to your GP. Your baby needs Daktarin gel and you daktarin cream, and if you end up with pain in your breasts you may need to take fluconazole. As you may pass it between each other you need to keep treating the thrush in both of you for 10 days after last symptoms (this is if you are breastfeeding). It can be so difficult because the conditions are so perfect for the thrush to thrive, warm, moist and full of sugar.

It could always be something else so do se your GP, but if you start treating it as thrush and it starts to go away, then you will know that is probably is thrush.

Original poster

jaggythistle · 29/04/2012 11:45

yes i am bf, i hadn't realised I'd just written 'feeding' in my posts!

I'm now thinking maybe i do have it myself, I'm on stronger painkillers for my episiotomy and giant piles situation so this could be masking pain in my breasts. having looked while i was in the shower there, my nipples do look a bit bright pink. :(

I'd probably be a bit nervous turning up to the gp clutching my factsheet, but i know it's important for us to get the right treatment quickly.

OP posts:

GinPalace · 29/04/2012 11:47

don't be nervous - they're used to it! :)

fapl · 29/04/2012 11:53

If you get an unsympathetic GP just go straight back to the reception desk and book to see another. I got to the 3rd GP in my surgery before I saw one that was interested. If you have sharp pain in your breasts you will need fluconazole. Also don't just assume women GPs will be better. I spoke to another mum with thrush and her male GP was great because his wife had had thrush. Another thing, I was told is go topless in the sunshine, thrush does not like sunlight, in the UK as if! (I didn't manage to take that advice)

Dry all your pants and bras on the line if possible to kill the thrush or the heat of a radiator should also do it.

fapl · 29/04/2012 11:55

I sometimes think doctors must get annoyed with people diagnosing themselves on the internet, but if there weren't so many crap ones out there we wouldn't have to.

crikeybadger · 29/04/2012 12:48

Also, have a look at this from the BfN.

It notes that pain from thrush is agonising, after every feed and in both breasts.

tiktok · 29/04/2012 12:56

jaggy, I don't think thrush is all that likely - it's unusual in a baby as young as this.

I am not saying it can't be....but the sticky white bits in the mouth of an 11 day old probably are bits of curdled milk that he's brought up. You don't mention other symptoms. Strong pain killers would not stop you noticing pain in your breasts/nipples.

Best get the doc to look at it.

olimpia · 29/04/2012 13:00

Can i just say that i disagree with everyone else that it sounds like thrush? Usually there are other symptoms too (nappy rash, deep pain in the breasts, etc) and he's a bit too young to have thrush unless there were risk factors when he was delivered (you had a thrush infection at the time of the birth is one risk factor or if you have been taking antibiotics).
Unfortunately it is very difficult to diagnose mouth thrush in babies without a swab of the mouth. Usually the diagnosis consists of tasking into account all of the above.
I'm not saying that it's definitely not thrush but it could just be a milk mouth which some babies have more prominent than others and difficult to wash away.

Fuchzia · 29/04/2012 13:15

I thought I and my 8 week old had Thrush based on a white coating on his tongue that didn't come off and sore nip

Original poster

jaggythistle · 29/04/2012 13:21

it has just looked like curdled milk that he's burped up which is why i hadn't worried till i noticed it wasn't washing away when he fed. didn't want to over or under worry!

i need to drop off his form to register him as a patient anyway so will maybe see if a doc can take a quick look.

i did have thrush twice while pg, but as far as i know not when he was born.

Tbh my nipples feel no more sensitive/sore than I'd expect with a hungry newborn about. during feeds feels fine as long as he's latched on ok. i don't have any breast pain at the moment.

thanks all for your help.

OP posts:

Fuchzia · 29/04/2012 13:26

I thought I and my 8 week old had Thrush based on a white coating on his tongue that didn't come off and sore nipples for me. Based on this I did a week or so on dactarin with no noticeable change. I found a good breastfeeding counciler who thought we should give up on treatment for a while and work on the latch to see if that improved the nipple issue and the tongue could just be milk deposits. (jury is still out in my case but as there are no other symptoms I'm not sure it is thrush) My point is that thrush seems to be tricky to diagnose so don't assume too much. Try and find a good breastfeeding councillor ( children's centres often run seasons) who can advise as GPsdont always know their stuff.

Original poster

jaggythistle · 29/04/2012 13:45

DS1 never had a white tongue hence my flapping now!

will report back when we've been to gp.

OP posts:

Keziahhopes · 29/04/2012 18:35

Hi my 2 week old DS had oral thrush and I didn't have it myself. Midwife told me it was airborn so possible only one of us had it. I had to treat myself with the daktarin as well as ds to prevent me having it. He had no red bottom or other symptoms, but did the 2nd time he got it and was ill for a few days with it bless him. Hope it clears up for your dc.

Pannacotta · 29/04/2012 18:40

I would say it is curdled milk rather than thrush.

Original poster

jaggythistle · 01/05/2012 12:34

so if most of it has disappeared of it's own accord, it might just be milky bits and me overworrying then? tongue does not look sore underneath.

we had a very hungry day yesterday and didn't actually make it out of the house to the gp.

hv is coming round soon so will maybe see what she thinks. (better than nothing?)

he is still feeding well and i don't have pain so far.

OP posts:

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