Does this sound like thrush? Really worried!

[paleandinteresting]

DS is 5 weeks and breastfeeding has been okay so far although latch has been variable (he is EBF). The community midwife said he has very slight tongue tie, but not enough to affect latch.

Today I noticed that after a feed my nipple was very red and the areola was very pink. After a while, the areola turned back to it's normal colour. However, after feeding DS throughout day, both nipples are now bright pink and the areolas are pink and haven't turned back (normally brownish). My nipples are really sensitive, can't bear for anything to touch them.

I don't have much pain during breastfeeding and it's only mildly uncomfortable after. My breasts feel warm and burn slightly and get the occasional stabbing, but from what I've read, thrush is extremely painful. This is the only thing that makes me think it isn't thrush.

DS is showing no obvious symptoms.

Anyone had anything like this? Thank you!

Well some of what you describe could be thrush, but you're right, it is usually very painful after feeding.

The breastfeeding network does a good leaflet about thrush as well as one on the diagnosis of pain. See here.

Even though your mw has said the tongue tie is mild, what really matters is how it affects the feeding. Some babies can do fine with a major tongue tie, others find they cannot feed well with a minor one.

I wonder if you could get to a breastfeeding group and see someone who really can diagnose a tongue tie and knows about other issues in detail. Is there an infant feeding specialist in your area- they would be a good person to talk to about this.

HTH

That's really helpful, thank you so much! I'm going to get in touch with a local breastfeeding counsellor to see if they can check what's going on. Thanks again!

Glad to have helped, hope you get it sorted.

When people say "slight tongue tie" they normally mean posterior tongue tie, but don't understand about it.

How the tongue looks is irrelevant, it's about function.

You need someone who really knows what they are doing, there is a great tongue tie support group on FB.

Thrush is really common in mothers of ties babies.

I'll have a look for the Facebook page, thank you. It's interesting to know about the tongue tie. When I pointed it out to the midwife (I noticed that DS's tongue has a 'v' at the tip) she was fairly dismissive. Have made an appointment to see a breastfeeding counsellor later this week. Just hoping the pain in my nipples/areola go soon and that it isn't thrush......