Sudden drop in supply / thrush

[flymo79]

Hi - can anyone help? Sorry for long post, lots going on.
Dd is 8 weeks, she has been a good feeder but slow to gain and we had to introduce 2 ff and one expressed feed a day to get her weight up. I just got diagnosed with nipple thrush and feeding is SO painful. Dd has been falling asleep on the boob and waking up inconsolably hungry. I just woke up after. 4 hrs sleep and my boobs didn't feel at all full. She fed a short time then fell asleep, I tried to put her down, she woke up and I put her back on only for it all to start again. My nips are far too sore for all this latching!! I am really worried about my supply and worried she's not getting enough of a quality feed. Yesterday I couldn't pump at all as she was basically on me all day doing hourly feeds. Miserable

I literally feel your pain!

I was in an almost identical situation except that we are EBF. My daughter is gaining weight but not as fast as the official curve. I'm not too worried about that, as she is obviously not dehydrated and is producing lots of wet and dirty nappies - is your DD? She's also alert and generally happy, so I am hoping that she's getting what she needs.

She has been through a couple of very hungry periods and the thrush (which is now subsiding) does make it painful. I've taken paracetamol and ibuprofen once a day just before the evening cluster feed to help with the pain, but most of the time it's been a case of gritting my teeth.

My breasts don't feel full anymore but I can hear gulping/swallowing and see the evidence of milk in nappies etc. Are you sure your supply has dropped? I thought it was normal for the boobs to stop feeling engorged as the supply regulates?

Hope things improve for you flymo. I do get cross when told that bf is meant to be completely painless. I've had maybe 8 days of painless bf in 2 months and this seems like a common experience amongst my friends.

Thanks mupperoon, so good to know! Although I am sorry you have been going through this too. Dd is doing wet and dirty nappies but she seems to get very tired working at the breast and is frustrated or tired, she never comes off satisfied and this is really worrying me, making me feel like there isn't enough supply...

I'm a bit confused by your diagnosis of nipple thrush. Did the GP do a culture? Or is it just based on the fact you are in pain? It sounds like maybe you could do with some help with the latch - if constant feeding is making your nipples sore, then maybe some fiddling would help? Is there local breastfeeding help near you?

Thanks notquite, the thrush is characterised by burning, stinging nipples during and after a feed, and deep prickly feelings in my breasts.