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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Thrush advice please

16 replies

bambi07 · 26/03/2015 21:38

Hi all,
My little girl is nealry 4 weeks and has oral thrush, my nipples have suddenly become unberably painful both during and after breast feeding. I struggled with bfing in the very early days, nipples became very sore and actually really disliked bfing. We perserveered with it and got help, which resulted in painfree dinner times.

However thrush has now set in and bfing is again a struggle. I have some gel to rub on my nipples and have been using it for 3 days now and I would say that my nipples are getting worse not better. I am again beginning to really dread dinner times and try to put off bfing as long as possible. Please can anyone give advice about how long before it starts to improve, to give me something to motivate me to continue with bfing as I am struggling. x

OP posts:
33goingon64 · 26/03/2015 22:02

Exactly same with DS between 5 and 10 weeks. Nearly gave up. Went to 5 different GPs til I got some proper cream which sorted it out. Can't remember what it's called. Keep asking for help. Good luck.

Loveallmyboys · 26/03/2015 22:23

I went to gp today as ebf DS had oral thrush. He was prescribed oral drops to take 4 times a day. Hadn't really affected me yet(slight discomfort but I'm putting that down to him feeding a lot the past few days more than the thrush-up to now!)

snowydrops · 27/03/2015 05:25

What is the gel called that they have prescribed? Has baby been given something too?

marinerkk · 27/03/2015 05:51

My ds was given daktarin gel which started to clear it up in his mouth within 24 hrs. I didn't have it luckily. Hope you get sorted soon

Original poster
bambi07 · 27/03/2015 08:25

Thank you your replies.
The stuff I am putting on is called miconazole and Flora has been prescribed Nystatin which is syringed onto her tongue after feeds.
She doesnt seem to be in pain from her tongue and it does seem to be improving, the sores on her bum have almost gone too which is great. My boobs however still really hurt during feeding and then for a good time afterwards.
The biggest problem I have is that I havent enjoyed breast feeding and this isnt helping. I was really looking forward to it and put pressure on myself to make sure it happened, I had a third degree tear which was very uncomfortable immediately after the birth and my nipples were incredibly sensitive, making me a bit fed up. I need to keep remindng myelf that it will get better and not to dwell on how it feels at the moment.

OP posts:
snowydrops · 27/03/2015 09:37

Bambi I feel exactly the same!! I too have thrush (symptoms decreasing but boobs / nipples still sore)

I have nearly given up five times and DD2 is only 12 days old! I am now taking one day at a time. I feel if I approach it that way then if I ever feel I can't hack this I will just stop. I won't actually stop I'll express (did that for 6 months with DD1) but I had really hoped to avoid it this time.

Things I have found help:

Shields - they are a faff but my daughter seems to latch much much better which means one latch and a lot less pain for me.

Expressing and a bottle- when she's really fussing and on and off my boob I've fed her as much as I can stand and then let DH give her a bottle. It's been expressed milk so far. This has saved my sanity at 5am this morning when she latched on and off on a blistered nipple 25 times!

I'm off to the clinic today...will keep trying for another day and be kind to myself instead of crying and getting frustrated (which I have been a lot). Ultimately we are doing our best!! SmileSmile

Mamab33 · 27/03/2015 09:38

You're doing really well. If the cream and gel aren't clearing it up look up the Breast Feeding network website. They have a leaflet that you can take along to GP. They have a helpline too.Flowers

HFR2014 · 27/03/2015 09:44

Ouch! I had a similar experience - and am now thankfully clear of thrush. Have a Google of breastfeeding support network thrush treatment guidelines - I took a copy to my gp to get the correct treatment ( I am also a gp, and this is not something that is part of our training) I eventually ended up using miconazole oral gel with DS and daktarin on myself. I also took oral fluconazole as the rub on stuff just wasn't working quick enough. I seem to remember it started to feel better 48-72 hours after I started treatment. Hope it starts to improve soon

anotherdayanothersquabble · 27/03/2015 10:14

I would also exclude sugar from your diet which would otherwise feed the yeast and eat more alkaline foods which may help prevent regrowth. Look to get a broad spectrum non dairy probiotic to balance your gut flora.

Original poster
bambi07 · 27/03/2015 10:18

Snowydrops that is exactly how i have been feeling, OH bottle fed her last night to spare my sanity and my nipples. my little one is on and off a lot too making feeding times a bit manic, she also hates the gel and cries real tears whenever she has it, i feel so mean making her have it.

I will take a look at the breastfeeding support network and see about altering the prescription if it feels no better very soon. Thank you again. x

OP posts:
JustbeNormal · 27/03/2015 22:07

You need daktarin cream for you and daktarin oral gel for baby. If that doesn't clear it up you need your GP to prescribe fluconazole , ideally a loading dose of 200mg then 100mg per day for 7 days. Some GPs only prescribe a 50mg per day dose and that's not enough. I've had thrush twice now, the second time it went on for around 8 weeks. Horrible, horrible thing. I really hope you get better soon.

Original poster
bambi07 · 28/03/2015 09:49

Thank you Justbenormal I will head back and see about getting some of that on prescription, it really is making breastfeeding unbearable and I was only just starting to enjoy it. xx

OP posts:
tinkerbellvspredator · 28/03/2015 21:59

Also take ibuprofen and paracetamol (they work in different ways so complement each other) to take the edge off if you aren't already. I was taking 400mg ibuprofen 2 or 3 times a day and paracetamol (whatever normal dose on the packet says) for a prolonged period. Various GPs and breastfeeding advisers said that was fine.

Original poster
bambi07 · 29/03/2015 11:41

Thank you I hadnt thought of taking paracetemol or iboprufen so I will give that a try. On the plus side babies tongue does seem to be improving, I just need the boobs to behave themselves too. x

OP posts:
FruitBadger · 30/03/2015 16:55

Daktarin is the branded version of miconazole - have they given you the cream or the gel? BFN website has more info but you need to use the cream, the gel is an oral treatment.

Make sure you sterilise bottles and dummies with heat, not cold water. DS and I struggled with thrush this was one of the tips my GP gave that I think helped to really knock it in the head; she suggested 20 mins in an open saucepan of boiling water as you need the prolonged heat to kill thrush.

Keep going, thrush is stubborn and so painful, I had to use the miconazole / Daktarin cream on myself for 4 weeks before we were completely clear Sad

FruitBadger · 30/03/2015 16:56

Oh and YY to paracetamol and ibruprofen, they really helped for the worst few days of agony whilst the meds kicked in!

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