Thrush- how to cope

[LadyClaret]

Hi. I have a 6 week old baby and have been told I have thrush. I was hoping that other mums could give some tips on how to cope through the pain bec I am feeling so down that I am considering giving up. I really dont want to bec M has been making good progress- 8 oz a week.

i had this a couple of times when feeding dd2 - had drops for dd2 and used daktarin oral gel which I put on my nipples after each feed which seemed to clear it up and did not need washing off as it was safe for little one to have in her mouth. I then just used the gel if I felt the tingle come back again. Pain went quite quickly once I started using the gel.

Are you getting any treatment?

Hello, my love - I've just posted a link on the other thread, but I'll put it here too:

This is the Breastfeeding Network's Drugline information page about thrush

I would suggest you speak to a breastfeeding counsellor - there is a Supporterline number you can call on the site I've just linked to.

You have done really, really well to get this far. 8oz a week is brilliant - I know thrush can be horribly painful, but you're doing so well, sweetheart.

We are both being treated with cream- daktarin, but the pain is still bad which makes me wonder if these beign breast lumps are the reason for why it is so bad in one breast and not as bad in the other. I am now beginning to dread feeding and the expressing is not success.

Thanks hunkermunker. I am hoping he is still making the same progress but he has not been weighed for over two weeks. He has started sleeping for longer in the nightand concerned he is dehydrated because his morning nappies are not very heavy. Could the thrush be causing this. Also he has started wanting to feed more often.

LadyClaret I'm so sorry. I've been there. It's so bloody painful.

The BFN are absolutely brilliant at this. Mine was in the milk ducts so I had stabbing pains, after feeds, going right back under my arms and almost to my shoulderblades. Then there was the pain of latching on ....

I was just topping up the pain killers to get through it. And I've had four births with no pain killers!

In the end I was trying so many things I can't actually say for sure what sorted it out but I would advise you to tackle it on all fronts.

I'm actually 90% convinced the homeopath did it in the end. Do you know that some farmers use homeopathy when their cows get this? (That's according to my really great HV.)

So I took the thrush pills, I avoided sugar and yeast (so wine, bread etc ... even dried fruit - anyting with spores.) Your body craves these things which is somewhat cruel and bizarre. Don't listen to your body. It's the thrush talking. The fungus that wants feeding. Starve it!

Tea tree oil and garlice are great. Inside and out.

Lansinoh is the best - no the only good nipple cream and made of nice gentle stuff (lanolin) and you don't need to wash it off between feeds. It's great for cracked nipples which you often get with thrush.

Also put Tea tree oil in the washing machine, especially with bras.

Keep treating your baby too.

Good luck. It will pass. It is horrible though and you may have to force your doc to give the correct fluconazole dose (I did) because they don't recognise milk duct thrush. It's not in their study books.
Also it's expensive so they may be reluctant to prescribe.

Thanks spidermama for the advice. The HV told me that the Lansinoh was probably keeping the thrush going bec it acts like a barrier cream. I am certanily going to contact my homoepath. I feel M knows that mummy is unhappy bec he has been grumpy today. I too had a painfree birth to a 9 lb 7oz boy so I am surprised this thrush is causing so much pain!

Yes. I'd breastfed three babies with no problems and my ds was number 4. I didn't know what had hit me. It was really strange.

I know what you mean about the lansinoh being a barrier. It would keep conditions moist and really you want to be dry to kill thrush. But if your nipples are cracked badly, and mine were, they need to be treated as moist wounds.

Tea tree or garlic on the nipples would help, but of course then the baby is unlikely to want to tuck in!

I remember the pain well. Really, really bad. I fee for you.

They don't recognise milk duct thrush ? Gosh, they would if they bf and had shooting pains in their boobs, chest, shoulders and back !

Lady, I mentioned Daktarin Oral Gel on the other thread. It worked for DS and I (we used it for 4 weeks), but it all depends on how severe yours is I guess. Everything is worth a shot !

I do sympathise with anyone who has it though. I remember not being able to fall asleep because the pain was so bad.

Take care, and hope one of the cures here works for you

Oh, I was also dabbing diluted distilled vinegar (1 measure of vinager mixed into 9 measures of water) on my nipples after every feed. It needs to be "distilled" vinager which you can buy in the supermarket.

Thrush dies in acidic environments. Of course, don't do this if your nipples are cracked. I only did it because I read about it being very effective and my nipples were intact.

Hi thanks for all your advice. I have seen both the hv and doc today. The doc prescribed me nystatin. M has been measured today. I know feel less concerned about how much he is feeding- 11lbs 14oz and 60.5 cm in length at 6 1/2 weeks. We must have a very hungry and big boy in the making!!
I am certainly going to recommend this to friends because it has been really helpful and will definitely use it in the future- I am sure my next question will be tips for sleeping rountines!!

Lady, just a suggestion though. If you get no joy with Nystan, consider Daktarin Oral Gel (you buy it in the chemist). It worked better for me and reading some other people's comments on MN, it seems to have worked better than Nystan for them too.

Also what have you been given for your nipples ? Most GP's forget to prescribe something for your nipples too. You MUST treat your nipples too otherwise you cross-infect.

Good luck !

just wanted to add that i am going thru the same thing right no...dont forget to wash your clothes seperately and in hoy water, especially your bras. and change bra pads often to prevent it from coming back.

The doctor prescribed me nystatin tablets and M nystatin drops. The Hv prescribed Dakatrin cream and gel for us both. Therefore i am torn - the doctor thought nystatin would be more effective. Should I keep using nipple cream?- i dont have cracked nipples (yet)

Lady, you MUST treat your nipples with Canestan or another anti-thrush cream. Do this no matter what.

I tend to agree with your HV. But I guess if you have started the tablets already, keep going and see what happens. I put Nystan in DS mouth (GP prescribed) for 4 days, it did nothing for us. DS's mouth was so sore by then from thrush, poor baby didn't feed on one occassion for a whole 24 hours.

I panicked started reading internet, got convinced by BFN leaflet that Daktarin is better, switched to Daktarin and saw an improvment within 48 hours.

Let us know how you are getting one with Nystan.