Thrush, extreme pain after each feed - what might help?!

[misspollysdolly]

Posting on behalf of friend. Her baby DS is 7 weeks old. She has been mix feeding pretty much since he was born on advice of MW and HV. Desperate to bf as much as possible though and to continue with it even though these first 7 weeks have been quite stressful at times.

Both she and baby have had thrush - have been treated with anti-fungals. Baby has had all clear. She reports the infection to be much better but is still getting extreme pain particularly AFTER each feed has finished. Still persevering with putting baby to her breast several times each day, but dreads the discomfort afterwards.

Anyone experienced this, or any suggestions of what might help relieve the pain (hot/cold compresses/pads, etc) Also is there anything extra/alternative she could try to get rid of the thrush?

Her GP seems a bit rubbush IMHO. HV and GP keep saying to just jack in the bfing and that ff is 'just as good' - which makes me mad!! - and she is finding this more distressing than anything else as she wants to continue with it as long as possible.

Baby latching on well now and enjoying milk when she does bf. I have suggested she give him a morning and bedtime bf, if that's all she can manage (pain-wise) and to keep this routine going basically as long as possible. DOes that sound about right? She could then add more bf's in as the discomfort subsides.

Any words of wisdom/experience welcome! I feel really frustrated as don;t know how best to help or advise her - she even lives to far away for anything other than a virtual hug . Please help!

both ds and I had thrush, what did GP give her to get rid of it? I took anti fungal tablets which aren't strictly licienced for bfeeding but the NCT did a study on them and they are fine, I can't remember name but they are widely available - I know people who've only been given creams but if the thrush is in milk ducts it can take ages to go, if she wasn't offered tablets its worth asking for them as my thrush took week after taking them to go, I then took them for 4 weeks to make sure it had gone (on Gp's advice - he was lovely his wife had reoccuring thrush with their ds so he was v understanding) imo it sounds like she still has thrush

hth x

That's all really helpful - thanks guys. Kazbeth, what was the dilution of grapefruitseed extract?

hey,

my ds has thrush the now. our gp didngt even see him, he couldnt give me an appointment untill 5 days later so i had to describe it to the receptionist. Then i has to pick up a script for nystsn. he gets it after his feeds 4 x a day, but thats been from thursday and i cant see a difference so far.

Thanks kazbeth, sorry to ask more questions but you put it on and THEN your daktarin cream, right? And did you wash the whole lot off before the next feed/express? Will suggest it her and see what the response is. She's in a bit of a state at the mo...!

I had thrush with dd3 and it is excruciatingly painful. I used to take painkillers before feeding on the affected side and used a nipple shield on alternate feeds. I know they are hated by health professionals but it enabled me to keep feeding until the pain subsided. I went on to feed dd3 until she was 2 and a half.

I had thrush problems- its so painful. I used gentian Violet to get rid of it after daktarin oral Gel and nystatin failed to get it out of either my babys mouth or my nipples.

GSE (citricidal is a great support thing too as well as taking probiotics.

I put instruction for how to treat with GV on this thread earlier in the year