Miserable with thrush - it seems to be getting worse before it gets better - is this normal?

[Suzmum]

My DD is 11 weeks old. BFing has been really difficult, and I seem to have had every BFing problem in the book. She's my second child - I didn't manage to BF my first past 2 weeks (I had no idea how painful it could be and was very ill-prepared to deal with it). I then beat myself up for weeks after and felt like a terrible failure. Silly, I know, but it made me feel more determined to work harder at BFing my second baby.

I think I've had thrush in my breasts for several weeks but only got it diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. Have done one week on Daktarin cream for me, gel for DD. No change. So for last 3 days have been on Canesten solution for me, Daktarin gel for DD and a course of Fluconazole. But I've just had the most excruciatingly painful feed ever where I cried the whole way through. Is this normal? Is it really going to get better? Because I just feel enough is enough now and am wondering how I can put myself through any more of this. I know I'll be mortified to stop feeding and will probably cry for a week, so don't want to stop really, but this feels like madness.

I'm no expert, but have been through the mill with thrush! First, you probably ahouldn't have canesten and daktarin. I'm pretty sure dajtarin gel is now banned for babies under three months. Have a look at the Breastfeeding network's website. If you have really bad thrush you CAN take a course ofr oral treatment. That was the only thing that did it for me. Sorry for typos, BFing 8 month old DS! Never thought I'd get here as I was in same boat as you.

Please please do speak to a BFC. And make sure your GP reads the leaflet from BFN here HTH

So confused... Daktarin gel & cream both prescribed for me by my HV, who I usually consider very well-informed. Then canesten prescribed for me with gel for baby by doctor! Will phone NCT and LLL and get their opinions too...

Have you got thrush down below too? I personally found Nystatin drops/creams much more effective than Daktarin. In the end I resorted to pessaries once a week for a month to get rid of it. I used a cream pessary rather than the tablet one.

Silverettes are fab too. There's a few threads on here if you search for them.

Suzmum-the rules have only changed very recently. Hope you get some relief!

Oh, and if you do have thrush elsewhere and it isn't shifting (sounds icky, but) put a clove of garlic (scored all over) in there. It works, but makes you stink!

Loads of sympathy - I've had thrush for ages and A is 10 weeks (see my thread)
Like you I've been getting stupid amounts of different advice - I found Nystatin didn't work but the Daktarin gel is helping A, while I'm still taking flucanazole and using Daktarin cream, all on the advice of a lactation consultant.

One GP wasn't happy with the treatment for me but today the consultant gave me a Breastfeeding Network leaflet complete with all the research showing it is OK.

Getting to 11 weeks is fantastic so try not to beat yourself up (easier said than done, I know...)

me and ds3 (10 weeks) keep reinfecting each other with thrushj
my lovely gp has just put us both on a repeat prescription for daktarin gel (ds3) and fluctowhatsit tablet (me) so we csn ring and get it whenever we need it

She said if baby is feeding fine then it isnt hurting them too much so not to worry and just keep treating it

she also said if i need to take thrusj medication even once a week then that is fine tooo

btw daktarin gel says only from 4 months - when i queried this for ds3 she said it was due to choking hazard so put a tiny bit on at a time

Hello sweets, poor you

I had deep breast thrush for three months nearly, nothing from the doc worked for me Daktarin (foot fungal cream ffs), Nystacin, Fluconazole etc. I was crying at every right boob feed...
My LO didn't suffer much but my right nip had a split, shooting pains through it, broken glass feeling whenever I fed, itchiness, the lot.

I saw a BF counsellor who recommended (for me anyway) to drop a feed and replace with bottle as my nip was being ruined ad threatened future feeding, but also put me in touch with the Organic Pharmacy www.theorganicpharmacy.com

They chatted to me on the phone before recomending homeopathic Borax pillules, and Colloidal Silver spray (a natural antisceptic). I paid over the phone and they delivered, great as I could barely walk at the time!
These two took the pain down several notches, super-fast as a first aid measure. I then cleared up the residual thrush with a paste I applied to my nips and left to dry, made with acidophilus powder (I had capsules yo keep in the fridge) mixed with BM or water. Worked soooooooooo well I can't say it enough.

You can wipe it off a bit when you feed, but it's perfectly safe for the LO too, in fact when my LO has had anti-biotics since a baby, I always give him acidophilus or other pro-biotics mixed with yoghut for a few days to sort him out with good bacteria again.

Perhaps you could try the same stuff... best of luck.

Poor you, huge sympathy. I have been there and am only still breastfeeding my 13 week old DD because of the advice on here.

Someone suggested grapefruit seed extract to me, you buy it from a healthfood shop, put about 10 drops in 30mls of water and wipe your nipples after every feed. It can also be used to swab your baby's mouth if she is affected. You can also get a tablet form but i never tried it.

I also spent many feeds just crying my eyes out, i'm not sure how i didn't give up, there are many of us who know how you feel. The thing i learnt most about it on here is that the 'alternative' stuff. already suggested on this thread tends to be the most effective.

My GP was actually very good and called a BF counsellor for advice about what she should prescribe, it is worth asking yours to do this if you think you want a stronger / longer dose of fluconazole.

Good Luck

take painkillers

try grapefruit seed extract

thanks for suggestions. And thanks for clarifying re Daktarin gel, Popsycal. Its put my mind at rest and am not worried about the choking risk as its always a tiny amount.

Am going to give the Fluconazole a couple more days then maybe a visit to a healthfood shop is in order.

Really appreciate all the speedy responses -its the first time I've used Mumsnet