3 and half month - difficult feeding - cry when on the breasts? - help

[Abbey123]

Hi all, my 3 and half month old dd started breast refusal when she turned 3 months old, she sometimes has a few sucks, then comes off looks around or talks to me (woo and aaa), sometimes, she just cries really badly, face turns red and I know she is hungry as she hasn't beed fed for 5 hours! I wonder if she is too tired to feed? But she seems to be alright for the night feeds, although she wakes up every 2-3 hours from 3 months old. I am 100% breast feeding and it has been really difficult 4 me to stick at it, I am suffering from bad back and I had mastitis twice on the same breast, lump is still there, don't know what to do........... Can someone with some experience help??????? will this breast refusal ever stop? Have the lump check with GP, they said its difficult to examine breastfeeding mom, come back when we done the feeding.

I used the fluconazole, which is buyable from behind the counter, but I'd try asking for it on prescription first as it's quite expensive, plus daktarin gel on both my nipples and babies mouth. It could be easily fixed by the creams but if it's deep in the breast then it's probably better to get the fluc.
Is there anyone you can see who is breastfeeding friendly? (The leaflet often sorts that anyway, but see if you can get a recommendation from your health visitor team for a sympathetic GP)

I will defi try to get a bf friendly GP. how many times did you put the daktrin gel on the nipples? I suppose i don't need to wash it off before i feed my dd? on the leaflet it says only use 2 times on baby, as the gel is quite sticky. I am doing a swab on wed, will it tell me something to do with my baby's thrush? god, hope she hasn't got the thrush down her nappy area.......

Have you thought of silent reflux? My baby was a bit older (and had developed a cough as well) when he was diagnosed.

You would probably see thrush if she had it 'down there' so try not to worry.
I put it on after every feed as each feed means both myself and baby were coming into contact with thrush not on ourselves.
It really didn't take long. If you search 'victoriansqualor' and 'nipples are on fire' you'll find my thread, it took days to fix IIRC.

Hi Lil, I found your thread really helpful, I think my dd has a combination of thrush and 3 month behaviour prob. I tried to get Fluconazole at boots, the pharmacist said I need prescription, so I have to wait until Monday......she also said I don't need Fluconazole for treatment, she said she never heard using that for symptons on breasts. Is there any bad side effects? How long does it take to clear if use Fluconazole? I am pretty determined to get my GP to prescribe it for me on Monday.......still, really about the 2 GPs I saw before, none of them checked my nipples.

also, there is only a bit red down there on my dd, what does a thrush look like? sorry, I am bit dumb on this

You're not dumb at all, you've just never had to deal with this before.

IF babies have thrush it normally looks like nappy rash. Try using barrier cream for a day or two and see if the redness goes.

You could ask the doc to check her and they'll give her some cream if it's suspected.

The thing with not using fluc. and just treatign with cream is that if it's in the breast it will disappear from the nipples/babies mouth, but then come back, as it is in the breast, the fluc. cleans it out internally. I only took two loaded does (large ones, 24 hours apart) and it worked but the BfN recommends to take a loaded dose, then a smaller dose daily for a while.

The BfN are the best when it comes to what drugs you can and can't take whilst breastfeeding so docs will usually take note of their leaflets.

I had no side effects, nor did DS.

thanks a lot. Lil. I've tried Sudo cream and clotrimazole 1%(for candida)on her, the redness is still there. might take her to the gp again.

If you're worried when you see the GP, then mention her too, I'm sure they'll be happy to check quickly and then prescribe if necessary.

Abbey,

If you have time so a search on here for thrush advice and also print off this to take to the GPs with you info.

You may struggle to get fluconazole prescribed. I ended up buying it from abroad but it didn't work anyway. I had thrush for ages and it was awful. This was with DD2 so I knew that bfing could be good, otherwise I'm sure I'd've given up.

My top tips are:

Use Milton for any dummies/pumps/bottles etc. as thrush is very hard to kill. Even boiling may not kill it.

Use Extract of Grapefruit Seed (Citricidal) or white vinegar for washing your bras and any cloth nappies/towels. You can get Citricidal from health food shops etc.

Use the above on your nipples too. I also took it as a supplement (Exspore, which you can but online, but you can get other brands too).

Always remember that bfing should, and can be, pain free and enjoyable.

I got fluconazole today! Lucky the GP I saw today is very very good, hope it will work. Laundrylover, it sounds awful, my dd doesn't take dummy, but all that washing sounds like hard job......I wonder how moms can keep the bf going with all these probs.....my mother in law has been pressurizing me to give it up from day 1.

Brilliant! Sod MiL. Anytime she annoys read howbreastfeedingworks.com/2008/04/12/reasons-to-be-proud/

Abbey,

Glad you got the Flucon - did you get the full 10 day dose?

Mine didn't have dummies either but it was my breast pump that was harbouring the thrush.

I would recommend getting some Extract of Grapefruit Seed anyway as it should clear the thrush from your system.

Bfing isn't always stressful you know - when it clicks it's fab!!! Mind you DD2 will be 3 in spring and is still a booby addict....maybe it's too easy!

Laudrylover, thanks. I did get a ten day course. the pain the breasts are much improved, but my dd is still refusing to be feed when i am in sitting position. went to see the nurse, i dont have thrush down there, which is quite good. what's all this silent reflux about? a lot moms seem to mention it. dd does arch in pain when i feed her. coz they can speak, soooo difficult to figure out what is wrong! Your DD2 is a very lucky girl! I'd like to do it for 4 more months - dd will be 8 month old, but having so much probs just make me what to give up at 6 months......

sorry, i mean they can't speak

I've had 7 days treatment, my dd's tongue is still white on the back, do I need to get more medication for her?? Apparently some Gp has complained to the health visitor about me going in to the surgery too oftern about this trush! only coz the first 2 didn't know its Thrush, they told me its colic, I mean they kept saying do breastfeeding, its the best, but not many doctors know about the illness related to the breastfeeding!