help urgently need: thrush - or could it be normal pain?

[munteria]

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can help.

My baby is almost 3 weeks old, and I have noticed stabbing pain in both breasts after feeding, but can be up to 2 hours after feeding and mainly in the evening. my nipples are ok (not cracked or sore) but slightly itchy around the areole (?).

Is this thrush, or is it normal to get some breast pains (could it be let down??)

I had mastitis first time round - the anti-biotics gave me thrush so very keen to avoid it this time (I had a c-section both times and i believe they dose you up with anti-bi's which may have caused it).

i have a docs appointment booked today. i am keen to carry on bf so wonder whether I should take the medication anyway as dont want it to get worse, or should i carry on without any medication and see what happens? my baby still seems to be feeding ok at the moment.

does anyone know what the side affects of the thrush medication are for my baby?

any advice greatly appreciated!

If you have thrush you will need medication for both you and the baby. I had thrush and was given two sets of cream - one for my nipples and one for DD's mouth. It cleared up very quickly and there were no side effects for either of us.

Thrush for me has meant itching nipples, burning sensation in nipples after baby has fed, pains in breast at other times when not feeding. I also get shooting pains from let down but this is somehow deeper and less sharp.

I had thrush quite badly and tried creams for both me and my DS and then a week-long dose of fluconazole tablets for me. We were also incredibly careful about washing everything touched by my milk and his sick at hot temperatures. In the end after reading the Jack Newman website me and my GP conspired to take a 2 week course of fluconazole tablets and that completely got rid of it. That was when my DS was about 3 months and recently now that he is 9 months I started to get the symptoms again and this time have gone straight for the 2 week course and that has completely sorted it out.

As far as I can tell from talking to the GP and reading about it a small amount of the drug goes into the baby via the milk but this will also treat the baby. Its not ideal but for me it was either that or stop feeding altogether as was so uncomfortable.

I know that people suggest cutting back on sugar, taking acedophilus (sp?) tablets to treat gut etc but I've always been too desperate to do anything so sensible systematic!! But its worth doing if you can summon the energy.

Feel free to ask me if I've not mentioned anything

Doesn't sound like let down pain as it isn't co-indiciding with your let down, but after it.

Shooting pains certainly can be a sign of thrush in the milk ducts.
www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/thrush/thrush-resources.html

hi,

thanks so much for your speedy replys. really appreciated!

have looked on the websites and yes does appear to be thrush. cant believe this is happening again! dont want to get to the stage where my baby is in pain so will get it treated.

do you think i should start on grapefruit seed extract and acedophilus (as well as any gel prescribed by doctor for me and my baby) before starting on the fluconazole and see if that improves the pain in my breasts first?

any suggestions much appreciated?