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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

ok i think i have thrush, my doctor had never heard of it.. some help please?

21 replies

TheNatty · 31/07/2009 23:59

i have pink nipples, which go purple at feeding.
shooting pains in my breasts during a feed and for about an hour after.
if my nipples are cold it really hurts, same for getting out the bath i cannot put a towel anywhere near them.
no signs in baby (as yet)

does this sound like thrush to you?
my doctor had never heard of it in breasts and looked at me like i was a crazy person.

miserable as only just got over severe cracked bleeding nipples, and now this

OP posts:
pseudoname · 01/08/2009 00:10

latch could still not be right. have you seen someone to help with P & A?

pseudoname · 01/08/2009 00:11

poor you. yes it does sound like thrush but...

Original poster
TheNatty · 01/08/2009 00:23

yes i have had latch checked wednesday this week and two weeks before that.
she said its spot on despite the fact my LO wont open his mouth very wide!

OP posts:
pseudoname · 01/08/2009 00:31

what is the baby's behaviour during feed?

have you taken ABs recently?

who checked latch?

can you get it checked again?

Original poster
TheNatty · 01/08/2009 00:34

had it checked by two different bf counsillors at our local babycafe
no antibiotics
baby is pulling of the breast (partically on one side) all the time, he hasnt done this before.

i suffer from normal thrush anyway, i never seem to be rid of it no matter what i try.
am afraid it will be the same here.

OP posts:
ineedalifelaundry · 01/08/2009 00:36

I totally get what you're going through. I might have written your post 10 months ago!

I was also told by my midwife / health visitor / bf counsellors at baby cafe that my latch was really good, yet I was still in total agony. Thrush was also suggested as a possible cause (I can't believe your doctor never heard of it ) and I had most of the symptoms you describe and my DD had no symptoms.

I didn't have thrush. I still had issues with the latch (having also gone through cracked bleeding nipples). She was getting plenty of milk but the position just wasn't right for me. And like yours, she didn't open her mouth wide enough.

I had a BF consultant to come and see me in the end, and she made tiny adjustments to how I was holding her. It made a huge difference to the pain in my nipples. The main thing I remember changing was that I held her body much closer to mine. This meant that DD had to put her head much further back to access my nipple and had to open her mouth wider too.

Also google 'biological nuturing' for a different approach to latching on.

HTH

pseudoname · 01/08/2009 00:39

off to bed.

go to the Breastfeeding Network website.

they have a v good link to thrush in breasts. print off take to GP.

baby on knee.

will check yr thread in the AM

hairymelons · 01/08/2009 00:44

I had thrush a couple of months ago. It's not very nice so I hope you don't have it.

The fact you have pain when you're not feeding might be an indication it is thrush. My doc didn't quite know what to do with me either but she did make phone calls to BF specialists etc. and found out what to prescribe me and my baby to clear it up.

You can take paracetamol/ ibuprofen if it's painful for the time being. I was given brilliant information from La Leche League about how to treat (wash nips in a cup of cooled boiled water with a teaspoon of vinegar mixed in apparently!) and what to ask the doctors/ chemists for as they don't all appear to be too clued up on it. The helpline number is 08451202918, they were most helpful

HTH

Original poster
TheNatty · 01/08/2009 05:12

thanks guys.
will print of leaflet and also ring those people tomorrow (if they are open on a saturday)

i am a bit annoyed with the GP, as i now have to wait all weekend.

oh and now i can add itchy to my symptom list, boobs driving me mad!

OP posts:
CarmenSanDiego · 01/08/2009 05:25

Please please look at my response on this thread. HCPs are often hopeless at diagnosing thrush and it's easy to treat. The pink, itchy nipples/boobs thing definitely sounds like thrush. Daktarin all the way! (I should buy shares in Daktarin, I've sworn by it for all my babies)

pseudoname · 01/08/2009 08:03

this link has helped MNers in the past with stubborn thrush infection. I thought you may like it because you have suffered with it a lot in the past.

I don't personally know the evils of thrush.

Original poster
TheNatty · 01/08/2009 09:49

ah ha! daktarin!
i have some i had a (sensing a theme here) yeast skin infection in pregnancy on my back, was given 3 tubes only needed 2.. so brand new tube in my kitchen!

im taking that leaflet in on monday, and going to demand tablets as i cant afford to buy enough over the counter.

OP posts:
hairymelons · 02/08/2009 00:06

Thrush is evil indeed. Forgot about that pamphlet on BF network website, it was v useful for my doctor. I can't BELIEVE they hadn't heard of thrush in the breast before.
Hope you get sorted soon

kitkatqueen · 02/08/2009 00:18

Thenatty,

Can you not ring the out of hours gp???

You have all the info you / the gp need on the bfn leaflet. You just need to get a prescription... Really hope you can get some fluconazole soon...

staylucky · 02/08/2009 13:38

Hiya I went to my gp for same on fri and got a totally useless doctor who gave me the wrong meds and wouldn't prescribe for babba as he has no symptoms. I was well angry. Called
my HV & MW who adv leaflet on breTfeeding network. When i got back to thebsurgery yhe HV had really kindly dropped the leaflet off for me!!

The doc wasn't impressed with being told what to do but aside from treating me like a neurotic idiot I got the right meds. Gps suck.

Been taking the tablets a couple of days an is much better already insist they look up the info hun x x

kitkatqueen · 02/08/2009 21:42

Good for you staylucky! I have had to wave the leaflet every time and tbh they never like being told what to do - I look on it as as public service now - educating gps

Mummy369 · 02/08/2009 23:24

GPs are notorious for being useless when it ccomes to diagnosing ductal thrush. This is different to thrush on the nipples - and it sounds like you have both. The daktarin will help topically but not systemically, so it will reduce the itching but not the sharp, shooting pains. Your baby already has symptoms - not feeding well on one side indicates he has an altered taste on that breast. You need to BOTH be treated at the same time, simple for baby - needs oral nystatin. You need to change your breastpads often - every hour is advisable and best to use disposables. You should boil wash your bras and tops, and babys clothes - this will help kill the yeast infection. You can buy acidophilus capsules at the health food shop, which you should take daily. And the GP needs to prescribe anti-fungal tablets - Fluconazole - for you. The Breastfeeding Network have a dedicated drug helpline and they will e-mail you the appropriate course of treatment. Print it and take it to your GP, together with the lists of research articles the BFN will include on the e-mail to you!

Good luck

DidEinsteinsMum · 02/08/2009 23:27

Have you heard of Rayaulds. It is possible to get it in the nipple area only and is fairly rare, but not unheard of.

Original poster
TheNatty · 03/08/2009 22:07

* copied from my other thread**

i won!!
i am sitting here now with:
fluconazole (150mg loading dose and 14 days @ 50mg)
daktarin cream 2%
daktarin oral gel 2%

teehee. i had to get the info out, and make her read through her medical manual thingy to prove that the tablets would do no harm.
she made me agree to formula feed for 14 days tho

bollocks to that, i know that the small trace amount in my milk will do no harm (if anything it will help clear it in him) no way am i ff and expressing for two weeks that is crazy.
but agreed to it to get the meds

thanks guys you have been really helpful

OP posts:
Original poster
TheNatty · 03/08/2009 22:10

DidEinsteinsMum i have heard of it, but my symptoms dont fit within the lists i have found online.
my circulation is pretty good tho

OP posts:
kitkatqueen · 03/08/2009 22:17

Thenatty, Thats fab news - can't believe a gp would ask u to ff for the 14 days but actually I can believe it because actually they still don't look at the info properly - there is less fluc in your breast milk than is given to preterm babies in nicu by a long way.

Good for you for nodding and smiling, tis an excellent plan and one I will probably be makling use of in the next 6 weeks. I'm not very optimistic that I will avoid thrush this time when I've had it each time with the last 3. Don't forget you can take paracetamol to help with the pain. Good Luck!

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