Please help - sore nipples/ thrush?

[Laugs]

Ds is 18 days old and breast fed. My nipples are in agony and I think we may have thrush. I think this because:

• he has white deposits around inside of lips and cheeks
• I have white-ish nipples
• It is painful long after I've fed
• I had vaginal thrush which was treated with a pessary the day before he was born
• We had antibiotics in labour (waters broken for too long)

I'm just back from the GP and she's prescribed the baby with Miconazole oral gel which is for fungal infections. She said she couldn't prescribe me an anti-fungal cream for my nipples unless I stop BF. So she's given me penicillin, in case it's a bacterial infection. I don't think this makes much sense: I'm pretty sure it's not mastitis and surely there's no point in treating the baby and not me? I spoke to a really helpful pharmacist who suggested I could use the baby's gel on my nipples too, but she also pointed out his medication says Do Not Use Under 4 Months. He is 18 days. (It said this in her pharmacist's book too).

I am at a loss what to do. I will be devastated if I have to stop feeding him, but at the same time am in so much pain.

Have you seen the Breastfeeding Networks info sheets on thrush and nipple pain? Could print and take to show your GP?

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/Thrush_FAQs_for_Mothers_March_2009.pdf

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/Differential_Diagnosis_of_Nipple_Pain_March_2009.pdf

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/BfN_Thrush_leaflet_Feb_2009.pdf

Laugs don't stop bf, there are things you can do to treat yourself too. Read the links attached above. There is cream you can get to put on your nipples, you are right in that you both have to be treated or you'll just reinfect. You need the equivalent of caneston 2% strength, you can buy it over the counter and their own brand will be cheaper. Smear it on after a feed, then wipe off any excess before the next feed. It's the same stuff as has been prescribed for your baby. He just has a thin layer of his gel wiped in his mouth.
Wash all your towels/sheets/nighties etc. at 60deg frequently.

Search mn for the thrush threads - I thought I had it last week and there's plenty of great advice in the archives.

It takes about 3 days to go from treatment so get started right away and hang on in there. Take paracetamol for the pain.

Hope you feel better soon

Thanks! I've spoken to GP again and she is wary of me using any cream as it means the baby will effectively be medicated twice when he's younger than the recommended age already(from my cream and his own treatment). She's asked me to see how it goes with just him being treated, but I'm not convinced by this. I asked her again though and she says she checked with the consultant paed at the hospital who agreed with her.

I'm using nipple shields now which is helping the pain and possibly(?) helping to keep my thrush away from him while his is treated, but I know the shields can cause their own problems.