Thrush???

[JillJill32]

I've been breast feeding exclusively for nearly 10 weeks now. It hasn't been a smooth ride, with latch problems and sore nipples etc. But we had seemed to have got through the sore nipple phase and DD seemed to be attaching better when i started to get this deep breast shooting pains.

There is no external sign of thrush on me (i don't think) or in her mouth but she has been having latch problems again, particularly on one side (lots of lip smacking) and causing my nipples to be pretty sore again.

Have spoken to health visitor (told me to Google!) and to doctor (can't tell over the phone, wants to see me, appointment next Tuesday)

Has anyone any idea whether this could be thrush despite no external signs? Obviously really hope it's not, but maybe early treatment could solve the breast pain and latch issues... ????

Also, i don't want to be dismissed by the doctor, have an idea that he will poo poo the idea of thrush. Can i ask him to take a swab or whatever to definitely rule it out??

Appreciate any advice you might have. Ta.

Hi

Don't think GP will rubbish your thrus idea at all.

I EBFed for 6 months but didn't have thrush.

However I went thru a stage at around 3 months where I got pain in my boobs. Did go and see about it but nothing to do with thrush or latch. Just my let down was very slow at that point in time and I found it a bit painful once the milk was flowing and DD was a boobmonster and sucked with the ferocity of a barracuda.

I stopped it by (this sounds a bit dodgy) massaging the boob with little downwards strokes before sticking DD on (assuming she wasn't howling with hunger).

That said you may have thrush but there are other symptoms with it too. Like: Are your nipples painful when cold and are they really pink and shiny (I thought mine were but was wrong). Also I think the shooting pains continue after you've stopped feeding with thrush.

Also it can be difficult to diagnose on sight I've heard.

Lastly your HV told you to Google it!!! Argh. Honestly. So much for supporting BFing mothers!! Argh. And again Argh!

You could phone La Leche league. They've got good advice or just have a look on their website.

Hope you have happy BFing

Thanks skandi

My nipples do get painful when cold, and can go blue when DD has fed, and white in the cold... but i've always sort of had this - bad circulation and- i think i may have a touch of Reynauds syndrome. It's not too too bad though.

Not sure if shiny really, they are very smooth sometimes (but not when cold!) and my nipple practically disappears, and loses it's shape sometimes. Which in turn makes it difficult to get her latched on, arg.

I had thrush in my ducts and took this leaflet with me to the GP. It definitely was thrush as it responded to the fluconazole. It was agony.

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

I've not used it but have you seen this...

www.lansinoh.com/products/latch-assist

Good luck with getting it sorted out

Thanks sunny I have printed this out to take with me to the gp.

Never seen that product, but i have noticed that after expressing milk my nipple is much more standy out/ i.e. bigger. Maybe try a few minutes expressing next time. Tried a nipple shield but that was agony, and didn't work really.

I am so tired of all this hassle. It may have been was naive of me to think this but i thought bf would be so easy, so natural. I have never considered formula prior to having babies but i totally see why people do now. (After 1 day i was thinking this!) I am reluctant to stop though as nutritionally i still believe breast is best. It's so bloody hard though!

One question - do they ever take a swab to diagnose, of just look at the evidence in front of them...?

No swabs here, bfn has this info...
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/Differential_Diagnosis_of_Nipple_Pain_March_2009.pdf

You're doing really well, keep asking for help until it's sorted, from helplines, drop ins, at one point I went back to the maternity ward for help. Hopefully you have a good gp.

I thought bfing would be easy too, and it can be, but not for me. My DS is 11.5 weeks and for the last month it's been lovely, pain free and really special but I'd rather give birth every day than go through that pain again!

Jill, I have the same problem as you, shooting pains deep in the breast. I went to the GP and suggested thrush of the milk ducts, but the GP said no, because I have no visible signs of thrush on the nipples. My baby has no signs in her mouth either. However, my health visitor has told me she thinks it is thrush. So it is now a matter of trying to find a GP within the practice who is prepared to believe it might be thrush and prescribe fluconazole. It's very frustrating. In the meantime, I am taking painkillers and probiotics. I also spoke to a lady on some breastfeeding helpline, who recommended coating the nipples in gentian violet.

Rene i had heard that about Gentian Violet- but wondered if that was just for baby and external symptoms? (so haven't tried yet) You have to use a lot and it's supposed to work in a few days.