I can't seem to rid myself of nipple thrush. I wash my nipples after every feed in a mixture of water and bicarb, air dry, apply daktarin (which I also apply to DS's mouth 4x/day). I've switched to yeast free bread, I am taking a super strong probiotic by bioceuticals, I've been to the GP and completed a course of Diflucan. I wash my bras and hang them in the sunshine. I sit topless in the backyard for 10 minutes/day and walk around shirtless as much as I can (although leaking milk makes this a bit messy). I am using disposable breast pads, changing them after every feed (after the cleaning, drying, daktarin routine). I purchased a powder of infant probiotics that I put on my nipples before a feed (once per day). I don't know what else to do and I am so uncomfortable. Can I take another round if Diflucan (3 tablets over 6 days) or is that too much for DS? Is the daktarin too much (I've been using it for over 2 weeks now)? I want to continue breastfeeding but this is just unbelievably painful and unpleasant. Please help! How do I get rid of this?
Get the GP to take a swab - there is probably a bacterial infection along with the fungus. Kenacomb is one ointment that is available for treating combined infections.
Make sure that sheets and towels and bras get a hot water wash too, and sterilize any expressing equipment you may be using.
Stopping breastfeeding isn't going to get rid of the thrush.....
Head back to your GP, and ask for a swab test. Kenacomb might be the bomb for you . I hope it resolves soon for you, it sounds like you're doing it tough ATM. I commend you on all your efforts to get rid of it, what a superstar! You'll get there, I promise you there is such a thing as pain-free breastfeeding
Yeah I was going to say the same thing...quite often there can be a bacterial thing going on at the same time and you need to treat for both at once. I found disposable breast pads to be problematic, and reverted to cloth ones, changing them frequently.
Thanks everyone - I've taken some notes and will call the GP first thing in the morning - they are usually good about fitting me in same day. My pain is extreme on my right breast, not so bad on the left so I can see how if I get rid of whatever is going on, breastfeeding will be enjoyable - but right now it's just horrible - I have tears from the pain when DS latches on to my left breast. I also just notice a new development with my left nipple - there are 2 white spots on my nipple - these were not there yesterday.
question re: sterilizing (although I'm stopping expressing until this gets cleared) - the breast shield (I'm not sure what to call it - but it's the piece of equipment that suctions to your breast - cannot be boiled - so how can I sterilize it?) - I'll need to use it once I've cleared up this mess and I wouldn't want to reinfect myself.
To try and answer your question, you may be able to cold sterilise it (ie. use Miltons). May I ask why you will need to use it? Are you currently using it?
Put the breast shields through the dishwasher if you can. Or wipe them with rubbing alcohol and then rinse very thoroughly.
The white spots could also be the tips of blocked ducts - if the whole boob starts to ache (rather than just the nipply area) then you need to unblock the ducts by either rubbing them with a warm washer or piercing with a sterile needle if that fails.
The ABA helpline if you want to cry on a "real" person is 1800mum2mum.
Also - if the breast shield is the wrong size for your nipple then you can also get really sore. You need to have the nipple sliding easily in - not getting stuck on the side (shield too small), and not sucking in lots of boob (shield too big).
Well, I've been to the GP - same GP I saw last week who examined my breasts and prescribed Diflucan. She was shocked the Diflucan didn't clear up the thrush and upon re-examining my breasts she thought they looked "worse" (reddish in some areas and very tender to the touch...not just the nipples). She believes I have an infection (early early mastitis??) and believe it or not, put me on more antibiotics. I expressed my concern about being on antibiotics again but she was adamant that this is what I needed. I am also seeing her again on Wed afternoon - so 72 hours of antibiotics will be in my system - to re-examine. She also did take a swab culture at my request and will have the results on Wed - she did say that these are often useless because human skin has bacteria on it all of the time. She also said that if the antibiotics cause thrush again, I can take diflucan but she believes I will not need it - and if I do, it will be a single does. I'm also still taking the probiotics and putting daktarin on me but she asked me to give DS a break from the daktarin. I really hope she is right - if I am taking antibiotics for no reason and increasing the risk of recurring nipple thrush, I will be devastated.
Initially she asked me to stop breastfeeding and use only EBM via the bottle for 2-3 days - I explained that I really did not want to do that. So she recommended nipple shields and said we will revisit depending on how things seem on Wed. I purchased the nipple shields but haven't yet used them - I'm so not keen on them but at the same time am desperate for whatever is going on with my breasts to come to an end.
I'm also worried about all these drugs flowing through to DS - something I expressed to the GP and she told me that I shouldn't worry about this at the moment (and she wasn't concerned) and that I need to fix whatever is going on.
These drugs will not have a significant effect on DS. The benefits of your milk far outweigh the risks of these particular medications.
I think she is correct about the mastitis - thrush shouldn't make things tender and red. And killing the mastitis bugs needs to take priority over the fungus.
Hopefully you will feel better in yourself quickly once the mastitis clears.
Hugs Hun you really are doing everything you possibly could be doing.
Firstly this could be something else other than thrush. I know that you really don't want to take the antibiotic but I would suggest giving it a try. (please pm me what type of antibiotic they are as mil is a mw and complains that GP's always give the wrong antibiotic first time and wait for you to come back again. So I will check for you xx)
The reason you have been suggested to use a shield is because of the pain I am guessing. It's a good idea but comes with it's own problems. I was on one snd would sterilize it in the steam sterilizer. You will have to sterilize everything that comes in contact with your bb until this has gone for at least a week after symptoms (I would think) Another negative is you don't want DS to get reliant on the shield. Have you had someone look st your attachment? If it is blocked ducts it could be due to this.
I found at the start of my bfing journey my nipples were painful but if the pain did not ease during the feed then I would look at my attachment again (one day I had two nipples on one bb. Lol).
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Desperate for help with nipple thrush
. I hope it resolves soon for you, it sounds like you're doing it tough ATM. I commend you on all your efforts to get rid of it, what a superstar! You'll get there, I promise you there is such a thing as pain-free breastfeeding
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