It looks like milk that wont rub off - what is it?

Hi,

My 7 week old has what looks like milk coating on her lips (no where else - not inside her mouth) and I would like to know what it is.

I called the Queensland Health Line and they said it could be one of two things, it could be sucking blisters OR it could be thrush.

She is feeding fine, a little restless, has no rash or temperatures or any other symptoms presenting and it dosent seem to bother her - but it looks terrible and I wondered if it might get worse.

The nurse said its probably fine but if I am worried to see a GP.

My breasts are also sore, I get a pain in them after she feeds and they are a little itchy.

My questions are this:

1) how do you treat either condition?
2) If it is thrust, can she give it to me? How do I treat it if she dose?
3) If it is thrush do I have to disgard any expressed milk during this period?

Thanks,

Jaans:redface:

it sounds like thrush hun, yes you both need treatment because you'll keep infecting each other, keep feeding as per normal but you'll need some nilstat and daktarin from the chemist for you both

It does sound like it could be thrush. Thrush can be hard to identify because sometimes you can't see it at all, and it can different in different cases. If it is thrush, there probably is a little bit in your daughter's mouth too, but it can be hard to see - have a look under the tongue, inside the bottom lip etc. On your nipples, it can look shiny, flaky, red, or there can be white spots. But sometimes there are none of these things, just pain. Many mums describe the pain as a stabbing pain, and the pain continues after a feed.

Thrush generally occurs when you are run down, which is pretty normal for a new mum. Also, if you have had any antibiotics or nipple damage it is more likely that you will get thrush. It is generally recommended that new mums (or pregnant mums) have probiotics if they need antibiotics as this will reduce the risk of thrush.

As Olive said, if it is thrush, you will need to treat both yourself and your little one. As thrush is very easily transmitted, many mums find it helps to do the following things:

- Firstly, with meds, daktarin mouth gel for the baby and daktarin cream for the mum seems to be the most effective treatment. Some chemists recommend nilstat for the baby instead as the gel needs to be carefully applied. However, the nilstat doesn't work as well and using the same brand for mum and bub usually works better. WIth the gel, don't use the spoon to apply the gel, as it needs to be rubbed on properly - a lump of gel in the mouth can be a choking hazard, but it's fine if it's rubbed in, so use your finger to apply, not the spoon provided. If the chemist is reluctant to sell you the gel, explain that you know about the need to rub it in and not put a lump of it in the baby's mouth.

- Thrush is a sign of lowered immunity, so having a good diet, lots of rest, and little stress helps to get over it. Obviously these things can be very hard for a new mum, but do the best you can. Probiotics can give your immunity a boost too.

-Everything that goes in the baby's mouth (except your nipples!) needs to be boiled for at least 3 minutes - this includes dummy, toys, bottles if you are using them.

- Washing hands frequently with warm, soapy water (not the antibacterial gels) can help prevent further transmission.

- Wash towels after every use and sheets as often as you can. With all washing, put some white vinegar in the prewash.

- Treat any thrush that exists in the family - this can show up in a variety of ways - vaginal thrush, bad nappy rash, jock itch, tinea, under arms, under the breasts etc. If your partner has any tinea or jock itch that also needs treating or you will all continue to reinfect each other. If you have signs of thrush elsewhere, an oral thrush tablet might be helpful.

- if your breasts are very painful, see a breastfeeding friendly GP to see if there is a bacterial infection as well.

I hope this helps hun :hug:

HI Olive/MantaRay,

I went down to the chemist yesterday and sussed out Daktarin and Nilstat.

Bub wouldnt take the NIlstat, hated it, so I used the Daktarin on her (the Chemist said the only reason it has a 6 month plus recommedation is because of the incorrect application of it - very thick gel which poses a choking hazzard if applied incorrectly) the Daktarin worked a treat.

Her lips are almost healed and my breasts refeeling remarkably better and she has yet to vomit. Just stil a little restless is all. :clap:

Thanks for the advice!

Jaans xo

P.s

The chemist said that I dont have to disgard any expressed milk - which is great.

wonderful to hear things are on the improve!!!