Persistent nipple thrush

Hi All

This is the first time I have ever decided to participate in a forum (I normally just read for helpful advice) but the BB forum is so warm, embracing and helpful I have decided to dive in and see if anyone can help!

My little baby boy was born nearly 15 weeks ago and from the first week home from hospital we have had a super tough time with the breastfeeding.

Severely damaged nipples causing an infection at day 10 resulting in me coming off the right boob (expressing), feeding only on the left and giving the EBM to bub. Saw an LC at this stage.

We then developed damage to the left boob and our first bout of mastitis (4 weeks old). So we had to come off both bbs and using one of those monster double pumps we fed EBM to bubba for the next 10 days. After the 10 days we tried to get back to bf and of course enter breast refusal! Stayed at home a few days and finally coaxed bubba back onto the left boob and kept pumping the right (the right was so badly damaged it effectively had to regrow as the infection broke the tissue down so severely).

Essentially by 10 weeks old we got back to full bf (thanks to a lot of help from a very kind midwife who visited me at home twice a week) but we had had the nipple infection and numerous bouts of mastitis which led to a number of courses of antibiotics.

Enter the doctors visit which said "looks like you have nipple thrush, get Daktarin gel and apply after bf" (simple advice for a big problem, I think!)

This was nearly 5 weeks ago and I am suffering deep breast pain (radiating into my upper back) and red sore nipples. I have been prescribed fluconazole which I have been taking for 2 weeks now with little impact.

I ordered Fasttract and Inliven which arrived yesterday, fingers crossed I can overwhelm the thrush!

Still using the gel, taking the Fluconazole and probiotics.

Any advice from members who have successfully beaten the dreaded thrush would be greatly appreciated as the pain associated with feeding is getting to me and I am just so sick of having bf issues! I feel 15 weeks of this ordeal is enough!

Looking forward to pain-free, hassle-free feeding sometime soon!

What we now know is that thrush has been relatively over diagnosed, and if itdoesn' clears up quickly with the thrush treatments you have described then it isn't thrush. I would suggest you cease both and get kennacomb crime on prescription from the doctor. It has a 3 way action - anti fungal, anti bacterial and steroid to calm inflammation. Use after feeds and wipe off before the next feed. If it doesn't resolve you may get your doctor to swab your nipples to identify the bacteria and tailor an antibiotic to suit

No further advice than what Barb has said, just wanted to add that bloody hell you're a hero! What a journey! :hug: I really hope you bust that thrush soon.