Argh sore nipples, oral thrush

Just when things were looking settled & I thought I knew what I was doing... even with issues I was confident with bf... then... the oral thrush set in. I noticed Jovie's tongue got a "thicker" layer of white on it & she started having blisters on the insides of her gums & cheeks... then I noticed that my nipples became really painful during & after a feed for ages. So I thought it was thrush, chemist wouldn't give me the treatment until I saw a GP, we have a GP appt today... SOOOO.... I have endured 2 days of this & now Jovie is wanting to feed more frequently, like every 2 hours which would be fine but it kills & now my supply is dropping and last night I gave some EBM so I could have a break & still didn't have enough for her the next feed. :frown: I'm just frustrated, I called the ABA to try & get into seeing a lactation consultant or to go to the next meeting to have someone watch me feed & help... but everyone is away in this area until New Year....

So I'm just venting because this is hard. And I wanted it to be easier this time around, last time I didn't have cracked nipples, or thrush or anything like this... just a child that would scream the house down every feed and feed every 2 hours for the first 3 months.

You poor thing, thrush is not nice :( It's weird that your chemist wouldn't give you the treatment, I'd be trying a different one! I have bought nystatin drops over the counter a couple of times with no problems. They help really quickly.

Christy, can you get some Fast Tract? It's super potent pro-biotics.... you can give some to Jovie too, but the probiotics will be passed from you to her too...

Often they give you oral thrush treatment to put on your nipples which transfers to bubs as well as ... oh whats it called little drops for bubs mouth. It does hurt but it will get better. In the meantime you can treat your nipples with adult oral thrush cream (the meds they put in adults mouth) and then just wipe off excess before feeds... it will at least help you iykwim.

Goodluck today! You are a super mumma doing a super job :) Don't forget that!

*hugs*
Cailin

Thanks shannon you are a fountain of information ;) Nystatin & Daktaral are what we used too :) Just make sure Nystatin is ok for her age as I think they questioned that with Seth.

*hugs*
Cailin

It just goes to show that breastfeeding isn't easy, but its well worht it Christy. Stick out the rough times, you'll get to the promised land soon, and it will be a piece of cake :)
I hope the thrush clears up nice and quick for you.

Nipple shields can effect the milk going to the baby by 30% so be careful of those. Also Fast Tract is organic and will work quickly to boost up both of your numbers of good bacteria - thrush is an imbalance of good and bad bacteria - the side with the most soldiers wins. Creams can fix it yes, but Fast Tract will fix and prevent future outbreaks, as it goes to work in your body and forms colonies of good bacteria. In times of stress and exhaustion its very easy for the balance to be out of whack.

Arggh -lost my first post. Anyway so I will now be brief.

After having been a thrush suffer for years (including a near impossible to kill bout of nipple thrush) I second about trying Fast-tract, it was worked wonders for me.

okay! Fast track it is, as now I have to be on antibiotics as well for something else... I got the thrush treatment today (Dakarin thanks Shannon ;) )

Good luck with it all Christy, we had thrush a while ago and it's SO not fun hey, just as you think you're getting it all together...
I know some chemists are reluctant to give the Daktarin gel because some mums gave it on a spoon instead of rubbing it in bub's mouth so bub gagged on the gel...but as long as you know to rub it on your nipples and in Jovie's mouth...or perhaps you just have a wierd chemist.

My dr also said to make sure you keep your nipples dry, cos the goodness and temperature of breastmilk can help thrush grow - she suggested olive oil or lansinoh as a barrier, to help keep milk off your nipples. Or just Daktarin. Oh and apparently thrush doesn't like sunlight either (just don't get burnt nipples! :eek:)

Good luck with it all, the Fast Tract and Daktarin, and BIG sympathies from me cos I remember how much it SUCKED! :)

YEs thanks Shannon!!

christy if the fast track isn't effective, i swear by difflucon 1 i know it is meant for vaginal thrush but i have had thrush (nipple) with my 3 boys and with oscar i took that pill and it cleared it up straight away. amazing stuff.
beckles

Well... still have oral &* nipple thrush but I have been on antibiotics for something else in the meantime. We have just started the fast-track 2 days ago & am getting Kelly to get me some more info...

We've been using the nylstat drops for Jovie & daktarin cream for me...

This is gonna sound funny but have you been going bra free? I found I needed to air them LOL! So if you can air those babies as much as possible LOL!

Goodlluck! Sending you thrush free vibes... You are doing sooo welll!

*hugs*
Cailin

I don't feel well LOL... feeling very teary everytime its time for a feed. Poor Jovie is refusing the breast big time atm. I was on the phone to the ABA yesterday who suggested feeding both sides every few minutes swapping sides so the let down is easier to get because once she has to really suck she starts screaming. So I've been doing that every feed 6 times or so and then I can't do it anymore & she's still hungry so we've topped up with EBM and she's happy drinking a bottle & content afterwards, which is soo frustrating. I've been expressing every hour to keep up supply but its not going too well... its starting to dwindle. I started the aktavite recipe today and am going to get some fenergeek tablets this arvo. Not much else I can do atm. I keep saying I'm doing my best and its okay... its not my fault... BREAST is BEST! If I didn't have support or encouragement for continuing breastfeeding I can see how easy it is to stop. Its hard hard work atm.

CHRISTY so sorry to hear that your still having problems with the thrush, bugger it.....i dont blame you for being so upset at feed time and then having to express on top of that you poor thing. i hope things start to really clear up for you soon and feeding becomes easier for you all, hopefully witha all the nipple stimulation from feeding both sides more will keep your supply going for you. wish i could give you a big hug.

i have just had nipple thrush myself, after replying to this, oscar has oral thrush too. i took the diflucan 1 and it was better by the next day and gone by the next. oscar is still having the nilstat but he has gone onto AB's for an ear infection so will keep it up for him. i also give him pro biotic, the powder so he's system has a chance of getting some good bacteria in his tract.

good luck
beckles

Christy - keep telling yourslef that you are doing your best. Dont let yourself get down, everything you are doing is spot on, and I'll just suggest one more option.
Relax a little. Please. I know everything seems like its against you at the moment, but relaxation is one of the best thing for you to get your supply up and going again. Everytime you feed Jovie, have a look at your body position. Are you comfy, are your shoulders relaxed, have you got 30mins to let her do her thing, and have you had your glass of water with each feed.
Take a deep breath and know that you can get through this. Take a few days off from the racing around, let Christmas happen without you trying to plan, and just chill.
What makes you think your milk supply is dwindling? Maybe its just settling down?
You can do this - know that its all going to be OK, the hurdles will slowly be removed one by one, and in a few months you will look back and feel proud of what you have done.
You're doing a great job. :D

Thanks guys :) I do appreciate it.

Fi, I am trying to relax... it is hard though. Will try to do more hypnobirthing relaxations maybe...I have been trying to relax. I do have a glass of water & basically as much time as Jovie will take available. I'm not doing Christmas this year, I mean I haven't gone shopping we aren't going anywhere... staying put so thats one thing.

I haven't been well. I've been on some massive antibiotics in the past few weeks and my body isn't doing crash hot. I've now got a virus and my allergies which haven't visited in ages are going full force, so I know why things aren't getting better quickly, but its still annoying.

I think my supply is dwindling because everytime I express I get less & less. So at first I would get small amounts but last week even when I expressed I could get 60mls easy enough... now I can barely get 20mls even at 4am when Jovie hasn't fed yet. Jovie "acts" hungry but I think more so its the pain of sucking than the fact that I don't have enough milk, but by substituting the EBM I know I'm not getting as much milk out of my bb's to help keep supply up. But until the thrush settles then its hard to work with Jovie on the breast to increase my supply.

Hopefully some hypnobirthing relaxation will help Christy. Next feed just put your feet up, close you eyes and try not to think of the pain that is attachment.
If she is pulling on and off, just sit her back for a second, take a deep breath, and try again with a calm mind.
It must completely suck being so unwell - maybe if expressing isn't helping your supply you should flag it? Are you able to put Jovie on more often instead, or does she just not want it?
Maybe because you are really conscious about how much you are getting when you are expressing, you're not getting a good letdown, so its a cycle?

I dont know - just know I feel for ya!!! Poor chook :(

Yeah... its good to hear other ideas too though, or just to know that you are doing the best you can. Jovie yesterday & today is just refusing to suck on my breasts, she will start to suck and then stop before let down can even happen now. I am persistent & have put her on my breasts whenever I can but she still won't suck well. I may give expressing a miss unless my bb's feel full... it may help me to relax. I had some good nudey nipple time today....

Christy keep in mind that Jovies mouth might be a little sore too. This could be why her sucking or interest is alittle off.

About this time your supply should be settling down. It's quite normal for you to notive a decline in your bm, or to even notice that your bb's are getting as full as they were in the very early days. This is waht they are meant to do. You can't always walk around with engorged over filled breasts. Breasts work on supply and demand which I'm sure you already know.

Have you got the medicine yet ?? You will find that it works really quick. As much as I don't want to say it but maybe you can try using a nipple shield to get you through these painful days.

Good on you for having anked nipple time too. Oh make sure you change your breast pads regularly, the warmth and moistness of them is perfect for thrush breeding.

You are doing a fantastic job sweety. Believe in you and your body, and of course little Jovie. Relaxation is a fantastic thing too when feeding. Thats the great thing about bfing, it make syou sit down for 30 minutes or so to relax.

Bump...

I have just got the Daktarin oral gel for myself, and I thought I could use it on him too. Can I? Or do I have another trip to the pharmacy?
It doesn't say in the instructions that there is an age limit, so I'm just hoping I do the 1/4t and put it in small amounts at the front of his mouth. And I guess I splash it on my nipples.
Help??

ETA - I have a drs appt tomorrow anyway, so I'll find out for sure if it is thrush then, but aparently it wont hurt him now if I give it to him. The pharmacist wasn't the normal one, and he was useles.......

fi i have used daktarin on new bubbas and then spread it on my nipples unfortunately i am allergic to it and it is excrusiating when i use it hence have to use other methods. i also cut out sugars and yeast and take inner health.
hope it clears up soon
beckles

1/4 of teaspoon was what I was using on Maggie when she was about 1 week old. It did seem to help, but not get rid of it completely. If that doesn't work try the Nilstat oral drops.

I had very bad nipple thrush when I was b/f.
So much so that the RWH prescribed me a bottle of gentian violet.
I didnt end up using it though, its still on the shelf at home.

I hope you are both feeling better Christy.

:

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So much so that the RWH prescribed me a bottle of gentian violet.

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I ended up getting that as well. That combined with nilstat tablets for myself was the only thing that killed it in the end. Pity it is such hard stuff to get hold of, as that was what was recommended to me in the first place, I just couldn't find where to get it until much later.