[spottydog]

Hi ladies,

Bub and i have had a eventful start to feeding, and we have been visiting the MCHN to get some advice.

Ive been exeriencing very sore breast/nipple on one side and a bit of discomfort on the other side.

At todays visit it turns out bub has thrush, which i suspected last week but the other nurse dismissed it! Anyway we bought some stuff for bubs mouth and i have been given some tips on how to care for my nipples, could this be the pain im experiencing? I hope it is, because its easily fixed.

Any tips from anyone on how to get rid of it and to stop it in its tracks? For both me and bub and to prevent it in the future?

How do we get it, is it bub or me?

Id love as much advice as you can give me. I get so close to giving up but dont want to this time round.

Cheers.

spottydog.

[!momo!]

I just got over a bout of thrush with my 8 month old. Yes my nipples were extremely sore.

We used a combination of nilstat drops and the Daktarin oral gel. You need to treat both of you to stop it being passed back and forth you use the gel in bubs mouth and on your nipples. Make sure your nipples get plenty on air time the thrush thrives in warm moist environments. If your using plastic backed disposable breast pads you might want to switch to cloth.

Either you or bubs can cause it. If you have a cracked nipple it can form there or in out case bubs was teething so putting his hands in his mouth a lot. Just watch out you don't develop it below as well I did so had to treat there as well. Wash all your towels and bras and dry in the sun and wash hands before feeding bubs.

Keep treating for a week after symptoms disappear.

Ours was gone within a week my nipples stayed tender for a week after that

[Goggie]

Had nipple thrush 2 weeks ago but bub didn't have it in his mouth. Daktarin is the bomb

The pain is excrutiating, like someone is stabbing your nipple over and over again. It's awful but easily treated and went away in 4 days but like pp said, keep treating a little longer.

I hope it heals quickly for both of you

[spottydog]

Thanks girls, keep all the adivce coming.

I use cloth pads and have plenty as a 5 pair pack arrived in the post today too, so i can change every feed.

When you say treat after it goes, for both? Or jsut my nipples? Silly question i would expect you mean both? But the nilstat said on the box to use for 48hrs.

spottydog

[!momo!]

Yep treat both of you. I ended up using the Daktarin because DS wouldn't let me near him with the nilstat the Daktarin says treat for a week.

[spottydog]

Is daktarin for the mouth? What is it like a cream? If i have to care for us both for a longer period of time i will look into something else.

The bottle of nilstat is 24 doses so thats 6 days worth, minus what i rub on me.

spottydog.

[JoMarch]

When I had nipple thrush early in the BFing journey, Daktarin oral gel for both me & DS was what worked, and yes keep treating for about a week after the symptoms are gone. Yes, nipple thrush is incredibly painful (for me, anyway) and led to a large crack down the side of my nipple. You can also air your boobs out in the sun (yep, sounds weird but the sunlight/fresh air helps). I did this in the backyard every day when we had the episode of thrush

Think the other posts have covered the rest. Good luck!

[JoMarch]

Is daktarin for the mouth? What is it like a cream? If i have to care for us both for a longer period of time i will look into something else.

The bottle of nilstat is 24 doses so thats 6 days worth, minus what i rub on me.

spottydog.

Daktarin is a gel (meant for mouth), however you can use it on your nipples as well (and I found it nicer, less sticky etc than nilstat).

[Burgundy]

Hi OP,

Do you see a lactation consultant? I was doing the daktarin/nilstat but wasn't strong enough to get rid of it. Ended up taking several courses of oral fluconazole which helped but there is some disagreement on how much can be given during breastfeeding so definitely see an expert before you try it. Is worth throwing everything you can at it though as it can really hang around! Oral and topical probiotics also really helpful - break a capsule, make a paste and spread on your nipples - just wash off before you feed. Hope it clears up soon - remember the pain well!

[lucky 2]

http://www.thewomens.org.au/breastandnipplethrush
The link above is to the Royal Womens Hospital in Melbourne, it is not designed to be a substitute for medical advice as it is an information sheet for women with nipple and/or breast thrush.
Most women would not put nilstat on their nipples, they often used Daktarin or Mycostatin cream, you can talk with your Pharmacist about this.
As per the link above and pp's you do need to treat your baby and your nipples.
I hope that helps.
All the best.