Not sure what to do next.

jamiefour

I was told last week I had thrush and given apno and told pump for 24 hours. DD had no signs of it. Used the cream and put her back on 24 hours later. The next day I wake up with horrible burning nipples. I can't even keep her on its so bad. I call my Doctor again and they tell me I probably had an allergy to something in the cream. I should scrub nipples with unscented soap and they put me on diflucan. They say wait another 24 hours and pump and then try again. This was Monday. It's now Wednesday morning and I wanted to put DD back on but my nipples are still burning so I'm pumping again. I did buy earth mama nipple cream without the lanolin but have only used it once so I don't know if its helping. I'm very frustrated and want to go back to breastfeeding ASAP. Anyone experience this or have advice. TIA.

pepomntpat

Ouch!  Thrush is the worst! I had it and I nursed through it gritting my teeth and digging my nails into DH's arm.

I suggest you wash everything that touches your nipples or DD's mouth in hot water. Don't reuse anything before washing.

Go topless as much as you can to air out your nipples. Soak your nipples in a vinegar solution after every feeding.  

Do not overwash your nipples. It was one thing to get the cream off, but don't do it now. It will just encourage more growth and dry them out. Rinse with water and vinegar and leave them alone.

I only used Nystatin cream and I used it after every feeding. It is possible the dosage they have you on is just not high enough.

I know others have used Gentian Violet and grapefruit seed extract with success. I never tried them because I couldn't find them locally and didn't want to wait for a delivery, but you might be able to find them. 

 

biggdaddy4605

Thrush sucks!  I nursed but it was painful as hell!  The vinegar wash, I think, helped the most.  I even use vinegar in my laundry now just because I wasn't sure what all had been touched by my nips.  I used the grapefruit seed extract once.  I actually had to wait 2 days for the cream so I was just using the vinegar wash on my nips and used a q-tip for inside DD's mouth after a feeding.  Pain in the butt, however, worth it!

jess!ca

Get your LO checked by the pedi to be sure there's no thrush in that little mouth!  DD had it and I couldn't see it.  We battled it for more than 6 weeks and it was awful.  I had to do 2 rounds of diflucan.  Be sure they are giving you enough (higher loading dose the first day, and then 14 days) and be sure you treat LO with nystatin if possible. 

Don't just wash your stuff -- BOIL EVERYTHING.  I boiled all pump parts, toys, bottles, pacis -- basically anything that touched baby's mouth and milk every day for 10 mins at a rolling boil.  I stopped letting her play with toys that couldn't be boiled.  (I know, mean and crazy, but it was BAD!)

Wash all your clothes (shirts, bras,etc) in HOT water with vinegar in the wash.  Don't re wear anything.  Wash all spit rags, sheets, baby clothes in the same.

Go topless when possible.  APNO helped me, but if it won't work for you, can you try something like Lotramin AF on your nips?  You can wipe it off before feeding.  I also did the vinegar wash on my breasts after feeding and that seemed to help.

GL!  Thrush was by far the worst part of BFing for me, and I had no idea how bad it could be.  I am sorry you are dealing with it!