I think I have thrush.
My LO does not have the tell tale white patches, but I have itchy, sunburned feeling nipples and occasional stab-tastic pains in them. I have no lumps or hard bits to indicate mastitis or plugged ducts. Just very itchy boobs.
I'm meeting with my LC tomorrow and I plan to call the ped and my GP as well, but I also know some people use more holistic / natural remedies. Any tips? Anyone have experience with going through a doctor versus trying to take care of it without doctor intervention? (Horror and success stories welcome.)
Re: Talk to me about Thrush...
I gave up when it did nothing after 5 days. Then I tried the vinegar washes and grapefruit seed extract. That did not work after 5 more days, it helped but was not clearing it fast enough for me. Then I did gentian violet and it was gone after one treatment. I did a second just for good measure. LO turned purple for about 24 hours but it was gone!
Good luck, it is so painful and annoying!
Mommy to J: Born 5/11/2010 & B: Born 8/26/2013
I had a very mild case a few weeks ago. Sun burnt feeling, itchy nips. LO had no signs other than fussier feedings. I did vinegar washed after each feeding and was religious about charging nursing pads after each wash. It went away in 2-3 days. Good luck!
M/C #2 - October 2016
MMC #1 - April 2016
I painted my nipple then fed LO to get in her mouth. Treated us both at once. I did it only once a day for two days, but it felt 100% better after day one.
Mommy to J: Born 5/11/2010 & B: Born 8/26/2013
I had it a while ago and it's so painful. My LO never had the symptoms in her mouth but she had a horrible yeast rash (further complicated by the fact that we cloth diaper). I followed the advice on this article and did everything except for the gentian violet. My OB was able to call in a script for APNO for me. I also did probiotics, GSE washes and capsules and I had a friend who's a PA call in a script for diflucan for me. It was gone in about 2 weeks. I also put the APNO on my LO's butt for her yeast rash which worked wonders. And, I broke apart a probiotic capsule and rubbed the medicine in LO's mouth and she never developed the white patches.
https://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12:candida-protocol&catid=5:information&Itemid=17
ETA: I also changed nursing pads after every use and tried to let my nips "air out" as much as possible. I don't think I wore a bra for weeks lol
Baby C - 08.23.13
I realize this sounds stupid, but I have no prior experience. With the vinegar washes, did you do your breasts and LOs mouth? Or how did you treat LO?
Sounds like I may be at it for awhile.
Thank you ladies for all the advice and well wishes!
Mommy to J: Born 5/11/2010 & B: Born 8/26/2013