Breastfeedimg Breast Pain - Thrush?

I have breastfed four babies for two years each and I can tell you I have my fair share of painful breast experiences!!
If your nipples are inflamed and red then it is thrush, you dont have to have been on antibiotics to get it, you could get it if your baby had a rash and you didnt wash your hands after changing the diaper, you could get it if someone who was dirty and didnt wash their hands held your baby or touched you and you breastfed right after.

if there are pink lines on your breast where the pain is, but no inflamed sore nipples, then its probably a breast infection and those are easier to cure (for me anyway)

for thrush, Gentian Violet worked in two days, i also ate yogurt and took acidopholus which is a vitamin you can find at any health food store.

for breast infection you want to take a a cold cabbage leaf and put it on your breast, then in the shower you want to soak your breast in hot (not too hot) water and expel the milk from the pained areas.

if it is neither, I would go to a gyno, since they are a specialist. if you can find a midwife they would probably do a better job of trying to help you. a doctor is just going to prescribe you meds so they get paid more.

ps i never took prescription meds for any of these and they went away faster with home remedies than the drs said they would with the meds! food for thought ;)

I've been battling thrush for weeks (baby on long term antibiotics). The tingling really sounds like thrush. Does your baby have white patches on sides of cheeks? Also, even with good latch my nipples were soar for the first few weeks. However tingling sounds like thrush. Are your nipples bright red or pink? I'll send you some good links.

http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=...

The problem with treating it is who to get help from. Pediatritions will give you Nistatin for baby (which only works 30% of the time). My pediatrition failed to even tell me I also needed to treat myself. Your best bet is the lactation consultant to tell you what to do and if prescriptions are needed, tell your physician exactly what you want instead of relying on the physician to get you and baby the rights meds.

The most natural place to start is the grape fruit seed extract. Gentian violet is a bit messy if you are unsure its thrush. Frankly, I'd start with and over the counter anti-fungal cream (just the kind used for athletes foot) on your nipples and if they feel better in a few days you know you are battling thrush. Then pick you treatment options and go to town with the laundry, disinfecting , and medicating.

It does not sound like thrush - it does sound like mastitis. You need antibiotics to clear it before it gets worse. You need to nurse a LOT on the infected side, but get the antibiotics. You will feel like a new woman in 24 hours. And FYI: not all women feel "ill" with mastitis. Many just feel that pain you are describing.

Oh, and it is the OBGYN who will write the script.

It doesn't sound like thrush to me, however, it sounds like mastitis. I had that with my son. Are your breast hot feeling or red? if so, then that sounds like mastitis. You would need to be on antibiotics because it is a breast infection. You can go do your ob/gyn or primary care physician. I couldn't breast feed when I had it, it was so painful. I hope you get some relief soon.

Sounds like mastitis to me too, or at least a plugged duct (which is how mastitis starts, although a plugged duct does not mean you will get mastitis). Rest a lot, and nurse on that side first if you feel a lump in your breast (which would be a plugged duct). You don't need to go on antibiotics for every case of mastitis, I had it at least three times (and about 100 plugged ducts - I was prone to them when I drank dairy), and I did go on antibiotics the first time, but wished I hadn't. I got rid of the rest by using grapefruit seed extract (a nutribiotic you can find at health food stores), you put about 8 drops in water or OJ (can't taste it that way), two or three times a day. For plugged ducts, you have to nurse it out. Massage might help with the pain of those and mastitis, as well as the ibuprofin and cold on the painful spots. Also, if is still in the early stages of mastitis, resting will probably get rid of it.

Same thing happened to me. It was so painful, I'd cry after nursing. I finally found that applying grapefruit seed (note: NOT grapeseed) extract on my nipples really helped. You can find it at health or natural food stores. Here are some websites I found helpful.

http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/
http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/newman.shtml
http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/candidiaprotocalpdf.pdf
http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/3bpdf.pdf
http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/3apdf.pdf
http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/20pdf.pdf
http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/6pdf.pdf
http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/24pdf.pdf

I would ask your OB/GYN or call your local LaLeche League!

www.kellymom.com has MANY natural remedies for thrush that work better than all those anti-fungals Dr's will prescribe.

Check it out! It's helpful in all ways breastfeeding.

Hi Alice
Both my son and I had thrush when breastfeeding. PAINFUL.
He had white patches inside his cheeks where my symptoms were red inflamed nipples with white flaky areas on the nipples.
My doctor diagnosed it for me.
Saying that 2 weeks is such a short time. It does take a while to get used to feeding.
If you feel it is more than that , I would advise to get it checked.
Best of luck
B.