Is It Cloged or Infected?

First off, are they treating your baby for yeast too? If not, they probably should even if your baby's mouth doesn't have any. I had a long run with yeast infections because they never treated my son. As soon as they treated both of us, things got under control.

I agree with some of the other responses that you should get checked out. If it's just a plug duct they can help you with ways to correct it (askdrsears.com has great suggestions), and if it is yeast mastitis it's important to get it treated right away. I would avoid using the cabbage leaves because they are used as a milk reducer and it will permenantely reduce your supply if used incorrectly (I know because it happened to me).

I'm so sorry you are having this trouble. Good luck and I hope you get better soon!

A quick clarification. Antibiotics can cause yeast infections. Thrush is caused by a fungaus The medication you want to take is an anti-fungal.

I've never nursed and had mastitis. Mastitis is caused by a bacteria. The only reason I knew something was wrong was I had a red streak up my breast from the nipple. I took an antibiotic for that.

Try Cabbage leaves...sounds wierd but when my sister stop breast feeding it helped with the pain...doesn't sound like you are trying to quit but it might help a little...just take 2 large layers off a head of cabbage and where them in between your bra and skin. Not sure if it is the coldness or if there is something in the cabbbage but it helped her. Good luck!

I went to the Doctor about a year ago with a thrush infection too. I think I picked up a "super bug" at the time I was being examined. About a month later I had what felt like a plugged milk duct that never drained. It started to hurt and they gave me antibotics. I figured the lump would eventually go away once the antibotics were completly in my system. It ended up to where It got bigger & red and became VERY painful. I finally went to the Doctor again. They said the antibotics were not working on the bacteria I had caught. I ended up having to have it surgically drained and a course of different IV antibotics. It was very unpleasent for me and my little nurser I just want to say, if it ever sounds anything like this, don't wait to get it checked out. If your pain gets any worse, go to the doctor. Take care

R.

I had thrush really bad and so did my daughter so I know the pain you are in what really helps is vinigar and warm water to soak your breast in then if you can lay topless in sun light Yeast hate sunlight it kills it also make sure you dry your nipples of and get your baby checked for thrush she will keep giving it back to you if she does. they can give you meds for it that you can use on yourself as well. also if you try the cabbage leaves be very careful because it will dry you up and stop you from producing milk. oh yeah this may be caused by antibiotics so if you are taking any you may have to wait til you are done with them before it will go away good luck

This is going to sound weird, but it will help with the pain. Get a bowl (a large bowl) and fill about half way with comfortably warm water. Then, place your breasts in the water. It may help a little and if there is any clogging, it may help.

I fought thrush for several months. It is excruciating, like shard of glass in your breasts. Get a prescription for Diflucan tablets, and some Nystatin ointment, preferably with a little steroid for inflammation. That will attack the yeast in the skin and internally. The baby needs to be treated, too, probably with Nystatin drops, or will keep giving it to you. If you can't get those, find a pharmacy that sells gentian violet. It is bright purple, stains everything, but eventually washes out.

If you decide to use gentian violet, search the web for treatment. I think you only have to use it a few days. You can paint your nipple and nurse the baby, or paint the baby's mouth and nurse. Either way, you're both purple, it looks freaky, but it works.

Good luck, and I hope you get rid of this fast. I battled so long because I didn't have a doctor willing to treat me while I was nursing. He wanted me to put the baby's Nystatin drops on my nipples, which is antifungal, but has sugar, which feeds the yeast, and didn't go deep enough into my tissues. I gave up on modern medicine, used the gential violet, and was clear for good.

Thrush is a type of yeast. i had this problem too, just after having my last baby (he is 10 months now) your doctor should have given you nystatin either to take my mouth or as a cream, if he did not go back immediately, thrush can change to mastitis very quickly this is a breast infection and very painful, aching pain can be the start. try taking hot shower let the hot water run down also pump or feed right after your shower to relieve pain and swelling. if you feel a hard mass and red hot in a certain area you could have a clogged duct, which the only way i could get rid of those applying hot rags and either pumping or feeding every hour and lots of water drinking about 1-2 cups every 20 minutes, it helps! also if you have thrush on your breast the baby would or could get it in the mouth very easily, its very contagious. hope this helps. S. D.

Hi M., my name is R.. I went through the same thing twice with my son. I had breast yeast infection twice(thrush), which I let go to long so I got Mastitis( which is infection due to blocked ducts). I did not know until diagnosed, but at first my breasts hurt just so bad and was sharp pains just to nurse I also felt like I had the flu(thats a sign of Mastitis). The Dr. gave me a prescription but I had to keep nursing and pumping on infected side to get infected milk out, even though it was so painful. He also had me use hot packs to help some ducts become unplugged.

Whatever you do, you should be seen right away and it can get way worse. You need to get on meds before that happens. Good luck.

Good Mornning,
All the advice everyone has given you is very true. One thing I'd add is try pumping the milk on the one side and feeding baby on the other and stick to that. My son and I would pass it back and forth to each other even being treated for it. Your child can still get it from your milk even being treated for it. We went months passing it back and forth until I finally stopped feeding off the infected boob and it finally went away for both of us. I wish this thing on no one it's horrible!!!! So if you continue to have it after tring everything else try this. It should be gone with in a couple of weeks. Good Luck!!!!!

You need to get on an antibiotic, I had thrush really bad...call the nurse at the Salem birthing center, she is a lactation specialist...Her name is Jaqui....I cannot remember the name of the medicine, but if it feels like glass shards coming out of your breast, its the only thing that will help...also , your baby will need to go on the medicine too...otherwise you'll just spread it back and forth, I think I actually had my OB call in my prescription for it, it seemed like he knew more about it than my physician. Good Luck!
Also, get a nipple guard, so you can keep your milk up on that side...with a guard you can still nurse your sweet baby without any pain!