Thrush?

B.- you have described exactly what I just experienced a month ago with my 15 month old son. It was so odd to suddenly have nipple pain when I never had any issues before. I avoided going to the ped because I was afraid they were gonna tell me to stop nursing and I wasn't ready to do that. So I suffered (and it was getting unbearable) until I took my son in for a horrible diaper rash and she looked in his mouth and saw the white spots. I never even noticed them! She prescribed liquid nystatin and told me to put the antifungal cream I was putting on his tush on my nipples as well. It worked almost instantly. RELIEF!! And, now I regret waiting and avoiding the doctor because it was also affecting my son and I had no idea. So.. go to the pediatrician as I am most certain that this is also what you are experiencing. Hope you and your child feel better soon!

If your child has thrush- there is no doubt- little while spots or coating all inside mouth. Could be some kind of other infection, but doubt thrush.

I had thrush so many times I honestly lost count. Sounds like thrush to me. My son was tested for thrush and tested positive even though he didn't have any symptoms (white chalky residue) but behaved in the same way you describe your daughter. All those signs point to thrush, from someone who's well acquainted. There are many ways to go. My very natural lacation consultant (I know you're way past the lactation consultant stage, as am I, still nursing a 2 1/2, almost 3 year old!!!) suggested yogurt but she was hardcore about thrush so I took a massive dose of an anti fungal (diflucan) and it changed my life for the better. Your Ped can test for thrush with a simple swab test. The treatment usually starts with Nystatin, given to the child and can be topically applied to baby's butt and mom's nipples. Sometimes that doesn't work (as in my case) -- then go for Diflucan. If you are super opposed to seeing the doctor first before trying something, there's something called Gentian Violet. You can get it at the drug store for about $4. It's what they used in the old days, before statins and antifungals. My Mom used it. The thing is, it DYES your skin and baby's mouth deep purple. This lasts for a week or so, I'm told, I was always too chicken to try it. My LC said also following a strict anti candida diet is a good way to go for everybody. No sugar and limit dairy. Basically, starve the yeast that's growing everywhere because it feeds on sugar. That's where yogurt comes in because it works against yeast. Antibiotics are bad news, etc. One last thing: my LC also prescribed (and this was a chore, because I actually had to persuade my doctor to perscribe it on the Lc's recommendation.) At a compounding pharmacy, there is one in Sand point and one in West Seattle that I know of, they make something called nipple ointment. I don't know what's in it, but it was a miracle for everything, clogged ducts, thrush, everything. Well, sorry to run on. Hope all that works out.

Anyone can get thrush(yeast infection in the mouth) at any age, anyone...You need to take you and your daughter to the DR to get treatment. Both of you have the infection: nipples to her mouth. You can get a cream for your nipples and nystatin for her mouth, the ingestion will help the possible yeast infection in the diaper area.Do you have any other signs anywhere else on your body? mouth? Vaginal? either one of you could have passed it on to each other...Have either of you been on antibiotics recently, that can bring on a yeast infection.Please go see your DR.

not sure about thrush...
but my girlfriend told me to use a hair dryer on low heat after baths ect.. to dry their private parts off if they are having trouble with diaper rash.. that way the area gets super dry and coat with diaper cream that doesn;t have alot of perfumes in it.. Best advice I ever recieved :) also www.babycenter.com would have great articles about thrush and diaper rash and what kind of diaper rash it might be.. If it is a yeast rash type infection call her dr.. for advice.
Lenc

I was going to tell you the same thing about the yogurt. even if you cannot get her to eat it rub it all over the inside of her mouth and she will swallow it. It could very well be that she has a case of it because she is cutting some teeth. Also rub the yogurt on your breast when she nurses.
Hope that helps...L.

My girlfriends have had to deal with this and they took Probiotics - which is Acidophilus - and it comes in little tiny pearl size pills. It is one billion good bacteria and will balance out the pH naturally. If you take it and nurse still it will be in your milk and cure both your nipples and your daughters mouth and diaper rash and/or yeast infection. I go to school at a Naturopathic College and you can confirm this information with any Naturopath. Super Supplements has the probiotics or any Natural Health Food Store.

Good Luck
Feel free to e-mai if you have any questions
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Hi B.. My son breast-fed until he was about the same age as your daughter and we fought a long battle against thrush beginning when he was quite small. It would go away for a few days then come back and my first sign it had returned was very sore nipples. Our pediatrician prescribed some purple medicine that I'd swab in my son's mouth and on my nipples but it only worked for a short time then came back. It also stained everything it touched including his mouth and yes, my nipples!
Best of luck to you,
Purple Nurple

B.,

Usually thrush comes with a nasty rash in the mouth as well. You didn't mention if she had white patches in her mouth. If so, you need to take her to the doc. She'll need a specific prescription that's an anti-fungal. If not, she probably has a yeast infection. You can take her in, especially if she's running a fever, or get some OTC vaginal yeast infection cream. You'll know fairly quickly what's what. Also, a good idea would be to feed her some probiotic yogurt. That will tackle the internal yeast. Poor baby, I had this with mine when they were about the same age. Good luck! Oh, and try to let her go without her diaper as much as possible, to let it dry out.

Hi B.,
My sister-n-law just went through this with my newborn niece. Please don't wait to get help. Thrush is very painful for the baby. It's better that the doctor tell you that you and the baby don't have it, then to wait and have your baby and yourself hurting :( No fun....

You can find out fast if it's thrush...and the treatment is easier than you think. The breast pain will be the signal. Take one part vinegar to five parts water (mix it in a bottle, glass, whatever, preferably something with a lid). Then take a cotton ball and slather the stuff on your nipples. Vinegar is a yeast infection's mortal enemy. Do this every ten-fifteen minutes or so, for an hour. Within an hour, you should feel some relief from the pain.

Look at the inside of your child's mouth. If she has fuzzy white stuff on her tongue, or white spots on her gums, she probably does have thrush...but you can swab the inside of her mouth with the same solution...she won't love it, but it won't hurt her at all. Usually the kids don't really feel much discomfort with thrush, but if it continues, your pain can become unbearable (I speak from experience), but the vinegar solution is the BEST treatment, by far. It works better than anything out there, from Nystatin, to gentian violet, to the oral yeast infection medication (it's name slips my mind, but believe me I had thrush and tried all these treatments, and the only one that worked was the vinegar).

Good luck! I hope you find out what it is, and your discomfort ends.

Sounds like thrush... but if it is, you should be able to see it in her mouth. And if it something that has been a while going, you may start to see it around her lips. Yes, your nipples will be sore if she's passed it to you.
All 4 of my kids have had it at some point. It is easy to treat so you don't need to worry!
Just head to the Dr. They can give both of you a RX for Diflucan, it's a one time thing for you, maybe a few days for baby. And sterilize everything she uses daily until it's gone!
You can also use monistat cream on her diaper rash if that isn't going away with all the other things you have tried, but it should clear up with the Diflucan also!
Good luck!