Excruciating breastfeeding, thrush, bleeding nipples HELP!

[Jessiecat]

Why can't i get it right!
We started treating for thrush a week ago but it's still not gone. We also have poor latch whic was just starting to improve when my nipples got so sore that I had to dig the nipple shields out again so now I'm trying to feed without them and baby won't open his mouth wide enough. M finding not even the nipple shields help anymore though, breastfeeding (particuarly one one side) is absolute agony!! Baby feeds every 2 hours day or night without fail and I'm terrified of him getting hungry because of the pain!
Someone tell me how to make it better! My HV isn't great. Baby is gaining weight and doing well so he's completely unaffected but my god I'm finding this difficult!
Expressing is no better either. I exclusively breastfed my first for a year though and that was tough too so I feel I owe it to my baby to give him the same but someone please help me do it without suffering

 

[bigbee]

Ahhhh, Jessie, sorry no advice. Just wanted to tell you that I'm thinking of you. Breast feeding is tough enough, never mind if you are suffering with thrush and poor latch really do hope it improves!


Shame that your HV is rubbish. It's important that you are happy, and it sounds that you are not...your HV should recognise that it's affecting you! Shame she doesn't.

 

[CharlieB21]

Hi Jessie.
Is there a breast feeding advice group near you that you can attend? I've breast fed all my four and they've all fed differently for varied time lengths, one for 12 months, the shortest for only five. Got no real advice but you sound like you're having such a tough time. I used to use a cream called kamilosan ( not sure I've spelt it correctly ) that helped on my nipples plus you don't have to wipe it off before baby feeds. Don't beat yourself up though about needing to do the same for this baby as your last if it's starting to take its toll on you.

 

[Nutsyputs]

I went through pretty much the same with me first. I have no miracle cure and all I can say is it does get better. I agree with one of the other posters I found our local breastfeeding group invaluable. Ours are run through the local children's centre. I found that the advice from some of the other mums better than from my hv. They also have a midwife attend ours. Hang in there.

 

[Mummybexee]

With this and your reflux problems with baby you should really speak to a HV/GP. I'm a pro Brest feeder but to be honest you both sound like you need a bottle and some formula! Why don't you do abit of Combi feeding to let your nipples recover - you can still pump to keep Supply

 

[Jessiecat]

Thanks all I really appreciate the advice. There is a breastfeeding support group locally so maybe il just have to bite the bullet and go to it.
I really want to breastfeed exclusively and I feel that my baby deserves the same as my son got so we have to figure this out.
The HV is due again today so will push for more advice.

 

[cam]

Hey sorry your having a tough time of it. Has your baby been checked for tounge tie? That can effect latch. I used lanosoh cream with my youngest and it was amazing wish id had it when i bf the other two, it stopped me having amy pain or cracks in the first weeks even though my son took a little longer to get the hang of bf. Definitely go to a support group or ask for a bf support person to come to your home if possible. Hope you get it sorted x

 

[Rose83]

Hi - I had every problem under the sun - I had thrush for 8 weeks. I'm really resistant to the drugs you can take to clear thrush that are also safe when breast feeding so it was hopeless. Basically by about 6 weeks I was exclusively express breast feeding. My little girl is five and a half months and I've expressed that whole time. I find expressing very uncomfortable and was in tears some nights but I was so determined I didn't want to use formula. I just took one day at a time and kept telling myself I could make it to the next month, 3 months etc. Advice I have is get Daktarin cream prescribed as its stronger than clotrimazole (canesten) and still safe to breast feed. If you were exclusively expressing then Daktacort is a cream with the same stuff plus a steroid which worked for me but only as baby wasn't feeding from me. She outright refused to feed because of the taste of the thrush and then got so used to having it by bottle that we couldn't go back. I have the Medela freestyle double pump which was super expensive (£280) but for someone that exclusively pumps was essential. Also ask to be prescribed ActiformCool wound dressings. They are super expensive so GPs don't like prescribing but it really helped, I got the 20cm by 20cm size and then could cut them into four and each pad lasts 24hours. It will help heal any splits and damage and soaks up excess moisture which would not help the thrush.

Also I was washing my towels at 90 degrees everyday as I actually ended up spreading the thrush to my lady area too. If you are doing any bottle feeding then steam sterilising isn't necessrily enough to kill the thrush and it is recommended that you use Milton liquid or tablets and cold Sterilise. A friend of mine also recommended pure coconut oil - she said it's like napalm to thrush. I never got hold of any before the thrush actually cleared so can't confirm but it's worth a shot! X

 

[Rose83]

P.S Lansinoh is great too but once you've got thrush bad and cracks it can't really sort it out x