I don't post very much but have learn't a lot from reading other's experiences and so i'm really hoping you can help me out.

My baby is now nearly 8 weeks old and I have been breastfeeding from day 1. However, we have both also had thrush for seven of the eight weeks and i'm really beginning to lose the plot.

I didn't realise what was wrong for the first few weeks and put the excrutiating pain down to getting used to breastfeeding. We've now been having treatment for 2 weeks. Firstly canesten for me and nystan for him, then I got daktarin for him as the nystan was doing nothing for him. I then went back to the doctors and got fluconazole for me as the topical treatment wasn't working for me either. However the GP I saw was not clued up on the subject and would only give me the one off dose rather than the one off dose + 10 days at a lower dose.

I'm putting daktarin on him after every feed, canesten on me after every feed, changing breast pads after every feed, letting nipples air dry and cutting down sugar in my diet. I'm going to get some gentian violet spray and acidophillus asap.

The pain was just too much last weekend and I needed a break so I exclusively expressed. However expressing/sterilising/feeding was an absolute nightmare and I was completely exhausted so i went back to feeding him myself.

The pain is still there but seems to have lessened since I had the fluconazole (on monday) and had a few days break. I am almost cetain that the thrush hasn't gone and i'm preparing myself for another battle with the GP to try and get the longer oral course as I feel thats the only thing thats going to really knock it on the head.

Furthermore, my baby is a big boy - 9lb 11oz at birth, 9lb at day 5, 9lb 9oz at day 10. 10lb 14oz at 3 weeks and 12lb 11oz two days ago (7+2). So I know he has been putting on weight but over the last week I get the distinct impression that he's just not satisfied, especially in the evenings/ I'm pretty sure we've done the 6 week growth spurt and that it unfortunately coincided with the worst of the thrush. This has left me wondering if my supply didn't really up to match his needs. He's still feeding, I would guess, every hour, hour and a half in the day though i'm not timing exactly as I just feed on demand. His naps have shortened loads in the day, he might go down for 40mins if i'm lucky. My boobs feel totally soft and empty and he is much more fussy when feeding than he used to be. I was prepared for him to be constantly feeding for the first 6 weeks but thought at 8 weeks it should be settling down? It feels like its getting much worse.

I'm so, so determined to keep breastfeeding him. Everyone (family, husband) have told me to stop as i've been in so much pain but I want to do this so badly. I'm terrified the thrush is never going to go away and I don't know if I can physically keep going through the pain for much longer if it does. Plus I feel that the weekend of expressing has buggered up my supply and now there's not enough for him. I'm doing everything I can to increase it but it all hurts so much that its really getting me down

Sorry if this doesnt make much sense, i'm feeling very emotional about the whole thing. Thanks in advance for any help/advice, it really is much appreciated.

sorry i dont have any advice about thrush, but just wanted to say you're doing so well to keep going, the hardest part must be nearly over. the expressing may have reduced your supply a little and he maybe having a growth spurt, but just keep feeding and it will catch up. i'm sure there are other ladies on here who can offer you advice about thrush, you should mention it in the post title.
if you really want to bf, just keep going, another couple of weeks and it will most probably all settle down xxx

firstly for you - you've done brilliantly to get this far by the sound of it! I haven't had any experience of thrush so I can't help you there sorry but all I can say is that I felt exactly the same when Ryan wasn't putting on weight, couldn't latch on properly and wouldn't feed from one side - a combination of guilt for considering anything other than BF and exhaustion along with a good dose of feeling sorry for myself.

If your doctor isn't very clued up about doses/ treatments it would be worth telling him/ her what you've found out and ask for the treatment you want, especially as their treatmetns haven't worked yet. If you don't get any joy ask for a referral to a specialist or maybe you could see another doctor at your practice?

Sorry I don't have any practical advice to help you but keep going you are doing amazingly well.

I don't know anything about thrush, it sounds horribly painful though! Sounds like you already have done a lot of research into the treatment you need, just need to convince doctor.

well done persevering through all the difficlties. i think growth spurts don't always come at precise times and are not always over when you think they should be. sometimes we have seemed to have one on top of another. For us week 6 was a sleepy week but had constant feeding weeks 5, 7 & 8.
your supply is still regulating so don't worry that the expressing will have affected it, you will soon get back on track.

personally i don't find it very helpful to have dates in my head, like it 'should' be such and such a way after 6 weeks, all babies are different and they don't know the timeline they are meant to be following. I know it's hard not to think that way though, my baby is nearly 11 weeks and i have to stop myself from expecting miracles from the magical 12 week milestone!!

It will get easier though, it would be a shame to give up now when you have definitely battled through the hardest part. Once you get the thrush sorted out and baby is a week or two older, you will not know yourself, feeding will just be so easy. Definitely get back to the doctor though, feeding through that sort of pain does not sound easy at all!!

We are suffering too....I really think there should be more support for thrush its miserable!! my lo has a terrible sore bum and we have had days and nights of screaming and pulling on and off the breast!! It could be the thrush not your supply?? I think it makes feeding painful for them so they feed little and often....even if thrush not in their mouths it can be in their little guts which can make them really fussy

I am on low dose of fluconazole 50mg for 7 days...which I dont think is enough!! already had one dose but first doc wouldnt treat lo at same time so it was pointless!! its such a battle to get rid of and to get help for!!

I was seriously thinking of formula feeding till pming the lovely candyfloss who told me all bottles have to be thrown away after use etc till its cleared up!! so I really dont think it would be any easier!! and I really am determined to bf!!


re weekend of expressing ...my lo was in hospital with bronchiolitis and was IV fed and I expressed whole time and my supply was fine...Im sure it is all just the dreaded thrush!!

I was thinking of doing a thread of abuse about horrid stinky fungi thrush its made my nipples look like jabba the hut!! !! lol you have to laugh or you would cry!! (which I have!)