|
One you realize you have a yeast infection, or commonly known as thrush, you will want to quickly rid you and your baby of this fungus so you can have a more comfortable breastfeeding relationship.
Thrush is hard to diagnose and difficult to treat as well. It presents itself as nonspecific symptoms that could be anything. One of two signs typically occur first.
Sore nipples occur most of the time with thrush. It may not be very bad pain but it will exist nonetheless. You may think your baby hasn't been latching on correctly or lazily pulling off the nipple without breaking suction first. It is hard to know for sure if it is thrush.
One thing to consider, is if the pain comes and goes or if it persists. Thrush nipple pain usually hurts every single time your baby nurses, though it will feel better the longer your baby is latched on. So while it is not a constant pain, it is one which will be ever present over a period of time, leaving you wondering if your should wean you or baby.
Along with the nipple pain can be deep breast pain. This is best described as shooting pains that radiate throughout your breast. It may also come and go but it often feels like you have been stabbed. It can be difficult to point precisely to the area which is painful since it feels like the whole breast is on fire.
Another symptom for you is craving sugar. Thrush is a fungal infection and it thrives off sugar in your diet. So if you find yourself needing to eat cakes and other sweets, there is a strong possibility you have thrush. Most especially if you had antibiotics for any reason during or after your baby was born.
Symptoms for your baby will vary as well. One prominent indicator, though not necessarily, is a white-coated tongue. Though your baby will have a white tongue from nursing anyway, this is a thicker coating which does not go away some time after your baby last nursed. It cannot be scraped off either even though it might look like it can.
Your baby may also frequently pull off the breast and then latch back on. This is confusing as it is hard to know the reason for this behavior. It seems to give pain to the baby's mouth to have thrush and they pull off to get away from the pain but still want to nurse.
If even only one symptom is present, consider thrush a possibility. And if either you or your baby has it, you will continue to reinfect each other until the fungus is cleared up.
| 
