Is This THRUSH??? I Don't Know!

Thank you very much for posting this question. I noticed over the weekend a thick coat of white stuff on my daughters tongue I tried to wipe it w/a washcloth but didn't have much luck.(she was freaking out!!) I'm making an appointment to see what can be done.

Gentian violet. Not sure of how to use it, but I know that's the magic cure. Its messy, staining stuff, so you definitely want to get good instruction in its use.
Probiotics for you. Get good ones from a good source, which have more than a few organisms listed. Natural food stores have them.
Call your midwives. They aren't in office until then but they are always available for emergencies and births. They may be able to help you over the phone. They may make a special trip for you if the can't. Or they will tell you who you should see to correct the problem.
Best of luck to you, I haven't had thrush but I have had mastitis. Not the same at all, but a nasty problem, nonetheless. Thrush can be very hard to get rid of, make sure you boil/bleach everything you own in order to get rid of it, you may need to do that a few times to break the chain. Limit your sugar intakes as well, including breads, pastas, fruit, etc since yeast feed on it. Give the "girls" lots of exposure if possible. I believe sunlight is good for helping you too, so if you can, go outside topless. With caution of course, you wouldn't want to entertain the neighbors.
Good luck! Keep nursing and don't just use the stuff we use on our vaginas for yeast.

your boob could have thrush...which he could get via the boob. make sure you keep you nipples really clean. you may feel like you are getting mastsis it is probably clog milk duct. warm compress on the boob.. also as much as it will probably hurt you need hime to nurse on that side.

Thrush in babies is a thick white coating you cant scrap off the tongue. it can grow on cheeks insde and a little on opening to throat. hang in there mama

Libby...
P.s. just weaned my almost three year old...sad but i love not having him pull my shirt down/up in public. so i know a little on the topic not a ton.. have dealt with itall though throughout the years.

My son had thrush many times. It is pretty common, and the yeast that causes it is found in our bodies all the time but can grown outta control when breast feeding.
it does sound like you may be devolping it. My daughter's pediatrician recommended taking probiotics (me not her) to help fight it off.

Can you go to a Gynecologist to have them check it just because your midwife isn't in til Thursday?

I had this with both my sons. Put the antifungal on your nipples (or neosporin) AFTER you nurse but make sure your nipples are completely dry. Yeast grows in warm, dark places which is why you could get it from nursing and your son could get it from you. As long as he doesn't have spots in his mouth or a white coating on his tongue, no worries about him yet. If yours goes unchecked, it could turn into a breast infection and those are no fun. If you have pain or fever, go to your doctor or urgent care. The sooner you get antibiotics, the better. The antifugal (2% or less) or neosporin won't harm your baby but put it on after and wipe your nipples before you nurse. It's worth it to persevere.

My daughter had thrush and I was in SEVERE pain when I nursed her. My nipples and breasts were red and streaked, her mouth had big white patches all over. She never seemed in pain but I was dying!!! I went to my OB first and started a treatment then I had to take her to the doc and start a treatment. We didn't get it under control for at least a month. It was caused by my falling asleep while nursing then waking and putting my padded bra on and sealing in all that moisture. Lord knows how long I had been nursing each time.

Needless to say, I don't know what it is like to have a mild case, I was fine one day and in pain the next. I say go to your OB or call a lactation specialist, there are free hotlines you can call all over the place. They will be able to direct you. I am pretty convinced though that if you had it, you will know it.

One last thought, I have nursed 4 babies now and have had small bouts of peeling without pain then it went away. It was always very minor and never hurt. This stopped for me at around 3 or 4 months.

Good luck to you!

It's likely to be thrush. I had it with my first (a son) and I definitely remember that itchy feeling (but I did notice the white patches in his mouth not long after itchiness started). It almost felt like my son was "scratching an itch" while he nursed. It took me awhile to realize this was a side effect of thrush.
Many times, this is a yeast problem INSIDE your body, not something to just cover up topically. You'll want to try and rid your body of yeast from the inside out. One way to do this, as others have mentioned, is to cut down sugar (or better yet, have none at all), because yeast thrives on sugar. I'm not a yeast or thrush expert, so I'm sure you can find more good information online of how else to rid your body of yeast. I took a Candida cleanse (in pill form) from a health food store which helped a lot. Also, using tea tree oil in your laundry (possibly in other ways too?) is supposed to help get rid of yeast.
Best of luck getting rid of this yeast beast!

Anne...yes it could be. Although most babies would shows whitish patches in their mouths that you can't wipe off, sometimes it's just in the esophagus. However, that is somewhat uncommon. Babies, unlike adults, are susceptible enough to yeast without common triggers like being on antibiotics. It's just a function of a young immune system. So, while this possibly is thrush, your pediatrician may find something else.

Regarding your nipples, no, most pediatricians wouldn't look, and you probably wouldn't want them to because it's not what they are trained for. Call any local hospital where deliveries are done and ask to speak to a lactation consultant (who are usually available by phone over the weekend). They may be able to give you some advice or direct you to someone who can.