Thrush

As if Jude's circumcision issues and jaundice weren't enough... I'm thinking we might be experiencing a mild case of thrush. (warning gentlemen there's some boobie talk ahead)

Let's first start by saying that breast feeding (as i've said before) was a breeze for the most part getting started. No soreness or anything - until this weekend. For a little while now (a week maybe) I've been freaking myself out about Jude maybe having thrush. I saw a white-ish film on his tongue and of course thanks to technology I took it upon myself to self-diagnose. According to my research, it was one of two things:

1. thursh - This option meant feedings were probably painful for Jude (aka cranky baby), and that if the white film was scratched off an irritated or bleeding surface would be exposed. Also, it would spread to other parts of his mouth (cheeks, gums, etc)

2. Breastmilk build up - basically the thicker hind-milk or spit up was coating his tongue and so if it was scratched, it'd come off easily exposing a normal surface. Typically this should fall off on it's own within an hour of his feedings.

Of course I went to town trying to scrub away at his tongue and when I scratched at it, a normal surface was exposed. Next I checked out the rest of his mouth and there did seem to be some other spots - but they looking more like dead skin cells than splotches. He was eating normally and doesn't seem in pain at all. BUT - it would last longer than an hour unless I tried to get it off myself. Very mixed signals. As i said, he didn't seem to be bothered at all and I have a doctor's appointment on Monday so I figured I'd just ask the doctor about it at my next visit.

Yesterday though I started experiencing some pain. I first thought that it was irritation because the day before I was trying to double-task while feeding Jude and so while he was sucking away he tugged a little hard. So when I woke up to semi-sore nipples I told myself I'd be keeping my butt on the couch while feeding him as I usually do to avoid this in the future. I followed all the advice to sooth sore nipples: lanolin cream, air drying, etc. It didn't seem to be helping (a little relief, but not 100%), so I again tried some self-diagnosing this morning and guess what popped up?? Thrush.

It described thrush in a mother as appearing as red, shiny, sore, cracked nipples. I pulled my little lady out and of course I fit the bill. It's a very common issue for babies and if untreated Jude and I could pass it back and forth between the two of us for quite some time.

I pretty much came to the thrush conclusion today and since tomorrow's Sunday I'm trying to decide whether to put in one of those "emergency" calls to the pediatrician tomorrow or hold off until Monday. Like I said, Jude seems perfectly fine - I'm the one uncomfortable and really I could pump tomorrow and bottle feed him for the day - or just suck it up and breast feed on my tender little ladies as I did today. I started a little water/vinegar treatment that's supposed to get rid of my side of the thrush, so we'll see what tomorrow brings.