What does breastfeeding thrush feel like?

Understanding Breastfeeding Thrush: Symptoms and Sensations
Breastfeeding thrush, a common yet painful condition, can significantly impact the nursing experience for mothers. This fungal infection, primarily caused by an overgrowth of Candida, can manifest in various ways, leading to discomfort and distress during breastfeeding.
Painful Sensations
One of the hallmark symptoms of thrush during breastfeeding is intense nipple and breast pain. Mothers often describe this pain as a burning sensation, particularly noticeable after each feeding session. This discomfort can be severe enough to make the act of breastfeeding feel unbearable, leading some mothers to consider early weaning if the condition is not effectively treated .
In addition to the burning sensation, mothers may experience sharp, stabbing pains that can radiate deep into the breast tissue. This pain is often exacerbated during and after feeds, making it difficult for mothers to maintain a comfortable breastfeeding routine.
Visual Indicators
While pain is a significant indicator, visual symptoms can also accompany thrush. Mothers may notice that their nipples appear shiny or have a white coating, which can be a sign of the fungal infection. However, it’s important to note that not all nipple pain is due to thrush; if breastfeeding has always been painful or if the nipples appear flattened or wedge-shaped, the cause may be something else.
Impact on the Baby
Thrush can also affect the baby, leading to fussiness and difficulty feeding. Infants may pull away from the breast frequently or refuse to latch altogether, which can further complicate the breastfeeding experience. This mutual discomfort can create a cycle of stress for both mother and child, making it crucial to address the issue promptly.
Conclusion
In summary, breastfeeding thrush can feel like a combination of burning, sharp pain, and visual changes in the nipples, significantly affecting the breastfeeding journey. Mothers experiencing these symptoms should seek medical advice to ensure both they and their babies can continue to enjoy the benefits of breastfeeding without the burden of pain.

How do I know if I have thrush while breastfeeding?

Symptoms Of Thrush For Mothers

• Burning or itching nipples
• Flaking or shiny skin on nipple or areola
• Painful breasts without tender spots or sore lumps
• Stabbing pain in the breast behind the areola
• Shooting pain up through the breast
• Pain persists throughout a feed and also in between feeding.

How to tell the difference between mastitis and thrush?

Thrush will generally always be bilateral, while subclinical mastitis will usually be unilateral. The breast pain associated with thrush happens after or between breastfeeds. Breast pain caused by subclinical mastitis is usually most intense when a mother has a milk ejection reflex (MER) at the beginning of a feed.

How to tell if baby has thrush?

Symptoms of thrush in the baby include:

1. White, velvety sores in the mouth and on the tongue.
2. Sores that may bleed when wiped.
3. Redness in the mouth.
4. Diaper rash.
5. Mood changes, such as being very fussy.
6. Refusing to nurse because of soreness.

Is it thrush or just sore nipples?

Signs of thrush in breastfeeding women
You may have a thrush infection in your breasts if: you start to feel pain in both nipples or breasts after feeds, having previously had no pain after feeding. the pain can range from sore to severe and lasts for up to an hour after every feed.

Will breast thrush go away by itself?

Thrush is a yeast infection that can lead to very damaged, cracked, and painful nipples, a nursing strike, or early weaning and it needs treatment to clear up. While you can take care of some breastfeeding issues on your own, this isn’t one of them.

What can be mistaken for breast thrush?

Sometimes, nipple thrush pain is quite similar to other health issues – some of the most popular issues that get mistaken as a yeast infection are:

• Vasospasm/Raynaud’s Phenomenon.
• Micro-fissures due to suboptimal attachment.
• Tongue tie in baby.
• Nipple eczema.
• Bacterial infection (staphylococcus aureus possibly).

How to tell the difference between thrush and milk tongue?

It can be challenging to distinguish between the two. To tell the difference, a parent or caregiver can try gently wiping the white film off the newborn’s tongue using a warm, damp cloth. If the white coating wipes away, it is likely milk residue.

What does early mastitis look like?

Mastitis usually only affects 1 breast, and symptoms often come on quickly. They include: a swollen area on your breast that may feel hot and painful to touch – the area may become red but this can be harder to see if you have black or brown skin. a wedge-shaped breast lump or a hard area on your breast.

How do you confirm thrush?

How is thrush diagnosed? A healthcare provider can usually tell right away if you have thrush by looking for the distinctive white lesions on your mouth, tongue or cheeks. Lightly brushing the lesions away reveals a reddened, tender area that may bleed slightly.

What can be mistaken for thrush?

5 vaginal infections that aren’t thrush (but look or feel like it)

• Herpes. Herpes, a common and extremely contagious STI, causes painful sores on the genitals.
• Trichomoniasis.
• Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
• A sensitivity or allergic reaction.
• Gonorrhoea.
• Whatever your suspicions, get your symptoms checked out.