Why do I keep getting thrush while breastfeeding?

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Thrush while breastfeeding is a yeast infection passed back and forth between your nipples and your baby's mouth - which is why it keeps recurring when only one side of the pair gets treated. The signs on you: burning or shooting nipple pain during and especially after feeds, nipples that look pink, shiny, or flaky, and sometimes deep breast pain. The signs on the baby: white patches inside the cheeks and on the tongue that do not wipe away - milk residue wipes off, thrush does not - and sometimes a stubborn diaper rash. Recent antibiotics are a classic setup, since they clear the bacteria that keep yeast in check.

The fix that breaks the cycle: treat both of you at the same time, with antifungals for the baby's mouth and cream for your nipples, prescribed together - treating only one guarantees reinfection. Wash hands religiously, sterilize pacifiers and pump parts daily, change breast pads often, and let nipples dry between feeds - yeast loves warm damp. Keep breastfeeding through treatment unless told otherwise; stopping is rarely needed and brings its own problems.

Recurring thrush despite proper paired treatment deserves a deeper look: confirm it is thrush with a swab, since eczema and bacterial infection imitate it, and mention frequent recurrences to your provider - checking for underlying contributors is reasonable. Deep shooting breast pain can also come from ductal infection, which is treated differently.

Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text. Describe the pain and what the baby's mouth looks like, and it can help you break the cycle.

Why do I keep getting thrush while breastfeeding?

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