Natascha says >She is 7 weeks postpartum and has had mastitis 6 times. In the
first week she
developed a severe crack across the tip of her nipple, which healed in such a
way that there is STILL a crack but no soreness, bleeding, or anything. Baby
has oral thrush. <

Ruth Lawrence (4/e and 5/e) describes thrush overgrowth on or in the breast as a
form of mastitis.  Mastitis means an inflammation of the breast.  It can have a
bacterial cause, or be 'non-infective' -- i.e. be of mechanical origin (e.g.
less than optimal drainage).  In this case I would suggest that ductal thrush
overgrowth should be considered.  Thrush is fungal in origin and antibiotics
will kill the beneficial bacteria which ordinarily keep any fungus present in
check, and so allow this overgrowth.

Antibiotics provide a powerful anti-inflammatory effect, so it can often seem as
if they have  been effective against an infection when they are only performing
the function obtainable from ibuprufen.

Also, in view of the persistant crack, I suggest
*absolutely scrupulous* attention to positioning the baby at the breast and the
attachment of the baby to the breast.

Of course, this may have progressed to bacterial infection after 6 weeks.

Magda Sachs
Breastfeeding Supporter, BfN, UK

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