Thank you to those of you who replied to my query about the mom with
"stinging nipples."  But it is still going on and I am puzzled.

This has been going on for 3 weeks now. Baby isn't at the breast; mom is
pumping and giving her milk with finger feeding.  Baby's suck is rhythmic
and efficient. Mom is most determined to feed her baby only breastmilk and
Dad helps with the feeding in the night.  She had a course of abx for
breast infection in first week postpartum. She used gentian violet for her
sore nipples (the original problem when she called me) with healing of the
damage, but the stinging started and she began pumping with a Lactina
double system, with which the stinging persists. She has had a week+ of
Diflucan and baby on Nystatin.  Baby's mouth is clear (even tongue) and
diaper area is clear. Occasionally she feeds baby at the breast and
experiences the stinging pain throughout.  She is continuing with Diflucan
and antifungal cream on nipples.

She is off dairy, is low on sugars.  I would expect some genuine
improvement if the stinging is yeast related.  But we are continuing as if
it is yeast.

I have looked for blanching and don't see evidence of that. Her nipples
don't look as if they would be hurting.

The stinging is in the nipple and into the breast.  Last Friday she fed the
baby the entire feeding at the breast, even though it was most painful.
Afterwards, her nipples and breasts were stinging for 2 hours.

What could this be if it is not yeast?  If it is yeast, why isn't she
seeing improvement?  This HAS to be resolvable, but I am stumped.

HELP!

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the upper midwest USA
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