Dear Lacnet

Jeanne Hagreen describes a situation that could well be thrush - I'd say
it's worth considering again, as you suggest, Jeanne. I have often come
across mothers who have thrush, while their babies show no sign - and most
of the literature suggests that while a thrushy mouth or bottom in the baby
supports the diagnosis, absence of symptoms by no means rules it out. I've
found the piercing pain is often the thing that points to thrush - it's
different from the pain of mastitis/ plugged ducts - and if she's had
either, plus antibiotics, as you say, she's going to be more at risk of
thrush.  In the UK, mothers sometimes have trouble persuading GPs (the
family doctor) to consider thrush, and then, if they do, they may
unfortunately  not treat mother *and* baby for it if the baby is symptom
free.  I often find I have to send a copy of the refs for the mother to
show her doc. There's a good article in January 1997's edition of Midwives
(now called RCM Midwives Journal) on breast pain which I have copied a
number of times in the last year.