This has been
>going on for 3 weeks and mother has painful nipples for which  current tx
>with diflucan as of a couple days ago is helping considerably.

Natalie, has baby been treated for thrush?  I have found that often babies
with oral-yeast overgrowth will use mom's nipple to "scratch" an itchy
palate that is irritated by the yeast. They will also be restless at the
breast, sometimes coming off and on or pulling as you have described. They
want to feed, but their tongues and throats may be sore.

Also gas pains, which can accompany thrush or allergies, can make a baby
want to chomp down on something--mom's nipples.  Are she and baby off dairy
while treating the yeast?

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee
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