>Mother of 7 month old started with sore at base of nipple.

You didn't describe the "sore" but it is my opinion that if there is a
"slice" at the base of the nipple, looking like a knife sliced it, then it
is yeast.  I see a lot of nipple yeast because it is my "specialty" of
sorts and people refers suspected yeast problems to me. >:(

When a mother says that she has a "crack" on her nipple, I look at where it
is.  There have been differing opinions on Lactnet, but *my* experience
continues to confirm that this particular cut-like crack at the base of the
nipple is caused by tissue break-down due to nipple yeast.  And, of course,
baby will have yeast overgrowth too, usually presenting with white coating
on tongue and red around the anus--or beyond. Sometimes the white yeasty
coating is not yet visible.  It begins at the throat and works its way
forward. Often too the baby will have changed her feeding pattern to one of
short, frequent feeds due, I think, to a sore throat.  Ask any adult who
has had thrush and they will tell you that a very sore throat accompanies
thrush.

Jack's ointment is good, but baby needs to be treated also.  I still like
good old Gentian Violet for beginning yeast problems.  That way we don't
have to convince an MD of the reality of nipple/ductal yeast or of baby's
white coating being a yeast overgrowth and not milk. [How many of you are
left with a white tongue when you drink milk?]

Pat Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin


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