The LCs at our hospital have been working with a mom with extremely red,
irritated, sore, cracked, bleeding nipples.  In fact, one of the nipples
looked as though it was abraded to the point of some skin missing.  I saw the
nipples via an excellent photograph, not up close and personal.  I offered to
post our question to Lactnet, and the LC that had worked with the mom was
eager to hear your opinion.

The mom was convinced she had yeast (all the hallmark signs & symptoms EXCEPT
that nursing didn't really hurt all that much WHILE she was breastfeeding,
but started burning about 45 minutes later).  No evidence of Raynaud's.  She
went to her OB who put her on Diflucan and Monostat ointment.  Pain
diminished, and she was pain free for about 2 days a week into treatment.
Then the pain came back.  She stayed on the Monostat for another week, along
w/ the Diflucan.  Went then to see the LCs at the hospital, who noted that
the dosage of Diflucan was a bit low -- 200 loading and 100/day rather than
400 loading and 200/.day.  Also, the babies (twins) had NO S/S thrush
anywhere.  And there was no precipitating history such as antibiotic usage.

Since the mom had been on Monostat w/ no relief, the LCs switched to
Bactroban -- no relief.  She suggested Gentian Violet which was turned down
by the mom.  Mom is now ready to quit.  Suggested she see a derm to confirm
the yeast.  Derm looked at it and said, "Not yeast.  Sensitive skin and
irritation from the babies' saliva."  (These kids are about 2 months old, mom
making copious amounts of milk, not on solids, and pain and irritation didn't
start until the babies were about 6 weeks old.

Mom has now stopped everything, including putting babies to breast.  She's
pumping and bottle feeding.  Nipples have cleared (as they would w/ yeast
and/or sensitivity to one or both ointments).

Has anyone ever heard of the mom being irritated by the baby's saliva when
the babies aren't on solid foods?

Inquiring minds would like to know.

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, RLC
Lactation Education Consultants
www.lactationeducationconsultants.com

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html