Hi, All!

I just joined the list a couple of days ago and have learned so much from
all of you!  As a doula, mother of three, and an aspiring midwife, this is a
wonderful place for me to be, and I eagerly print out many of your emails
for posterity!

Okay, back to business! :o)

>Has anyone ever heard of rash on a BF mom's tongue?  Symptoms
>describable as numb yet painful - similar to ice burn or hot liquid
>burn.  Rash started on tip of tongue and is spreading to sides.  No
>discoloring of tongue.  Baby okay-no symptoms of thrush.  Mom has had
>it for a week.  Any ideas?

As for the mom's tongue rash, I spoke with my husband a dental nutritionist
and body chemistry counselor; his background and specialty is in healing
patients from mercury toxicity and supporting immune function during mercury
removal, but since he sees LOTS of mouths, I thought he'd be the one to ask.
Here was his response, verbatim:

Rashes on the tongue may be indicative of many different things.  One of the
most obvious would be candidiasis (thrush), as might occur during periods of
higher systemic stress or antibiotics use.  Typically, the symptoms might
include irregular reddish or whitish patches and possible itching.

Additionally, some vitamin deficiencies, such as B or C can also have oral
manifestations.  It might be good to find out more about the circumstances
precipitating the episode.  Naturally, thrush is also a possibility, even if
it has not manifested in the child.

======

My note:  it seems to me that, as a breastfeeding mom, her need for all
nutrients is increased;   it probably couldn't hurt and may likely help,
with this and other symptoms she may not have mentioned, to supplement her
diet with vitamins. I wonder if she's still taking her prenatal vitamins??
If not, supplemental Vitamin C is a good idea and, since it's water soluble,
not dangerous. Vitamin B, and particularly folic acid, is very important and
one of the nutrients dumped by the body during times of stress.  If it
turned out that this WAS thrush, these vitamins also help with immune
function (along with zinc which is something else I'd look at), and critical
in fighting all kinds of infections.

One note of caution:  Some researchers are beginning to suggest that VERY
high levels of Vitamin C may be problematic. While the research is still in
its infancy (so to speak), it wouldn't be a bad idea to limit one's daily
dosage to 3000 mg.

Thanks for letting me contribute!

Vickie Miller
birth junkie, busybody, aspiring midwife,
doula, and breastfeeding supporter