Breastfeeding hasn’t always been easy. In the first year, I battled engorgement, mastitis and thrush. But I wouldn’t have traded any of it for a shorter period of nursing. Even beyond the nutritional and health benefits, nursing is great for families. Wherever I am, there is food ready to go at just the right temperature. Wherever I am, there is comfort for my hurt or teething babe and a way for her to reconnect and recenter when life gets hard.
Here are some other reflections I’ve enjoyed reading this week:
Fresh milk delivered daily by Mollie has some great thoughts after 3 years of breastfeeding.
A muslim mother’s thoughts on breastfeeding and sexuality via Brianna.
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Did Kate ever have thrush? I can’t tell if Evelyn has it. Her tounge (not cheeks, not roof) has been pretty white for the past three days and it didn’t used to be at all. N. thinks it’s probably just milk stuck all over her tounge because he got some of it off, but I’m really weirded out.
If it’s just the tongue and it can be scraped off, I’m inclined to side with Nathanael. When Kate had it, it was on her cheeks and the roof of her mouth. Let it go for a week or so and even if it doesn’t go away, if you don’t get it, it’s probably not thrush :o)
Does it hurt when you nurse? That was the prime sign for me when #3 had thrush. Yeouch. I swear it felt like glass shards coming out instead of milk. (Though, I know it isn’t that painful for everyone.) For at least a week I mistakenly thought it was simply a bad latch problem. . . So, if you’re in any kind of discomfort, I’d be inclined to think thrush. If not, I wouldn’t worry. *g*
There’s a bit on her cheeks now and, golly, was she fussy last night. Screamed for around three hours straight. She’s never done anything like that before. Nursing has begun to get a little uncomfortable, too, so I think I’m going to call the doctor.
I’d call the doctor if you are worried about it (and start taking acidophilous supplements and eating yogurt) but thrush doesn’t usually cause discomfort except for when eating and that’s only in pretty severe cases… the fussiness may be completely unrelated (related to colic or something you ate: too much chocolate did this to Kate once.)
Doc says she has it. Releived to have medicine for it.