Nursing burns alot of calories in the mother- could be a reason you are experiancing low blood sugar now- also birth strained your system out which may flag this condition now-overall its your nursing draining your sugar and effecting your body.
Your baby needs active good cultures replaced in order to get better. They will overcome this don't worry. Doctors aren't very good at forming cause effect relationships at times to inform you of this. When you take antibiotics, it kills good bacteria- as safe as the drug maybe for the baby to feed on in your milk it still kills the babies good bacteria as well. They get thrush- you simple must replace the good bacteria by giving the baby this.
You can do this safely and simply by getting acidphlous/probiotic capsules or powder- (make sure dairy free) (this is the stuff that is active cultures in yogurt, just many more) and opening the capsule and mixing a little as 1/8 of the capsules content into a paste and apply it to your babies tongue. Take the remaining content and use a little less of 1/4 of the remaining batch and dilute in some water in a bottle and give it to them. They do make soultion for infants specifically in vitamin stores- however not all carry them thus adult or child formula would be fine, just use the doseage above. Apply this once morning and at night before bed and make sure you wash your hands very well with hot soapy water. Application with a soft spoon on the tongue or other object would be better choice as it can be boiled afterwards to clean, as yeast can live in your finger nails still and reinfect him. Also if you are putting him down for the night- rinsing or letting him suckle a little water to wash the milk out of the mouth would be very benefical to get rid of this.
Yeast is normal and occurs in 90% of children actually at 6months of age. It can be difficult to shake and get rid of however proper precautions to not reinfect things will make it not a problem and cure in the end. She can be getting reinnfected from your bra or clothing that contacted you once even though you may have washed it normally, hot water and bleach is needed to kill yeast. If you were on antibiotics, your baby took in them as well leaving her yeasty. Nystatin is good treatment for babies however it may take a few rounds of it.
As for your mastitis..Did you take antibiotics for it? If so that is how the yeast started with the baby- mastitis itself casues cracks in the nipples, giving it a good breeding ground for yeast. Which paved way for your infection of yeast of the nipples if so. Did the doctor give you proper instructions for preventing mastitis from happening again? If not let me know I will send you some info. I dont want to wrote you a book here:]
you should follow a proper diet to balance you out and stay away from dairy and cheeses/white flour products and citrus. As soon as you eliminate them and high complex carbs you should take over control against your yeast issue of thrush. You should take a probiotic/acidolphlous as well. You can find these in the vitamins shos make sure free of dairy and corn. Blue bonnet and jason labs make excellent companies to purchase from. Refridgerated supplements you want, not the chewables or liquid formulas which add unecessary things.. They are simple cultures found in yogurt but stronger and a few different strains. They have no ill effect and are nontoxic on you and baby.
This is all a chain effect in whats going on, resolving the mastitis, oral thrush in baby then your nipples healing. I would advise to stop breastfeeding at most to clear this for 2 weeks. Mastisis is a sign your immune system is low. Hard to say what came first though? Have you had yeast problems in the past elsewhere, overuse of antibiotics, gestational diabetes? Mastitis is a serious infection, must be taken care of properly. It is usually resulting from a staph infection which is normally on the skins surface. If your nipples are cracked and infected I would be careful to continue nursing this way with your helath not improving.
Just a side note: if you are also exhibiting hypoglycemic symptoms- there is also research shown that children placed on milk formula had a greater chance of diabetes or hypoglycemia- I would try soy if its possible if you ever reach that point of deciding milk for your child or soy or rice milk even better.
Your hormones will cause this imbalance making you prone to yeast in you for a while til you stop nursing. You might have been this way while pregnant as well? Progestrone levels that are high cause this in pregnant women. However many other things cause hypoglycemia, like infection as well. So seeing a dietican would be very helpful as well as making sure there if nothing else going on in your body (this is if you are feverish and achy I mean)
also, I would avoid fish, im not a believer in it especially if you are breast feeding a child with the mercury levels in fish today- it passes directly to the child and into their brain. Its good to eat for hypo diets however also it adveresly is what has caused many to have hypoglycemia from mercury levels being extrememly high in tuna fish.
The gentian violet should work for your baby. I beleive it returns though since you never stopped exposure in between to cure yourself. You need more topical treatment on your nipples rather then (difulcan) for the blood. And to make sure all clothing garmets are washing properly in hot water and bleach.
I know its a tight situation in breaking nursing this way- but if its that bad you may need a short break in cycle if possible for a week or 2. To heal yourself and baby sepeartely, if not you are just passing it back and forth
make sure you follow these directions if not already, im sure your doctor never informed you of them.
After treatment for thrush begins, the symptoms may appear to get worse for a couple of days before improving. While the pain continues, offer your baby short, frequent feedings, beginning of the least painful side. Be sure to rinse your nipples and let them air dry after each feeding.
This is the most important.... If your baby uses a pacifier or bottle nipple, they should be boiled for 20 minutes a day and replaced every week. Don't forget to boil all breast pump parts that come in contact with milk, if you are pumping. (the milk you pump during a thrush outbreak can be fed to your baby but not frozen. Freezing breastmilk does not kill the yeast in it.) toys that go in your baby's mouth should be washed with hot, soapy water.
In addition to the medical treatment, there are other steps you can take.
* wash all bras, bra pads, nightgowns, etc (anything that comes in contact with your nipples) in hot water with bleach and dry on hot in the dryer or in the sun.
* rinsing your nipples with a vinegar and water solution (1 tablespoon vinegar to 1 cup water) after every feeding is helpful. Use a fresh cotton ball for each application and mix a new solution every day.
* add acidophilus supplements (40 million units per day) to their diet.
Be careful with hand washing, especially after diaper changes. Babies can get yeasty diaper rashes very easily. If you use cloth diapers or nursing pads, the yeast can be passed through the laundry.
I hope any of this information helps you out. It should I am sorry to hear your doctor may not have been a good source of information to you. I wish you luck!
