Breastfeeding Myth: Antibiotics Treat Thrush

I was reading through the breastfeeding forum and came upon a SHOCKING post.  A poor mother is trying to nurse her new baby.  She has already had clogged ducts and mastitis.  She is struggling to get a good latch (baby is just a few weeks old).  Her nipples are cracked and bleeding with scabs falling off at each feeding.

Unpleasant to say the least.

Finally, she learns she and her baby may have thrush (a yeast infection).  That would explain the fire-y, toe-curling pain as well as the cracking. 

The shocking part?

Her doctor told her to KEEP TAKING the antibiotics for mastitis because that will CURE THE THRUSH!!!

I guess I assumed that it was fairly common public knowledge that antibiotics CAUSE thrush.  Many women need to treat yeast infections after a round of antibiotics.  This doctor is making things worse.

What this poor momma needs to do is get on a round of diflucan or nystatin (or both) to clear up the thrush.  These can be taken with antibiotics so she needn't stop her mastitis treatment.  She needs to take probiotics and eat a bunch of yogurt.  She would benefit from trying gentian violet on her nipples as well.  She needs to get her body back into balance. 

Her baby is being treated appropriately, however, if she doesn't get treated, she'll pass it right back to baby.

Have you struggled with thrush while breastfeeding?  I haven't but I have heard how painful it can be.