Hydrocephalus...What This Has To Do With Me

Well, as you may or may not already know, my twins were born 10 weeks early (30 wks., 2 days).  They had a rough start, and one day I'll get into that further.  (Today is not that day.)

Because of their size and gestation when they were born, the kids were signed up to attend the "Developmental Follow-Up Clinic" at the hospital where they were born.  They went every 4 months at first, just to make sure things were moving forward...that their development didn't fall too far behind their peers.  (We always knew they'd be somewhat behind for the simple fact that they were born 2 1/2 months early.  The developmental follow-ups were to make sure that if they failed to progress, we could get some early intervention to help them out.)

From the time my son was born, he had a big head.  Even at 3 lbs., 14 oz., his head was 32 cms.  (12.5 inches), which was only 3 cms smaller than my last daughter who was born 3 days past her due date.  From the start, his head was always above the 90% percentile.

Over the course of the first year, his head was always a growing concern (no pun intended).  It got to the point that it was in the 96% percentile, growing much faster than anyone liked.  The pediatrician at the follow-up clinic had us take him in for an ultrasound of his brain (they did it through the soft spot on the top of his head).  There was excess water there.

I want to mention that at the time, the man who did the ultrasound on his head told us that he'd seen tons of children come in with excess water on the brain, and that it ended up being reabsorbed over time, never resulting in anything except a large head.

I didn't care what he said.  Honestly, IMO, an ultrasound tech isn't the person I want telling me that my baby boy is okay.  I wanted to hear it from someone with some letters behind their name...like the pediatrician.  But she didn't.  She sent us to a pediatric neurosurgeon.  The appointment was scheduled for two months later.  It was the longest two months of my life, next to the two months the twins spent in the NICU. 

Everyday I would kiss my son's head over and over and over.  (A mother's kiss is healing...right?  "Please let these kisses heal him...please, please...please the them heal him...")

For two months all I could think of was what would happen if he was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus.  I'd never even heard the word before, and believe me, Google doesn't give you a really hopeful idea of what can happen.  I joined some support groups on Facebook, telling them that I didn't know if my son had it, but it seemed like everyone important thought he did...

I met a man named Perry.  He may or may not end up telling his story here.  He had it since he was small, and has been through it himself.  He told me what I needed to hear.  My son would swim, he would play, he could do whatever any other child could do, even with a shunt.  The only things he may not be able to do would be contact sports like football (and I mean real football, not soccer.  LOL).  He gave me hope when I needed it, and I'll forever be thankful for that.  His words didn't make everything better, but gave me enough hope not to lose my mind while we waited to see the surgeon.

At the assessment, the neurosurgeon looked him over, had him walk, and said that from what she saw from the ultrasound pictures, it could be something that goes away...or not.  Only time would tell, and she wasn't going to put in a shunt just yet.  She wanted to see what happened, and scheduled another appointment four months later.

Well, I'll tell you.  My brains don't work like they used to.  Being alone with twins 12-14 hours a day can get to me...make me forget anything other than what is happening that moment, right in front of me.  I lost the card that had the appt written on it, and no one called me to remind me of the date.  So we missed it.  When I found the card, it was about a week after the appt. was scheduled, and we had to rebook.  Great.  Another two months of waiting.  All this time, I had still been holding him and kissing his head over and over, every single day, praying and wishing and hoping that my kiss would be enough to help him.

Finally the day of the appointment.  I was so scared I couldn't eat, couldn't think straight...I just felt sick from worry.  We got there early, and waited in the room for about 40 mins before the neurologist finally showed up.  (She'd been in emergency surgery.)  He spent all that time just running around the entire wing of the hospital...being crazy (as usual)!

She watched our son walk to the toys.  Pick them up.  Turn around and run back to us.  She heard him talk, and she saw him smile.  She picked him up and put him on her lap and looked at his eyes.  She put him down and looked at us and said the words that I'll never forget.  "He's fine."

She explained to us that because he was clearly developing...moving forward in speech and movement, he was able to bend over, pick up a toy, and bring it to us...he was okay.  Children with Hydrocephalus stop developing without a shunt.  She said that his eyes looked perfect, that he was just as crazy and active as any other child.  She measured his head again...still in the 96th percentile.  Then she measured my husband's head.  Same.  LOL  My husband was also in the 96th percentile!  His big head wasn't from Hydrocephalus, it was genetic...passed down from Daddy!

The entire thing put it all into perspective for me.  There are brain disorders that are just not known about by the general public.  Sometimes someone can look totally normal and have something going on inside of their bodies or their brains that we can't see from the outside.  And the lack of education about Hydrocephalus is just upsetting to me.  It's something we need to talk about.  Something we need to find a cure for. 

Although my son was not diagnosed with Hydrocephalus, everyday others are.  I'm sure there are people in my community (and yours) that have it and no one even knows, because the shunt is inside of their body, you can't see it and identify it.  So, as a thank you to Perry, I am going to start a Hydrocephalus Support Group in my city as soon as my twins start school next year.  I will find them a place to meet, get things going, and leave them to it.  I am a fantastic planner.  It's what I do.  And I think that no matter what you're going through, it's easier when you know you're not alone.  I don't feel like I should be at their meetings, because my story is not like theirs.  But I know the fear that they faced when they were given a diagnosis.  It's the fear any mother would have when she's told that there is something wrong with their child.  I can't fix things for everyone, but I can help them find other people who can relate.  No one should have to face Hydrocephalus alone.

So there it is.  That's my story about Hydrocephalus.


Donations for research can be made here:  GUARDIANS OF HYDROCEPHALUS RESEARCH FOUNDATION

**Update:

I am in the process of figuring out where meetings could be held if I am able to find people interested in joining a support group.
My twins started school yesterday, and this has been on my mind, again, for the last two weeks.

As it progresses, I will post about what's going on.  : )

September is Hydrocephalus Awareness Month

What is hydrocephalus?

The term hydrocephalus is derived from the Greek words "hydro" meaning water and "cephalus" meaning head. As the name implies, it is a condition in which the primary characteristic is excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. Although hydrocephalus was once known as "water on the brain," the "water" is actually cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — a clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The excessive accumulation of CSF results in an abnormal widening of spaces in the brain called ventricles. This widening creates potentially harmful pressure on the tissues of the brain.

The ventricular system is made up of four ventricles connected by narrow passages.. Normally, CSF flows through the ventricles, exits into cisterns (closed spaces that serve as reservoirs) at the base of the brain, bathes the surfaces of the brain and spinal cord, and then reabsorbs into the bloodstream.

CSF has three important life-sustaining functions: 1) to keep the brain tissue buoyant, acting as a cushion or "shock absorber"; 2) to act as the vehicle for delivering nutrients to the brain and removing waste; and 3) to flow between the cranium and spine and compensate for changes in intracranial blood volume (the amount of blood within the brain).

The balance between production and absorption of CSF is critically important. Because CSF is made continuously, medical conditions that block its normal flow or absorption will result in an over-accumulation of CSF. The resulting pressure of the fluid against brain tissue is what causes hydrocephalus.

What are the different types of hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus may be congenital or acquired. Congenital hydrocephalus is present at birth and may be caused by either events or influences that occur during fetal development, or genetic abnormalities. Acquired hydrocephalus develops at the time of birth or at some point afterward. This type of hydrocephalus can affect individuals of all ages and may be caused by injury or disease.

Hydrocephalus may also be communicating or non-communicating. Communicating hydrocephalus occurs when the flow of CSF is blocked after it exits the ventricles. This form is called communicating because the CSF can still flow between the ventricles, which remain open. Non-communicating hydrocephalus - also called "obstructive" hydrocephalus - occurs when the flow of CSF is blocked along one or more of the narrow passages connecting the ventricles. One of the most common causes of hydrocephalus is "aqueductal stenosis." In this case, hydrocephalus results from a narrowing of the aqueduct of Sylvius, a small passage between the third and fourth ventricles in the middle of the brain.

There are two other forms of hydrocephalus which do not fit exactly into the categories mentioned above and primarily affect adults: hydrocephalus ex-vacuo and normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Hydrocephalus ex-vacuo occurs when stroke or traumatic injury cause damage to the brain. In these cases, brain tissue may actually shrink. Normal pressure hydrocephalus can happen to people at any age, but it is most common among the elderly. It may result from a subarachnoid hemorrhage, head trauma, infection, tumor, or complications of surgery. However, many people develop normal pressure hydrocephalus even when none of these factors are present for reasons that are unknown.

Who gets this disorder?
The number of people who develop hydrocephalus or who are currently living with it is difficult to establish since there is no national registry or database of people with the condition. However, experts estimate that hydrocephalus affects approximately 1 in every 500 children.
What causes hydrocephalus?

The causes of hydrocephalus are still not well understood. Hydrocephalus may result from inherited genetic abnormalities (such as the genetic defect that causes aqueductal stenosis) or developmental disorders (such as those associated with neural tube defects including spina bifida and encephalocele). Other possible causes include complications of premature birth such as intraventricular hemorrhage, diseases such as meningitis, tumors, traumatic head injury, or subarachnoid hemorrhage, which block the exit of CSF from the ventricles to the cisterns or eliminate the passageway for CSF into the cisterns.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of hydrocephalus vary with age, disease progression, and individual differences in tolerance to the condition. For example, an infant's ability to compensate for increased CSF pressure and enlargement of the ventricles differs from an adult's. The infant skull can expand to accommodate the buildup of CSF because the sutures (the fibrous joints that connect the bones of the skull) have not yet closed.

In infancy, the most obvious indication of hydrocephalus is often a rapid increase in head circumference or an unusually large head size. Other symptoms may include vomiting, sleepiness, irritability, downward deviation of the eyes (also called "sunsetting"), and seizures.

Older children and adults may experience different symptoms because their skulls cannot expand to accommodate the buildup of CSF. Symptoms may include headache followed by vomiting, nausea, papilledema (swelling of the optic disk which is part of the optic nerve), blurred or double vision, sunsetting of the eyes, problems with balance, poor coordination, gait disturbance, urinary incontinence, slowing or loss of developmental progress, lethargy, drowsiness, irritability, or other changes in personality or cognition including memory loss.

Symptoms of normal pressure hydrocephalus include, problems with walking, impaired bladder control leading to urinary frequency and/or incontinence, and progressive mental impairment and dementia. An individual with this type of hydrocephalus may have a general slowing of movements or may complain that his or her feet feel "stuck." Because some of these symptoms may also be experienced in other disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus is often incorrectly diagnosed and never properly treated. Doctors may use a variety of tests, including brain scans (CT and/or MRI), a spinal tap or lumbar catheter, intracranial pressure monitoring, and neuropsychological tests, to help them accurately diagnose normal pressure hydrocephalus and rule out any other conditions.

The symptoms described in this section account for the most typical ways in which progressive hydrocephalus manifests itself, but it is important to remember that symptoms vary significantly from one person to the next.

How is hydrocephalus diagnosed?

Hydrocephalus is diagnosed through clinical neurological evaluation and by using cranial imaging techniques such as ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or pressure-monitoring techniques. A physician selects the appropriate diagnostic tool based on an individual’s age, clinical presentation, and the presence of known or suspected abnormalities of the brain or spinal cord.

What is the current treatment?

Hydrocephalus is most often treated by surgically inserting a shunt system. This system diverts the flow of CSF from the CNS to another area of the body where it can be absorbed as part of the normal circulatory process.

A shunt is a flexible but sturdy plastic tube. A shunt system consists of the shunt, a catheter, and a valve. One end of the catheter is placed within a ventricle inside the brain or in the CSF outside the spinal cord. The other end of the catheter is commonly placed within the abdominal cavity, but may also be placed at other sites in the body such as a chamber of the heart or areas around the lung where the CSF can drain and be absorbed. A valve located along the catheter maintains one-way flow and regulates the rate of CSF flow.

A limited number of individuals can be treated with an alternative procedure called third ventriculostomy. In this procedure, a neuroendoscope — a small camera that uses fiber optic technology to visualize small and difficult to reach surgical areas — allows a doctor to view the ventricular surface. Once the scope is guided into position, a small tool makes a tiny hole in the floor of the third ventricle, which allows the CSF to bypass the obstruction and flow toward the site of resorption around the surface of the brain.

What are the possible complications of a shunt system?

Shunt systems are not perfect devices. Complications may include mechanical failure, infections, obstructions, and the need to lengthen or replace the catheter. Generally, shunt systems require monitoring and regular medical follow up. When complications occur, the shunt system usually requires some type of revision.

Some complications can lead to other problems such as overdraining or underdraining. Overdraining occurs when the shunt allows CSF to drain from the ventricles more quickly than it is produced. Overdraining can cause the ventricles to collapse, tearing blood vessels and causing headache, hemorrhage (subdural hematoma), or slit-like ventricles (slit ventricle syndrome). Underdraining occurs when CSF is not removed quickly enough and the symptoms of hydrocephalus recur. In addition to the common symptoms of hydrocephalus, infections from a shunt may also produce symptoms such as a low-grade fever, soreness of the neck or shoulder muscles, and redness or tenderness along the shunt tract. When there is reason to suspect that a shunt system is not functioning properly (for example, if the symptoms of hydrocephalus return), medical attention should be sought immediately.

What is the prognosis?

The prognosis for individuals diagnosed with hydrocephalus is difficult to predict, although there is some correlation between the specific cause of the hydrocephalus and the outcome. Prognosis is further complicated by the presence of associated disorders, the timeliness of diagnosis, and the success of treatment. The degree to which relief of CSF pressure following shunt surgery can minimize or reverse damage to the brain is not well understood.

Affected individuals and their families should be aware that hydrocephalus poses risks to both cognitive and physical development. However, many children diagnosed with the disorder benefit from rehabilitation therapies and educational interventions and go on to lead normal lives with few limitations. Treatment by an interdisciplinary team of medical professionals, rehabilitation specialists, and educational experts is critical to a positive outcome. Left untreated, progressive hydrocephalus may be fatal.

The symptoms of normal pressure hydrocephalus usually get worse over time if the condition is not treated, although some people may experience temporary improvements. While the success of treatment with shunts varies from person to person, some people recover almost completely after treatment and have a good quality of life. Early diagnosis and treatment improves the chance of a good recovery.

What research is being done?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct research related to hydrocephalus in laboratories and clinics at the NIH and support additional research through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Much of this research focuses on finding better ways to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure disorders such as hydrocephalus. The NINDS also conducts and supports a wide range of fundamental studies that explore the complex mechanisms of normal and abnormal brain development.

Where can I get more information?
For more information on neurological disorders or research programs funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, contact the Institute's Brain Resources and Information Network (BRAIN) at:

BRAIN
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
(800) 352-9424
http://www.ninds.nih.gov

Information also is available from the following organizations:

Hydrocephalus Association 870 Market Street Suite 705 San Francisco, CA 94102 info@hydroassoc.org http://www.hydroassoc.org Tel: 415-732-7040 888-598-3789 Fax: 415-732-7044	Hydrocephalus Support Group, Inc. P.O. Box 4236 Chesterfield, MO 63006-4236 hydrodb@earthlink.net Tel: 636-532-8228 Fax: 314-251-5871
National Hydrocephalus Foundation 12413 Centralia Road Lakewood, CA 90715-1653 debbifields@nhfonline.org http://nhfonline.org Tel: 562-924-6666 888-857-3434

"Hydrocephalus Fact Sheet," NINDS. Publication date February 2008.
NIH Publication No. 08-385

There are also many Hydrocephalus support groups found on Facebook. 

Hemangioma...A Post For My Baby Girl.

When my daughter was born at 4:41pm that (freezing) cold November day, she was perfect. I want to say one more time...she was PERFECT. Chubby, beautiful, healthy. Wonderful exactly as she was made. Right after she was born they put her on my chest so we could have a little snuggle, and then they took her and wrapped her up so that Daddy could have a chance to meet his newest princess. As he was holding his baby girl, the nurses were talking with me as they were filling out their paperwork. I asked to nurse her, since it had been about 15 minutes since she'd been born, and while I was doing that, they asked me about the "birthmark" on her belly. Did anyone in my family have one? Did I? (During both of my pregnancies, I developed a huge brown mark around my belly button to go along with the dark line that went down the entire length of my belly.) I told them that my mark wasn't a birthmark, it would go away several months after my pregnancy was over...it was the same thing that happened with the twins. The nurse said she thought it was something that "started with an H".

I knew exactly what it was, after she'd said that. I had JUST watched a video on YouTube the same night I went into labor (about two hours before), and it was called "The Birth And Death of a Hemangioma". I didn't even want to think about it, because my only experiences with the word "Hemangioma" was the video I had watched, and a little girl we know. (As it turns out, both were a different type.)
When she was born, it was just a little bit darker than her skin colour. Like a birthmark. It changed as time went on, and continues to.


Hemangioma at 1 month old.

As you can see, at a month old, it was starting to get pink. A hemangioma is an abnormal buildup of blood vessels in the skin or internal organs. In our daughter's case, she had what is called a "strawberry hemangioma". "Superficial or "strawberry" hemangiomas often are not treated. When they are allowed to disappear on their own, the result is usually normal-appearing skin. In some cases, a laser may be used to remove the small vessels."
Found HERE.

They are more common in girls than boys, and there is nothing a mother "did" during her pregnancy to cause it. As many as 10% of babies born will develop a hemangioma before a year old.

Hemangioma, 2 months old.

By two months old, it was turning the normal red (which is where it gets it's "strawberry" name from). You could clearly see the blood vessels in it, and when you pressed on it, you could see it turn pale, and then turn red again as blood flowed back into it. At this point, it was still flat and even with her skin.


Hemangioma, 3 months old.

By three months old, it was at it's worst. It was bright red, and raised off of her skin. It literally looked like someone had cut a thin piece of strawberry, and placed it on her belly. It never bothered her, and touching it didn't hurt her.


Hemangioma, 5 months old.

By five months old, it had almost flattened out again. It was starting to get areas that were lighter, as you can see from the photo.


Hemangioma, 8 months old.

Here we are at 8 months old. Her mark is not nearly as visible as it once was, and is still completely flat. Only the very top of it has a clearly obvious pink-ness to it, and it's hard to see the blood vessels in it. It seems like every day the areas that are flesh-coloured are getting larger, and the darker areas are getting smaller. However, if she is cold, it turns a light shade of purple. I think it always might, even if it gets to the point that it looks normal otherwise.

Strawberry hemangiomas are "superficial, and most hemangiomas often disappear on their own. About 50% go away by age 5, and 90% are gone by age 9." (Link HERE.)

About 30% of hemangiomas are present at birth, the rest appear in the first several months of life. (As in the YouTube video.)

Most hemangiomas are on the face, neck, or head.

There are several kinds of hemangiomas:

Superficial Hemangioma

Tumorous lesions that develop near the surface of an infant's skin are called superficial hemangiomas, explain medical experts with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Typically, superficial hemangiomas appear bright red in color and lie flat against the skin. Certain children can develop a superficial tumor called a strawberry hemangioma, which causes a raised, red lesion to appear across the skin.  (What my daughter has.)

Deep Hemangioma

A child who develops a hemangioma tumor within her muscles, internal organs or lower skin layers has a type of skin lesion called a deep hemangioma, according to health experts with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Deep hemangiomas may appear smooth across the skin's surface, but develop a blue or gray color. This type of hemangioma tumor may not be detectable until a child is several weeks or months old because it begins deep beneath the skin, explains Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Once detected, a deep hemangioma can feel firm or rubbery to the touch.

Combined or Mixed Hemangioma

Children who develop hemangioma tumors within the upper skin layers as well as within their bodies, lower skin layers or muscles have combined or mixed hemangioma tumors, report Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center health professionals. The skin lesions exhibit characteristics of both superficial and deep hemangiomas and can appear red and blue in color. Combined or mixed hemangiomas can appear as flat or raised lesions across an infant's skin.(Taken from HERE.)

Hepatic hemangiomas

"Hemangioma is the most common benign tumor affecting the liver.  Hepatic hemangiomas are mesenchymal in origin and usually are solitary. Some authorities consider them to be benign congenital hamartomas.Hemangiomas are composed of masses of blood vessels that are atypical or irregular in arrangement and size. Etiology remains unknown." (Found HERE.)
"...are thought to be present in as many as 7% of healthy people. Hemangiomas are four to six times more common in women than in men. Female hormones may promote the formation and growth of hemangiomas. Hemangiomas, although referred to as tumors, are not malignant and do not become cancerous. Hemangiomas are not unique to the liver and can occur almost anywhere in the body." (Found HERE.)


More information on Hemangiomas found HERE, and HERE.

I wanted to post something about hemangiomas, just so that people don't think they're alone when their child has one.  It's something people don't really talk about, and I thought it was high time to inform people about them.  

Oral Thrush In Infants

Oral thrush is a very common infection in infants that causes irritation in and around a baby's mouth. It is caused by the overgrowth of the yeast (a type of fungus) called Candida albicans.  Candida overgrowth can lead to vaginal (yeast) infections, diaper rashes, or oral thrush.

Most people (including infants) naturally have Candida in their mouths and digestive tracts, which is considered normal growth. The amount is controlled by a healthy immune system and some "good" bacteria. If the immune system is weakened (due to an illness or medicines like chemotherapy), or if the immune system is not fully developed as is the case in infants, the Candida in the digestive tract can overgrow and lead to an infection.

Sometimes Candida overgrowth occurs after a baby has received antibiotics for a bacterial infection, because antibiotics can kill off the "good" bacteria that keep the Candida from growing. Similarly, infection can occur with the steroid use.

Oral thrush can affect anyone, although it's most common in infants younger than 6 months and in older adults. A baby with oral thrush might develop cracked skin in the corners of the mouth or whitish patches on the lips, tongue, or inside the cheeks that look a little like cottage cheese but can't be wiped away. Scraping the white patches off can cause some bleeding.

Many babies don't feel anything at all, but some may be uncomfortable when sucking. Some babies may not feed well because their mouth feels sore.

Babies can have oral thrush and a diaper rash due to the same yeast at the same time.

Although oral thrush is a common infection in infancy, you can help prevent it: If you are formula-feeding your baby or using a pacifier, it's important to thoroughly clean the nipples and pacifiers in hot water or dishwasher after each use. That way, if there's yeast on the bottle nipple or pacifier, your baby doesn't continue to get re-infected. Storing milk and prepared bottles in the refrigerator prevents yeast from growing.

If you are breastfeeding and your nipples are red and sore, there's a chance you may have a yeast infection on your nipples, and that you and the baby are passing it back and forth. If so, you may want to talk to the doctor about using an antifungal ointment on your nipples while the baby is being treated with the antifungal solution.

Changing diapers frequently also prevents the fungal diaper rashes.

See your doctor if you think your baby may have thrush. Some cases go away without medical treatment within a week or two, but the doctor may prescribe an antifungal solution for your baby's mouth. This medication is usually applied by painting it on the inside of the mouth and tongue with a sponge applicator.

And depending on your baby's age, the doctor might suggest adding yogurt with lactobacilli to your child's diet. The lactobacilli are the "good" bacteria that can help eliminate the yeast in your child's mouth.

If your child keeps getting oral thrush, especially if he or she is older than 9 months, talk with your doctor because this might be an indication of another health issue.

Reviewed by: Yamini Durani, MD
The above article was found HERE.

FOUR WAYS TO TELL IF YOUR BABY HAS THRUSH

Location – thrush is usually visible on the inside of the cheeks and lips, on the gums, and on the tongue. If present, it will usually spread to 3 or 4 of these places inside the mouth. A thin coating on the tongue only may simply be milk. However, a thick white coating on the tongue is probably thrush.

Does not come and go – thrush will usually hang around for weeks. Milk patches inside the cheeks and lips, on the other hand, will come and go with feedings. A milk coating on the tongue, however, can be more stubborn, often staying there for weeks as well.

Does not easily wipe off – use your finger and try to wipe away the white patch. If it comes off easily, it's probably milk. Thrush is harder to scrape away, and can even bleed slightly when removed.

Associated factors – if either baby or a breastfeeding mom has recently taken antibiotics, or your baby has a stubborn, raised, red diaper rash with outlying red spots (yeast diaper rash), then any suspicious white patches in baby's mouth are much more likely to be thrush.

This was found HERE.  (Dr. Sears)

Also, because mom and baby have such a high chance of passing it back and forth during breastfeeding, make sure you're not only treating Baby.  You can express a little breast milk and spread it around your nipple, letting it air dry.  And I've read several things about using white vinegar after nursing.  (One tsp vinegar to one cup water.)  Pat a little on your nipple and let it air dry.
Make sure to treat your bra too.  Freezing doesn't kill yeast.  But sunlight does.  You can hang your bra out in the sun (exposing your nipples to sun can help too...though there really wouldn't be a lot of chances to do that around my house without having an entire condo of retirees getting a free show).

I'm not a fan of giving my children any kind of antibiotic unless it is absolutely necessary.  And when it comes to infants...I think we all need to think this way.  Doctors are way too quick to prescribe something, when there are many other, MUCH MORE NATURAL ways to cure it.  Thrush is no different.  Here is a link to Natural Mothering.  Lots of fantastic (natural) advice on there.

It's not something that is all that uncommon.  I've heard of it happening a million times.  Just make sure that if it's something that is long-lasting, or re-occurring, that you have your Dr. check your baby for things like diabetes, or other immune system problems.

*Also, just a thought here, I wonder if it's something that happens more often after vaccination?  During that time the body is under attack, the immune system is lowered and more prone to picking up other disease/illnesses...it'd make sense that it could also lower the immune system enough to allow it to be attacked by candida...or to cause it in the first place.