Thrush is a type of yeast infection that affects babies. It can be passed from mother to child during breastfeeding, and is caused by the yeast Candida Albicans.
Yeast and fungus thrive in warm and moist places, and during breastfeeding, it is possible there will be some yeast on the mother’s body. Similarly, a babies mouth is moist. If a mother has these symptoms, she may be more sensitive during feeding, and feel uncomfortable. Don’t be immediately worried though, there can be other causes for these feelings too!
A baby, if affected with thrush, will have some white patches in his or her mouth. The babies mouth will also be redder than normal. Diaper rash may also more frequently occur. You should get this checked by a doctor, and there are some oral medications that can be given to the baby to get rid of the yeast. These need to be continued for around two weeks.
For the mother, it would be good to examine her health and try to prevent yeast infections. Yeast Infection No More is a book by Linda Allen which approaches yeast problems holistically and can be a valuable resource.