Thrush and Nursing

Hey B.,
I just went through this and my doctor told me to use the medicine that our little guy was on, which is nystatin. Mine cleared up pretty fast but I also stopped nursing. There were other reasons other then the obvious pain and itchiness that we stopped but it cleared up pretty fast after I stopped nursing.
Good Luck

I definately agree with everyone that said see a good lactation consultant (like at the art of breastfeeding! www.artofbreastfeeding.com ) Yeast can be tricky stuff, but with the right treatment can be overcome. Yeast also lives for a while on stuff (ie, your breastpump!) Breastpump needs to be cleaned well! Frankly, I'd not use it until you get past this. Get with someone soon to get a good treatment started. Gentian Violet is a commonly good one, but I'd get assistance in using it as it stains a bright purple! It is a liquid and you 'paint' it on your nipples. It can be very effective.
Best wishes to you! and ((Hugs))

You should have been given medicine as well- the pain of nursing with thrush is no joke. You can uyse Nysatin cream on your nipples (script) or gentian violet (herbal) helps a lot of people. Check out Kelleymom.com for some more info. Or call your doctor and insist that you be treated as well. Also, make sure you clean your pump parts very well as the yeast can be transmitted through your pump. Also thoroughly wash any bras, nursing cloths, etc in hot water.

This is called ductal yeast. I have had it and it was very painful!! Call your lactation consultant (mine was at Methodist), she was the only one who knew what was going on. I had a doctor think it was mastitis and prescibe an antibiotic which made the yeast much worse. My daughter then caught thrush from me and that is finally how we knew what it was.

There is an "all-purpose nipple ointment" (google for more info) that can prescribed and mixed by a pharmacist that works wonders. I let it go so long (3 months) that I had to take large doses of oral difulcan and cut all refined sugar (and significantly limit natural sugar) out of my diet. Change your bras and towels each day and launder with vinegar. Ice packs would help with the immediate pain.

Do not let this go, seek out help right away! It is very hard to get rid of this and you will need to treat your son with nystatin the entire time or you will keep passing it back and forth.

If you don't get it cleared up on your nipples, you'll give it back to your son. You can use some of his antibiotic on your nipples. Or you can always call your doc and see what he/she says. If they're closed this weekend, I would use his meds on you whenever you give it to him. I know how painful it can be!

Hello,

I had the exact same thing happen to me and the Lotrimin didn't work for me. What I did was take a little bit of the medicine for my daughter and run it on my nipples and let it air dry. Also putting a little of the medicine on a nursing pad seemed to clear it up in just two days. My nipples were so bad that they bleed when I pumped and it ruined so much of my milk. But I tried this and it works.

Hope this helps. Hang in there with the breastfeeding!

PS. Watch out for any fever or red streaks on your back or breasts because it is easy to get an infection with the thrush around.

I haven't nursed in a while but when ever my nipples became raw or cracked I released them in the air and sat them in the sun. The sun heals all. If you can find a location where they can bathe your breasts in the sun they will immediately feel better. If you have a skylight or room where you can lay down and let the sun in. Also, allow the breasts to air. Where loose clothing so the breasts can heal without irriation from clothing.

My son and I both had thrush as well. I feel your pain! My son also had a thrush rash around his genitals and the doctor prescribed a cream called Nystatin for him and I was also instructed to use it on my nipples. I am not sure if you have this sympton (I hope not) but thrush can also cause stabbing pains in your breast. I experienced it after nursing - like shards of glass. Eventually I had to get an antibiotic from my OB. I did two rounds of the antibiotic while still giving my son the oral medication and the thrush went away. I would ask your OB or pediatrician for the Nystatin and possibly antibiotics. Good luck! Stick with the breastfeeding!

I would personally go with a homeopathic remedy for the thrush - it'll clear up right away and it is totally safe for the baby to get through your milk. If you want the name of our homeopath MD I would be happy to share.

B.:

a) you both need to be treated/ if putting the lotrimin on does not feel better that it is the wrong medication.

b) i would not use your son's medication as it is suspended the alcohol and will sting when applied to your nipples.

c) call your ob or midwife for medication

d) your son may be nursing in a way that irritates the breast due to his mouth bothering him.

P., RLC, IBCLC
Parenting Coach and Board Certified Lactation Consultant
www.lactationsupportgroup.com

Try taking probiotics orally, cut out all refined sugar, and apply a grapefruit seed extract and water solution to your nipples. Also swab the inside of your LO's mouth with the GSE solution. This method worked wonders for me!! Gentian Violet,I have heard, works well.
This site has great BF advice- http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/bf/index.asp

I have always been told by other Moms that experienced this that Genetian Violet was the best solution for thrush...that it will clear up the infection that is in both places. I have heard that it is very messy, but I would think it would be worth it to have relief from that.

Looks like you have gotten a LOT of good advice!

My youngest and I had an ongoing battle with thrush, and what finally worked for us was Gentian Violet, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Acidophilus, and All purpose nipple ointment.

We did the Gentian violet on both of us every night for about a week. I would sleep topless, and the baby in just a diaper, then we would place an old towel under us since it is messy stuff! I took Grapefruit seed extract and acidophilus orally, and after every nursing session I would spray some liquid grapefruit seed extract on my nipples, allow to air dry, then put on the all purpose nipple ointment. You can fine more information, and a
"recipe" for the ointment here:
http://www.kellymom.com/newman/c-candida_protocol.html

Good Luck!

Newman's cream (has a steroid, antifungal and antibiotic)and oral antifungal from your OB, worked like a charm for me, you can also soak your nipples in vinegar water. Good luck!!

I only saw this mentioned in 2 other replies, so I feel I have to add that vinegar water (1 Tbsp to 1 C water) will probably help with the pain immensely. I would use it even before breastfeeding - let it air dry first!, then nurse - and it should make those feedings more bearable

This obviously does not replace a treatment - but it is quick, easy, cheap and readily available - Good Luck!

Have you seen or called your OB? There is a prescription for you as well. It will take care of it pretty quickly. I don't know why the pediatrician didn't recommend it...should have known! Don't get in to the formula suppliment routine, just keep pumping for a break and call your OB ASAP!
Good Luck!

I had this problem late last year and earlier this year. I know the pain is nearly unbearable.

To clear mine up, I used the medicine the doctor gave me to put in his mouth. It was a liquid and I would dip a Q-tip in it and rub it on my nipples. It cleared up ok, I do not remember how quick but I'm sure it wasn't as quickly as I'd have hoped.

Also, the stuff can stain your bra and clothes if it touches, I just used a nursing pad for that.

Good luck and I hope you find some relief!

I am going through the same thing right now. My ped. told me to put my sons medicine on me also. He also told me to put that lansinoh cream on, the stuff they give you at the hospital for sore nipples. If it is extremely painful, I would definetly call your dr. for some different medicine though.

I would suggest you check with your La Leche League. They are awesome at advice for moms with ANY kind of breastfeeding problems. Alternatively, check out your local Attachment Parenting group; they are also a wealth of information. And on a side note, yay for you for choosing to breastfeed your child. Don't give up; don't worry about formula; keep plugging away and getting support and it will all work out fine. I have breastfed my four kids, with and without problems, and I am so glad I stuck with it through the rough times.

Hugs!

i had this same situation and it was awful so i feel for you! it does get better though!!! what worked for me was using gentian violet in her mouth and on my nipples. i also took the antibiotic myself, diflucan i think, for an entire month, to make sure that it was gone! make its purple and weird but it worked. i also ate tons of plain yogurt. after each feeding i put vinegar on my nipples followed by olive oil to moisturize (im allergic to wool so couldn't use the lanolin creams). i also washed towels, bras, and linens after each use. and i sprinkled some acidopholus on her tongue by opening a capsule. i had peggy from "the art of breasetfeeding" (i think its www.artofbreastfeeding.com) come to my house when i had the infection and she gave me all of this advice and more, she was amazing. it was the best money i ever spent, and 5 months later im still breastfeeding because of the help she provided. good luck and hang in there, it does get better!!

Thrush is awful. I remember nursing and crying at the same time. I pumped alot too, because my daughter's mouth cleared up before my breasts did. A few things that helped;
Did your Doc. prescribe Nystatin? use it on your nipples as well as the baby's rash.
Make sure to keep your nipples clean and dry before putting your bra back on after nursing, moisure aids the infection.
Someone elce posted about Peggy form Art of Breastfeeding...she's awsome, I agree it was well worth the money.
Whole Foods sells Grapefruit seed extract and a probiotic formula that will help deep the infection from coming back. Totally safe and natural.
If you pump at all, try to use a hopital grade pump, you won't believe how fast thrush can compromise your supply. They also sell Fennugreek (sp?) which can help keep your supply up. Good Luck...Thrush Sucks!

Oh my goodness this brings back memories. My 2nd child and I had this really bad. I was told to stop nursing but that is the last thing you want to do. The nursing will help get it out of you and the natural milk will help his mouth heal. I tried what the doctors gave me and that was over the counter meds but they did not work very well. So I went to a La Leche meeting to see if they could help. They told me to go to the health food / vitamin store and buy Gentian Violet. Go to http://www.bflrc.com/newman/breastfeeding/gentviol.htm and read about it. IT WORKS GREAT. Beware it does stain so wear things you could throw away later. The babys mouth will be purple also but will go away fast (just like kool-aid). Believe me this works and you will be able to continue to nurse. Put a little on your nipples with a Q-tip and have the baby nurse. Or you can put it in their mouth with the Q-tip. Then after done nursing wipe your nipples off with a wipe and put more violet on. Do this with each nursing. Also leaving your self open to air helps. I just left my bra off most of the day, when noone was around. On that site they talk like it is soooo messy, but it is only as messy as you make it. I used bra pads to keep it from ruining my bras. The babys mouth did get messy but I just made sure I wiped him right after eating and it was fine. I hope this helps. Please let me know. I tell you it will work and it is the only thing that works !!! I just remembered that I did this for about 7 days. I tried Diflucan also and that did not seem to work.
Good luck - daisy

I experienced the same thing. After a round of expensive antiobiotics, they resorted to the old fashioned, albeit messy way. Buy some gentian violet at a health food store (sometimes Walgreens or CVS has it too). You swab your baby's mouth with it (do it during bath time as the stuff stains). You will also want to do the same on your nipples a couple of times a day. You can also ask your ob/gyn for Jack Newman's Nipple cream. It helps to soothe the cracking and dryness. Good luck!