Thrush Questions

I went through this with my first three children. Did the pediatrician give you oral Nystatin to put in your baby's mouth? If so, you should put some one your nipples too. If not, call your doctor and ask for a prescription. Good luck.

There is something called Gentian Violet. You can get it without a prescription, but most places keep it behind the counter. Apply a small bit to your nipples and nurse. It will turn everything purple, but it's the quickest best remedy I've found.

Are you sure you were given antibiotic? Thrush is a yeast infection. Antibiotics make it worse.

Make sure to wash anything that has touched your nipple very well. It can be spread easily.

hey T.,

Thrush is more than likely a cause of too much Candida in the body. This is somewhat of a contraversial topic as most doctors don't believe in systemic Candida. It can be passed back and forth from mother to nursing infant.....you need to completely STOP eating ALL sugars and simple, refined carbs, like white breads. And if you supplement with formula, try to not use it; exclusively breastfeed with a good, clean organic, mostly protein diet, without sugars.

I have had systemic Candida problems for several years now and it is very difficult to rid of the yeast; it also comes back easily!

Research and locate a quality probiotic for you to take, which will pass onto your son as you breastfeed. It is completely safe for both of you to take a probiotic. Also, try to eat plain, unsweetened, organic yogurt. You can also spread a little layer on your nipples before and after breastfeeding.

Pam

Yeast on your nipples is a serious thing that can become a systemic Candida problem. I've had issues since my son was born 18 months ago. I have struggled to get support from my doctor in fighting the fungal form of the yeast...it is true that the medical field doesn't understand it and doesn't want to. Gentian violet works alright, but is very messy and your baby will have purple lips for a while, which is a little awkward to explain to everyone who asks why his lips are purple. :) The key is to get rid of it before it gets out of control. See if your doctor will give you 14 days of Diflucan (tell them you have yeast on your nipples), get on a pro-biotic (available at organic/natural stores), avoid eating anything with sugar (you can find all kinds of anti-Candida diets online), make sure what your son has been prescribed is Nystatin or a similar product and NOT antibiotics, change your nursing bra pads after EVERY feeding. Do everything you can to get it under control before it spreads further!

Thrush, which is a yeast infection, can be *caused* by antibiotics, so I really hope your doctor didn't actually give you an antibiotic to try to treat it.

This article has tons of info about thrush: http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/thrush.html

Although yogurt can be an effective method of treatment, I would *not* recommend it with a 3 week old since early exposure to allergenic foods can lead to allergies.

Please contact your local La Leche League Leader for more (free!) help.

You need to go to your doctor NOW to get treated for it. It is only going to get worse if you and your son are not both treated for it at the same time-you will just keep passing it back and forth to each other. I had thrush when I breastfed my daughter and trust me, it DOES NOT go away on its own. I got to the point where I wanted to quit completely, it hurt so badly when I nursed. After you get done nursing, let your breasts air dry for awhile before you put your bra back on-the yeast grows in a dark, moist environment and if you don't let them air dry st least once in awhile, you will be in pretty bad shape. If you are using breast pads, don't use the disposable kind-they make the problem way worse. Get the washable kind (Medela makes some great ones) and change them often. Good luck!

My daughter was diagnosed with thrush when she was just 6 days old and when the doctor gave her a prescription, he also gave me one for Nystatin, which is an ointment you put on your nipples after each feeding. I never had any symptoms, but he said that thrush is contagious so if the baby passed it onto me then we could never fully get rid of it. Good luck!

Yes it is contagaous, but there is an antibotic cream that your doctor can give you for your nipples.

My 1st son had thrush ehen he was about 3 mths also. The doctor should have asked if you were still breastfeeding because just giving him antibootics won't work. They should have been able to write you a prescription for nystasin(sp?). Plus make sure that if he has any pacificers or any other nipples (bottle) he might use, you need to boil them for I believe 3-5 minutes.

Yes you can get it on your nipples. My daughters Dr. gave me a prescription for some medicine also so that we could get rid of it at the same time and not keep passing it back and forth. He also suggested puting the lotramin cream on my nipples to relieve the itching.
My nipples were red and itchy they hurt terribly when I breastfed. I think the best advice I got was to leave the flaps of my nursing bra open as long as possible to keep my nipples dry. That was what finally helped.
Take care.

I htought thrush aws from taking antibiotics...whild that the cure is antibiotics. I know culturelle in Walmart adn Walgreens for older children and adults is good bacteria like in yogurt it is sold where stomach stuff is like prilosec...

yogurt seems good for you..it is not dangerous that I know of...people who take antibiotics alot get it sometimes...ask peditrician...ask ask ask..that is how you learn
C.

Hey i believe it is or at least if i remember right i had to keep my self clean as well as the babys stuff everything that would go into the childs mouth needed to be clean or we bought new ones that stuff is a real big pain (they gave me a purple ink die that was bery dark and would stain everything it got on it) Im not sure what you can take but after every feeding clean it very well. Call your doctor for sure to ask but i think just cleaning will help. remember though keep using the meds until completely gone it can come right back i think we had it for a couple of weeks till it was gone bc i stopped and it came right back

Chances are you have it too- call your OB-GYN and they can give you something for it. I think it is like a yeast infection that you and the baby can give back and forth. We were give a antibiotic paste (gel-like) to spread in my daughters mouth- I was told to put it on my nipples too. I think it was Nystatin.

Wash your nipples after every feeding with just water (soap will dry them out and make them hurt more). Use disposable breast pads and get new ones after every feeding (even if you don't need breast pads anymore, it will keep the thrush out of your bra). For the soreness, Lanisoh (sp?) helps alot. Just wipe it off before the next feeding.

Hey T.,
I love your children's names! I have no experience w/ thrush. I do have a quick suggestion. Dryness is very important so if you are using 'disposable pads' make sure they do Not have a plastic liner. I think I used Gerber. I tried Johnson's (Those were real real thin. I never could figure out which end was up on them & they were just plain uncomfortable.) I think I used Gerber. It's rather thicker than others but is shaped in a such a way they 'stay put' w/o the use of those sticky strips & way more comfortable. It was one or the other & if you look at the picts, you'll be able to figure out which I used)
Have you gone to the Dr yet for yourself? If not why? Everyone below is right & have given you great advice.
Oh, I had problems w/ painful latching. Turns out my child really was missing about 5% of the nipple & that caused the pain. Changed the hold I was useing & was cured. -- No more stompin' of the floor from pain. LOL!
Good luck & hope everyone is cured!

yes, it is contagious. my daughter's pediatrician told me to by some lotrimin af... the stuff for athetle's foot, and rub some on my nipples after each feeding. just make sure you wash your breast really well before the next feeding. the lotrimin works awesome, and really relieves the pain and itching. just continue to use it until the thrush is gone, so that you don't give the infection back to the baby.

~A.

It is a common infection in newborns, and your breasts can become infected. Usually, your pediatrician can prescribe a cream or a special (messy) dye called grentian violet that is very effective. I don't know what is available over the counter. Good luck , and don't worry. It usually clears up easily, and is typically not harmful or painful to the baby.