Breastfeeding and Thrush

Hi S., When my son and I kept trading thrush back and forth the doctor told me to put his medication on my nipples and that got rid of it for both of us. I had to put it on before and after nursing. Hope this helps.
A.

S.,
Everyone responding about the Genitian Violet is right. The stuff is an OLD remedy, my grandma actually told me about it. I had a hard time finding it, Walgreens had 1 bottle but it was behind the counter of the pharmacy and I had to ask for it, not sure why.
But I can tell you from getting LOTS of yeast infections over the years that Yogurt is your friend! It fights the battle of the yeast and it really does work. So, try eating a few cups of that a day, it WILL help!
Good luck!

I would definately recommend talking directly to the lactation consultant at Morton Plant. There is also a great Yahoo group put out by Morton Plant Nursing Moms and I also like another Yahoo group that is specifically for nursing moms of children over 1 year. I find it very supportive for lots of different issues related to breastfeeding, especially older kids.

I find it best to avoid using any cloth hand towels (just use paper till the problem goes away) and only use bath towels or washcloths once before washing in HOT. Change bras and tops frequently, and even the baby's clothes if your breast touched it. Be fanatic about cross-contamination and you will seriously reduce the transfer back and forth. I believe a quality probiotic from a health food or vitamin store for both you and the baby would be great. I use them and my kids take Baby Flora. Drinking Kefir may be helpful, but they are sometimes sugary if flavored. Best wishes!!!

I sooo feel for you!!!!!!!! I've nursed 3 boys and third times a charm! The first two they got thrush and I got mastitis as a result!!!! After the last second one and nystatin not working I went to the midwife.

She told me to do the yeast free diet which I've followed for 3yrs now - it's in every flippin thing and always been a lable reader so that was just one more thing to cross off -

anyway I dont have a big budget for clothing - so the staining you get with genetian voilet was not an option.

I started taking "GSE" GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT. I took 20 drops 2x a day. granted I got cramps (gas from the dying yeast) but in two days we were both better!!!!!

I'd put it in about 5-6oz of oj to help it go down - it's nasty tasting but it killsd yeast, other fungi, parasites, basically everything bad!!! It's the #1 thing used in 3rd world countries where they don't have access to pharm's.

It's 15.99 for a small bottle which would last for 1.5 years of weekly use. Being on the yeast free diet - as soon as you have anything with yeast you get bloated and gassey! so just do a dose of GSE and knock it right out and continue on . . .

I give you props for doing the yeast free diet - having done it for so long it's hard - especially since I've started to make bread from scratch - - anyway thats a different story for another time - email me anytime you want to chat.

I got three kidlins too all boys, 8, 5, 13mo.
good luck!

You might want to read the book The Yeast Connection, and TOTALLY stop ALL sugar, honey, cane syrup, high fructose corn syrup ( read all labels - it is even in bread and cereal) to starve the little critters to death. A constant yeast infection also is indicative of a suppressed immune system, and sugar can be the culprit there, as well. You might also want to read The Sugar Blues... sorry I cannot remember the authors' names. Have you consulted with a Naturopathic Dietician?

Hi, I know there is a prescription for thrush but not sure if it is alright with breastfeeding. It works quickly, but check with your doctor. I think that is probably the quickest treatment with a presciption. Good luck!

Hi, S.,

We had thrush a few years ago when I was nursing my 2-week old infant (I hadn't gone back to work yet, so it was not as difficult to resolve). It was very persistent...and it was awful for me. We tried everything. Nystatin worked temporarily, but gentian violet is what worked permanently in the end (I nursed her until she was 15 months, and never got it again). I also ate a lot of yoghurt and took acidophilous pills. We were living in Washington, DC at the time, where I got the gentian violet from a non-profit breastfeeding center. Not sure where to get it around here. It is a deep purple color, and your nipples will be stained for a few days. And yes, it will transfer to the baby's mouth, which will also be stained purple for a bit...but it really does work, and stops the thrush from transferring between the baby's mouth and your nipples.

I would apply it to my nipples and aerola several times a day, and try to go shirtless to prevent moisture from exacerbating the problem. Also, if you can see whiteness on the baby's tongue, you can put a bit on a Q-tip and swab her mouth.

Good luck!
A.

My OB put me on an oral anti-fungal. It's much stronger. Wish I could remember the name. Your OB or lactation consultant should know. Call the hospital you delivered at, and ask for lactation.

Oh, S., I have BEEN THERE. I had a terrible case of the thrush in my breasts when my son had oral thrush. It was awful. The best way to describe it was like broken glass shattered throughout my nipples and entire breast. It was excruciating, and I think only someone who's been through that can truly understand. My son was only a month old at the time, so it was difficult enough trying to nurse without one more disaster to add to it!
I never tried the gentian violet, although I heard rave reviews about it. La Leche League was the most supportive and gave me the best ideas to FINALLY get us both through it. Nystatin helped, but healing his oral thrush at the same rate as the thrush I developed was the most help. It seemed we kept giving it back and forth to each other. So frustrating. Here's the link that may help:
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/thrush.html
Another link: http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/yeast.shtml.
Best of luck. I know what you are going through, and I wish you the fastest of recovery. Hang in there. And mucho kudos on continuing to breastfeed!

Optiflora does the trick. It's natural and works very well. You can order it on-line at www.shaklee.net/vitalizeyourlife. Save yourself some shipping and get 2 Optiflora systems. It's 100% money back guaranteed.

Try Ask Dr. Sears. You can find a great deal of info on the site. The link below is to an article on thrush and how to get rid of it. It talks about Gentian Violet as being effective and what dose your Dr. should give - it also says it is difficult to use because it is quite messy. My Aunt used it almost 30 years ago and it worked very well for both her and the baby.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T083100.asp

Best of luck to you.

My kids are alittle older but I did have the same problem years ago. The Gelitain of violet (ask the pharasist-over the counter)works great, cheap but looks horrible. Do you have the thrush or your child? Coat the babies mouth as recommended by Pharm. but also coat your nipples and if you have it do your mouth too. When the baby has thrush do not kiss the baby on the mouth. You will get it! Not fun, my mouth swelled up and I couldn't eat for 2 days it was soo painful. Makes you wonder how the baby goes without screaming 24/7. Hope this helps.

I haven't had it on my breasts before, but my oldest had it real bad and I had trouble getting rid of it. I ended up using genenium violet. The stuff is messy and will ruin whatever it touches, but it works!! If you are at your last straw, I suggest putting it on. But, word to the wise, wear something that you do not mind ruining during the time you are wearing it. I can't remember, though, how long she had to take it.

I had thrush (an over production of yeast in my throat) and the only thing that worked for me was diflucan - the one dose treatment for vaginal yeast infections, however I had to take it every day for a week - 2/ day for the first 2 days and one a day thereafter. My throat cultures came back normal after that. That was the only way to get rid of it.

Thrush is hell. I have had it recurring and still get it from time to time (I'm still nursing my 18 month old).

If I use Nystatin cream consistently for 2+ weeks, it will go away.

I also know some people who have had luck with Grapefruit Seed Extract.

I think thrush is really hard to kick. Good luck.