Thrush

Courtenay - posted on 04/14/2012

My midwife also suggested monasate, I am pumping because it is less painful and there is less chance of passing it back and forth. hopefully We will be able to start breastfeeding again soon.

Jessie - posted on 08/11/2010

nystatin did nothing for me or my baby. we were immune to it. get some gentian violet and use it on your breasts (paint it one with a cotton swab or something) and nurse your baby. very messy and stains everything but it kills the nasty yeasty beasties (thrush)

http://www.drjacknewman.com/help/Gentian...

go to this website and read about thrush and gentian violet. very helpful to me. I ended up having to get a prescription for Diflucan (Fluconazole ) for myself and my baby in addition to the GV. diflucan is the normal script for a vaginal yeast infection. I also did the vinegar wash several times a day and boiled the holy crap out of everything that I couldnt throw away and replace (breast pump parts, bottle, etc) I did this for 20 minutes daily for several weeks (a large pain in the butt) oh and my son also had a yeast infection in his diaper area that was awful. thats how the lactation consultant I went to see knew it was thrush/yeast that was causing my nipple pain you couldnt actaully see anything in his mouth but it must have been there! I was actually put on a presciption for the diflucan for awhile (like I took it on a regular basis) before we figured out the right combo of things to get rid of it. there were several attempts at creams, etc for my son and I before the gentian violet, diflucan and boiling did the trick. good luck. add me if you have questions about my rambling. and go to that weblink!

Jamie - posted on 08/11/2010

Nystantine didn't work for my son's thrush at all. I ended up giving him lemon wedges to suck on and feeding him right after, i used a solution of tea tree oil on my nipples after he went to bed and washed them well before his first night feeding. Cleared it up right away.

Ola - posted on 08/11/2010

Hello there...
To get rid of thrush, make the solution it works!
When my baby and I had it I just used the solution. My midwife told me about 1cup Water & 1TBS vinegar or 1cup water & 1TBS baking soda.
I used the baking soda solution and after each feeding I would wipe her mouth out with a Qtip and wipe my nipple out and it gave me relief and eventually went away

Kimberly - posted on 08/11/2010

My daughter and I just got over thrush.
Her ped gave her Nyastatin. He had me put .5ml in each side of her mouth until the thrush was gone. He told me to treat my daughter for 5 days after thr white patches disappeared.

My midwife put me on a 14 day course of Dyflucan and recommended me putting Lanolin on my nipples after pumping/feeding. I don't recommend the Lanolin. It seemed to make it worse. The Dyflucan didn't cure the thrush so my LC sent me the following info:
BREASTFEEDING THROUGH A YEAST INFECTION OR THRUSH

A yeast infection, also called candidiasis or moniliasis, is a fungus that thrives on the warm moist areas of your birth canal, your nipples, milk ducts, and your baby’s mouth and diaper area. In your baby’s mouth it is called thrush. You can continue to breastfeed even with a yeast infection or thrush. You might notice:

MOTHER SIGNS
Sudden onset of sore nipples after having breastfed without discomfort
Burning or shooting pain in the breast during or after feedings
Painful nipples that persist after latch-on technique changes have been made
Red nipples or areolas
White spots or blisters on the nipple
Nipple itching or flaking skin
Pain when pumping correctly
Repeated breast infections
Cracked or sore nipples that do not respond to basic treatment
Nipple may have a blanched appearance after feedings
May have no signs

BABY SIGNS
White spots or patches in the mouth or on the tongue which do not wipe off
A diaper rash which might be bright red and bumpy
May be gassy or cranky
May refuse to breastfeed or may repeatedly pull off the breast
The insides of the lips and saliva may have a mother of pearl look
May make clicking sounds while breastfeeding
May have no signs

TREATMENT
To prevent reinfecting each other, both mother and baby need to be treated with medications at the same time, even if only one is showing symptoms. Call your doctor and your baby’s doctor for treatment.
Treatment should last at least 2 weeks even if symptoms disappear.

FREQUENT HANDWASHING
Yeast infections can spread easily among all family members.
Be sure to wash: before and after breastfeeding, going to the bathroom, changing diapers, and applying medication.
Frequent handwashing by all, using hot soapy water and friction, is very important.

TREATMENT FOR MOTHER’S NIPPLES
Rinse nipples with cool water after feedings and let air day.
Physicians frequently recommend treating with Nystatin (Mycostatin), Clotrimzole (Lotrimin), or Ketoconazole (Nizoral). Talk with you physician regarding medications.
After feedings, apply medication to all areas of the nipple and areola coming in contact with the baby’s mouth.




TREATMENT FOR MOTHER’S NIPPLES (cont.)
Nystatin (Mycostatin) does not need to be wiped off before feedings.
Daily, or more frequent, bra changes.
It is best not to wear bra pads when yeast is present. If used, wear a clean pad after each feeding.
All items coming in contact with your nipples need to be boiled daily for 20 minutes (bra pads, breast shells, or pump parts).
Breast shells can be worn if clothing touching nipples is too painful. Do not wear shells while sleeping. Remove shells several times a day and let nipples air dry. Wash shells in hot soapy water after each use.
For sore nipples you may: begin feedings on the least sore side first, offer shorter more frequent feedings, wear breast shells, apply ice in a clean damp cloth for a few minutes before feedings, or pump and give this milk by spoon, cup or bottle until your nipples heal.

TREATMENT FOR BABY’S MOUTH
After each feeding, rinse the baby’s mouth with clear water.
Oral Nystatin is generally the medication prescribed for the baby’s mouth. To give: Put the prescribed amount in a paper cup. Apply this with a clean Q-tip to all surfaces of the mouth and tongue. Use a clean Q-tip every time more medication is needed. Do not re-dip the swab. Four times a day have the baby drink what is left in the cup.
To prevent the medication from being washed out of the baby’s system, wait 15 minutes after feeding before giving it to the baby.

TREATMENT FOR BABY’S DIAPER RASH
Nystatin cream is generally prescribed for the baby’s bottom.
Change diapers more frequently. At each diaper change, rinse baby’s bottom with warm water and pat dry. Use a clean cloth each time.
It is not uncommon for the diaper rash to appear to worsen or for the skin to peel off soon after treatment begins.
Avoid using plastic pants and liners.
Let the baby go without a diaper as much as possible.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Once daily, for 20 minutes, boil anything which goes in the baby’s mouth (pacifiers, teethers, and bottle nipples). Throw these away after one week and buy new ones.
Wash older baby’s toys in hot soapy water.
Keep baby’s toys or pacifiers away from older children.
Medications do not always bring instant relief of pain.
You may also have a vaginal yeast infection that needs to be treated at the same time.
Your sexual partner may also require treatment. His symptoms might include a red rash on or around his penis or white patches in his mouth. Call your physician for diagnosis and treatment.
If pumping, use the milk the day it is pumped. Later use may reinfect the baby. Refrigeration and freezing do not kill the fungus.
Avoid giving glucose water to the baby. The sugar in the water may aggravate the situation.
Use paper towels. Use cloth towels and wash cloths one time only.
Wash laundry in very hot water and 1 cup of bleach. One cup of vinegar can be added to the rinse cycle for diapers.
Decrease sugars and dairy products in mother’s diet. Avoid alcohol consumption.



Hope it helps.

Camie - posted on 08/09/2010

Hi Holly. Thrush is no fun and unfortunately most pedis will just treat baby when you both have thrush. Below is what I did when my DD and I had thrush:
1. Nystantine (oral) for baby. Wipe out her mouth every 3-4 hours with a warm wash cloth then "paint" the inside of her mouth with the Nystantine.
2. After each feed, wipe your nipples off with warm water, let air dry, paint with Nystantine as well (it is kind of sticky so use nursing pads).
3. Every night boil anything that goes in her mouth or on your breasts (paci, pump parts, teething toys, etc.) for at least 20 minutes.
4. Take probiotics.

5. If the Nystantine doesn't work Gentian Violet works very well but is messy. Or you can get a prescription for Dyflucan if the symptoms are not getting better.

I agree that I would not use the Monostat on your nipples. I don't know that it is safe for oral use. The oral Nystantine is though so feel comfortable using it.

Good luck. I hope it goes away quickly.

-Camie