Problems with Thrush

[saptree]

Hi,
I'm a new mom and having a very bad time with thrush (yeast infection of the breast). I have been treating it for 8 weeks now by various means and I can't get rid of it. I'm sure it has something to do with my non-acidic IC diet. Has anyone else had trouble with thrush, and how did you get rid of it?
Sherry

[jaime15]

I didn't have it. But a friend did. I remember she was treated with an antibiotic and so was the baby. (She said it was the most uncomfortable thing too.) I hope you get well soon!:grouphug:

[Michelle in KC]

OUCH! Bummer. First off, I'd call the doc and see if they will call in a Diflucan prescription. Check with them to see if you can take it while nursing. Second, if at all tolerated, start eating yogurt. Even plain yogurt will help. Also let the pedatrician know what's going on. Good Luck and please let us know how things turn out. :) Michelle

[Julie B]

Hi there.........ok, for over two years I had oral thrush, and it took a lot more medicine and convincing the doctor than I ever dreamed of. I had to take Diflucan, Nystatin, garlic and acidophilous for months, but I was NOT pregnant or nursing!

Having said that, you REALLY need to talk to your doc. I don't know if you can take Diflucan or Nystatin if you are nursing, they may prescribe something else.

Is the baby being treated also? The infant may not have visible signs of infection, but it can be passed back and forth.

Also, a bit of practical information, if you need to pump milk for a while then go back to nursing in a week or so, it shouldn't hurt your ability to pick up nursing again. Breastfeeding clinics may tell you differently, but my personal experience and that of many others I am familiar with says different. Take a break if you have to then get back in the swing.

Also, maybe a hospital near you has a certified lactation consultant. They may be able to give you other practical suggestions!

Warm hugs..........

[vm]

Ack - I battled thrush in a BIG way after the birth of my second son. What a PAIN that is!!!

Is your baby being treated, also? That is really important b/c otherwise you will keep passing it back and forth.

I found some good info at the time on the Net. I washed all my bras and pads in hot water with vinegar added to the wash. I took acidophilus, we used Nystatin on the nipples and in baby's mouth after feedings. LOTS of air drying of the nipples - yeast loves warm moist places. We ended up doing Gentian Violet a few times b/c Matthew just hung on to the thrush like crazy - it was so hard to get rid of....

I think this was one of the better articles I found:

http://www.breastfeeding.com/all_about/all_about_thrush.html

Good luck! :)

[saptree]

Hello again,

I have been thru it all. I can't take diflucan because I'm allergic (I break out in hives). I have used nystatin oral on my nipples while using it in Adam's mouth. Adam's dr gave me an antibiotic cream and a steroid cream to use at the same time as the nystatin (mix together). Then Adam was treated the second week with nystatin oral while I used clotrimazole cream. It got a little better but not much. I called Adam's dr and he suggested gentian violet. We used that for 4 days. Things were better, the shooting pains went away and my nipples were starting to heal. Then a week later it came back! Then I went for my 6 week check-up and the midwife had me try the gentian violet again for 7 days. Did that, no help. Then I called my dr office again and they suggested I call the lactation consultant at the hospital. I had a long talk with her, got some breast shells, and she discussed how yeast lives in towels. So we started washing everything in hot water and vinegar, boiling my pump parts, pacificers, baby bottles, ect. She laid out a three week treatment with Adam using nystatin oral, and myself taking nystatin tablets and using a nystatin/steriod cream on my nipples. The shooting pains went away again, but this time my nipples didn't improve. During the second week of treatment I came down with a kidney infection and had to take antibiotics. That made things worse again. At that point I decided to pump and bottle feed the breast milk cause my nipples were hurting way too much. So I have been pumping now for 3 weeks straight, at least that way Adam can't give the thrush back to me. I thought my nipples would get a change to heal, hasn't happened. I have tried using tea bags too. This week I have been using Monistat 7 on my nipples as its the one anti-fungal I haven't used yet. I have/am using acidophilus capsules too.

Well, I'm at my wits end. But I really would like to continue feeding breast milk as long as possible. I have consulted my pcp about it and he is clueless and suggests I see my ob/gyn again. But they are clueless too. Adam's dr said there are some very strong resistant strains of yeast out there, and apparently I was lucky enough to get one (or two).

Oh, and I have been dairy free and nearly sugar free for the last 6 weeks!!!

Thank you for your support.
Anyone know about the use of grapefruit seed extract?
Sherry

[vm]

Youch - I feel your pain... :( Yeast is sooooo hard to get rid of. I ended up pumping and then we ended up quitting all together. :( BUT, I know lots of people that keep right on breastfeeding, but it is a pain and very difficult to get rid of.

Good luck!!! Sounds like you are doing everything you can... Oh, but one thing - the oral Nystatin has sugar in it. There is a powder form available, but I think only certain pharmacies carry it or can order it. The powder form does not have sugar. That way you wouldn't be feeding the yeast and trying to kill it off at the same time....

[Michelle in KC]

Sherry, you Poor Thing! Ok, so I thnk it is great to be able to breast feed your baby. (I'm jealous. I am one of those one in how ever many million that can not produce milk) But, you've done a great job. You've gotten this far in giving him the nutrition he needs.

Now it's time to think of yourself. Maybe you should stop breastfeeding him. You can heal yourself and your nipples and ENJOY feeding time again. Not to mention, let your hubby get up with him once in awhile.

Please don't think I am taking this lightly. While I was trying to nurse Justin, I went as far as to rent the BIG double pumper and set my alarm clock every 2 hours, to aid milk production - even when Justin was sleeping. Took classes. Called consultants. Took fennel greek, etc. With boobs this big, I should be able to feed the world!

I had a hard time accepting that I could not do this. I felt like a failure, until my hubby told me he was glad I stopped, so HE could feed his son, too. That made me feel alot better.

Good luck. We are all pulling for you.

Michelle

[vm]

Oh, I relate so much to your post, Michelle!!!!! I breastfed my first son for 10 months. We had a rocky start, but kept at it and made it. Things just did not work that way with #2. Like you I rented the double pumper, worked with 3 lactation consultants (traveled 2 and a half hours to one) and feeding became so unpleasant.

Between pumping every two hours, bottlefeeding, washing everything, the thrush, some PPD, caring for my then 3 year old, etc., etc. I was so worn out. We did stop, but only after a lot of beating myself up for not being able to do it the way I wanted to.

That is not to discourage breastfeeding moms. With my first son we plugged through and it was so worth it. But the second time around I was miserable and feeding was not a bonding time. A lot of my friends kept at it with horrible problems and came out the other side breastfeeding and loving it. I just related to your post a lot.

He's a happy healthy 3 year old now. :)