Thrush or a yeast infection is a very painful condition when located in the breast. From my experience, I find that it is usually not diagnosed by health care providers due to lack of education about yeast and the breast. Because of this lack of knowledge, women suffer for weeks or months before they are properly diagnosed. In most cases of a yeast infection in the breast, there is no apparent change in the nipple or areola; the only presenting symptom is extreme pain. The yeast infection usually remains hidden, because the yeast lives under the skin behind the nipple; consequently, a yeast infection is usually diagnosed only by varying sensations of pain. The pain the sufferer feels is usually described as: burning, biting, stinging, sharp-shooting, itching, or excruciating. While nursing, it feels like the baby has teeth, and there is a pulling sensation with the feeling as if there is broken glass behind the nipple. The pain is experienced in both breasts and or areola, but one breast/areola can be more painful than the other. In the case of thrush, it is important to treat both the mother and the baby at the same time, even if only one of them presents with symptoms. If the baby is showing symptoms, it will be evident in a curdled-cottage-cheese-like white growth on the baby’s tongue, inner-checks or lips. Or, thrush might appear just as a white tongue. The way to determine whether the baby has a yeast infection or if the whiteness is only from left over milk is to wipe the tongue with a little water placed on your finger—milk will wipe off; yeast will remain. The best way to decide if you have a yeast infection is to treat yourself with a yeast cream. If you begin to feel better, then you have a yeast overgrowth. The treatment for both you and your baby needs to continue uninterrupted for fourteen days—even if you begin to feel better before the fourteen days are over.
Best treatments for mom:
Daktarin cream– should be massaged into entire nipple and areola after each feed for 14 days. You do not need to wash off the cream before the baby nurses.
Clotrimozole athletes foot cream– should be massaged into nipple and areola after each feed for 14 days. You do not need to wash off the cream before the baby nurses.
Nystatin cream-is what is usually prescribed by Doctors although most women feel it is not effective. If this is what you have been given it needs to be applied after each feed to the entire nipple and areola and not washed off before the baby nurses.
Gentian violet– should be used twice a day for three days. This liquid should be painted over nipple and areola. Although this method is very effective, it can be very messy and will stain your clothing, so use with caution. Use for 3 days only.
Diflucan– is an oral medication that must be prescribed by your doctor. This treatment should be taken for 5-14 days; however, you will also need to treat the yeast infection topically, while you are taking these pills orally.
You will need to use nursing pads and change them at every feed because yeast can grow on the inside of your bra.
Best treatments for baby:
Daktarin Gel– use a pea-size of the gel and rub it into tongue three times a day, after each feed, for 14 days.
Diluted baking soda– dilute ¼ teaspoon of baking soda into ¼ cup of water, apply the liquid with a gauze pad to the babies tongue 4 times a day after each feed.
Nystatin suspension-is what is commonly prescribed, although it appears to be ineffective in most cases. If your practitioner has suggested the use of nystatin suspension, then it needs to be applied without the use of the dropper. I have found, too often, that parents infect the contents of the bottle when they return the dropper to the bottle, after having placed that dropper into the baby’s infected mouth. Consequently, it is best to place the medicine on your finger and rub it gently onto the baby’s tongue, and along the inside of the baby’s lips and checks. I also feel that the nystatin needs to be applied after each feed, as opposed to the recommended 3 times a day. Therefore, it is important to discuss the use of this medication with your doctor.
If the baby is using a pacifier, it needs to be boiled once a day. You need to put the pacifier into a pot of water and boil rapidly for 10 minutes. Pouring boiled water over the pacifier will not kill any yeast that may be living on or in the pacifier.
Please contact your Doctor if you think you have a yeast infection. This article is information only, not diagnosing or treating a condition.
Sara Chana, IBCLC, RH (AHG) www.sarachana.com is a lactation consultant, classical homeopath, registered herbalist, doula and mother of seven children. She has worked with over 10,000 new moms and babies. Please visit her website to sign up for her Newsletter which has information on using Herbs for Children’s health. She has an APP called Sara Chana’s Savvy Breastfeeding APP.