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Thrush
The organism (fungus) Candida Albicans if produced in large amounts can cause both thrush and vaginal yeast infections. This fungus favors moist, dark environments. What type of environment would this be? How about your nipples covered with a warm moist breast pad. Or maybe even you little ones wet bottom covered by a diaper 99.9% of the time. This organism is always present in our body. It only becomes a problem when it is produced in abundance usually when something in our body is out of balance. For example this might occur with illness, pregnancy or even in combination with the use of an antibiotic. Yeast can even enter into the milk ducts and areas within the breast surrounding the ducts.
Here is a list of some of the other predisposing factors to thrush in the mother per the La Leche League International The Breastfeeding Answer Book Third Revised Edition.
- Nipple damage
- Treatment of mastitis with antibiotics
- History of vaginal yeast infections
- Diabetes
- Pregnancy
- Impaired resistance to infection
- Use of corticosteroids such as asthma medications
- Use of estrogen-containing contraceptives (birth control)
- Continuous use of antibiotics for longer than one month, even in the past
- Heavy consumption of diary products, heavily sweetened foods, and artificial sweeteners
- Nutritional deficiencies of iron, folic acid, and Vitamins A,B,C, and K
Increased risks for the baby have often been linked with antibiotics, use of a pacifier and prematurity. If baby is exposed to yeast during a vaginal delivery, baby can become infected.
Keep in mind yeast can be passed from person to person in the hospital and at home.
How do you know if you have thrush/yeast?
Common symptoms for Mother:
- You may experience severe nipple or breast pain ( deep sharp shooting pain)
- Pain can occur during or in between feedings. Always be sure the latch and positioning are correct first. If latch is OK with this type of pain you should begin thinking about thrush/yeast.
- Some mothers experience itchy/burning nipples. Nipples can appear normal or shinny, pink and flakey or you may even see a rash with tiny blisters.
- Often nipple damage will not heal.
- You may see the whitish fungus in the creases/folds of the nipple
- Perhaps you might have a vaginal yeast infection
Common symptoms for baby:
- You may be able to visualize white patches inside you baby’s mouth. They may be seen on the gums, cheeks, palate (roof of the mouth), tonsil and/or tongue. If you attempt to wipe the white off you may see redness or bleeding.
- Your baby might have a diaper rash
- You might have trouble keeping your baby on the breast. He may frequently pull off or make clicking sounds while nursing. He may even refuse the breast because his mouth is sore and it is uncomfortable to nurse.
- Increase in gassiness and/or fussiness
- It is also possible that your baby may not exhibit any symptoms.
- Slow weight gain is a rare but possible complication.
Treatment
Any time Thrush is diagnosed both mother and baby need to be treated at the same time, because it is possible to pass it back in forth. It is sometimes necessary to have others in the home treated. It has even been noted that yeast has been carried on pets (in the Fur) so the animals had to be treated along with everyone else.
There are many different treatments for mother and baby. There are both prescription and over the counter treatments available. Discuss which treatment is best for you and your baby with your Physician or Pediatrician. You may even want to contact your Lactation Consultant for suggestions on treatment options.
When treatment is started sometimes relief of symptoms can be noted in 24-48 hours other times it can take up to a week or longer for the pain to disappear. It really depends on the infection and the treatment type. It is very important to never stop the medications before treatment is complete. If treatment is no completed the infection will often reoccur.
What can you do to help prevent spread or reoccurrence of thrush/yeast infection?
- Use good hand hygiene. Always wash you hands after changing your baby’s diaper or using the bathroom.
- Wash baby’s hands frequently if he tends to suck on fingers or thumb.
- Boil anything that goes in his mouth (pacifiers, bottle nipples, teethers) for 20 minutes once a day to kill the yeast. After one week of treatment throw these away and buy new ones.
- Boils breastpump parts that come into contact with milk 20 minutes once daily.
- Use disposable breast pads if possible and discard after each feeding. If using cloth pads change at each feeding and do not reuse until they have been washed in hot, soapy water.
- Be sure to wash toys in hot soapy water if they come into contact with his mouth.
- Instead of reusing a hand towel to dry you hands after washing, use disposable paper towels and discard after each use.
- Launder any clothing or towels that come into contact with yeast in very hot water (above 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees farenheight). You can also iron clothes that come in contact with the yeast. The heat from the iron kills yeast.
- Wear a clean bra every day.
If you have pumped/stored milk during an episode of thrush try to give the milk to the baby during the time period you are both being treated. Research has shown freezing does not kill yeast. If you are giving the milk outside of the treatment time boil and cool the milk before giving it to your baby to kill any yeast in the expressed breastmilk.
La Leche League International. The Breastfeeding Answer Book. Third Edition. Pages 480-484
