Breastfeeding Help: Thrush

One of the most common breastfeeding complications is thrush. Some mothers and babies never get thrush, some get it once or twice, and some have recurrent thrush that flares up repeatedly. Thrush is most common in babies, but even adults can get thrush under the right conditions. Thrush is usually not serious and can be treated at home, but if the infection does not respond to home treatments, a doctor can prescribe medication to help clear up the infection.

What is thrush?

Thrush is a type of yeast infection that occurs in a baby's mouth and can be passed to his mother during nursing. The yeast that causes thrush naturally lives inside the mouth, but occasionally an imbalance can cause the yeast to take over, causing thrush. This imbalance is most commonly caused by antibiotics taken by either mother or baby, but this is not always the case.

-- White patches in baby's mouth that cannot be easily rubbed off.

-- Nipple soreness, redness, cracking, and/or scaly skin

-- Itchy or burning nipples

-- Pain while nursing

Herbal remedies

A number of herbal remedies are available for treating thrush, and can be found at most health food stores or vitamin shops. Gentian violet is a popular option, as it usually works quickly with minimal problem. Be warned, though: gentian violet will stain skin, fabric, and anything it comes into contact with. When used on a baby, the baby's mouth will likely be stained purple for days. To use gentian violet, simply paint the inside of baby's mouth with a small amount of the liquid on a cotton swab. Try to cover the cheeks and tongue as much as possible. Then put baby to breast to apply some of the gentian violet to your nipples. After the feeding, both nipples should be purple - if they are not, simply apply a small amount of gentian violet with a cotton swab. This should be done once a day (preferably at bedtime) for up to one week.

Grapefruit seed extract is another commonly-used herbal remedy for thrush. Dilute the extract by adding ten drops of the extract to one ounce of distilled water (not tap water, as the chemicals in tap water can lessen the effectiveness of the extract). As with gentian violet, paint nipples and the inside of baby's mouth with the solution on a cotton swab before nursing. This treatment can be used once an hour during the day. If the infection is not subsiding after two days, increase the solution to 15 or 20 drops of extract to one ounce of water.

Many women find that taking acidophilus or a similar probiotic is enough to eliminate a mild case of thrush. If you have recently taken a round of antibiotics, a probiotic can help prevent thrush infection. Be sure not to take a probiotic while you are taking an antibiotic, though - they will neutralize each other and your antibiotic will not be effective.

Prescription medication

Diflucan is commonly prescribed for vaginal yeast infections, and it has been found to be effective in treating thrush as well. Nystatin liquid is commonly prescribed for thrush, but it is not as effective as some treatments. Sugar is added to the liquid so that it is more palatable for baby, but since yeast thrives on sugar, it can be a bit counterproductive.

An ounce of prevention

If you and your baby have thrush, take care not to reinfect yourself. Wash bras and any fabric that comes into contact with your nipples in hot water. Use bleach if possible, and dry on hot (or hang to dry in the sun - sunlight kills yeast). Eliminating yeast and excess sugar in your diet can also help decrease the risk of developing a thrush infection.

For more information on thrush and its treatment, please see a lactation consultant, or refer to the links at the end of this article.

**This is one of a series of articles about common breastfeeding problems. To see the rest of the series and other articles by this writer, please click on the picture of the baby's bottom, at the top of the article beside the author's name. **