Thrush and Breastfeeding
Thrush and breastfeeding for some mums, unfortunately at some point, go hand in hand, leading to very painful breastfeeding. Damaged, sore nipples which are usually caused by baby being attached or positioned incorrectly while feeding, give this yeast infection a gateway into your system.
Unfortunately, this common breast infection creates extreme breastfeeding pain which is often described as stabbing pains, burning, itching and throbbing. Usually women with thrush also experience pain in between feeds. If you have the infection you may find that your nipples are red, shiny, flaky or have white spots; but for some mums the appearance of the nipple doesn't change at all.
If your baby has a yeast infection you may be able to see white spots or a white coating in his or her mouth, but sometimes it's not visible. You may also notice that your baby doesn't want to feed as often as they usually would, but thankfully most mums find that once the infection has been treated their baby's appetite comes back again.
With thrush and breastfeeding it can be hard to tell whether the infection originated from or was transferred to your baby's mouth, so your doctor will probably treat your baby too — usually with the same treatment applied to your nipples. It's a good idea to get any nappy rashes or vaginal infections treated at the same time…you may have to consider treating your partner too just to make sure it's not passed back to you.
If you or your baby do have this common yeast infection, it helps to make sure that you wash your hands before and after breastfeeding as well as after changing nappies. Using harsh soaps in your laundry may create further nipple damage but hanging your bras in the sun can help to kill any infection left behind.
To make sure the thrush and breastfeeding do not play pass the infection, you will need to boil the toys and dummies that your baby sucks on.
Most mums are still breastfeed with thrush and while under treatment. Thankfully, it usually clears up in a few days. Hang in there, as painful and horrible as it may be there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Please always remember to consult your health professional to find out information that is relevant to your specific situation.
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