What is thrush?
Thrush is a fungal infection (candida albicans) which can affect your breasts and your baby's mouth when he is breastfeeding.What causes thrush?
All of us carry the candida albicans fungus in our bodies. It's a normal part of our digestive system, and good bacteria usually keep it in check. But now and then it gets a chance to grow and spread, which can lead to an infection.Breastfeeding creates the perfect environment for thrush. Thrush thrives in warm, moist, sugary places, which is exactly what your baby's mouth is like during breastfeeding. The thrush infection can then pass to your nipples.
Thrush may take hold more easily if your nipples are already sore or cracked, perhaps because your baby isn't latching on properly. Unless it's treated, thrush can pass back and forth between you and your baby.
You can also get thrush on your breasts if you do not change your breast pads frequently enough.
Some experts say that thrush is becoming more common. This may be because we often use antibiotics to tackle all kinds of infections. Antibiotics kill off the friendly bacteria in our gut that can help to keep thrush in check. Antibiotics are given at every delivery in India. At times, thrush can be the result of medications used during labour and delivery especially if you have had a caesarean section.
How will I know if I have thrush?
Here are the common signs of thrush in breastfeeding mums:- Cracked nipples which don't heal, even though your baby is latching on well.
- Nipples that are pink, or red and shiny, perhaps with white areas.
- Nipples that become sore after a period of pain-free breastfeeding. The pain often becomes more intense as your baby feeds, and can last for up to an hour after a feed.
- Itchy nipples, which may be extremely sensitive to any touch, even to loose clothing.
- A burning sensation in your nipples.
However, if your nipples are sore, painful or cracked, it could be some other problem besides thrush. It's more likely that your baby is not latching on to your breast well when he feeds. Take a look at the pictures in our article on how to breastfeed and read our expert advice on how to know if your baby is latched on correctly, if you're not sure.
Occasionally, thrush on your nipples can enter your milk ducts, the channels along which your milk flows to your nipple. This can cause shooting or burning breast pain deep in your breasts, and is called ductal thrush.
Unlike letdown pain, which doesn't last long, thrush pain lasts while your baby is feeding and usually gets worse after feeds. It's unusual to get ductal thrush, and some experts even doubt that ductal thrush exists.
How will I know if my baby has thrush?
If your baby has thrush, white patches that look like milk curds will usually appear on his tongue, gums and on the inside or roof of his mouth. If you touch these gently with a clean finger, you'll find the base is raw and may bleed. Your baby may be unsettled, or only feed for a short time. He may pull away from your breast while feeding because his mouth is sore.Thrush can pass through your baby's digestive system to his bottom and cause nappy rash. The rash is usually sore with red spots, and may take a while to heal.
How is thrush treated?
If you suspect thrush, speak to your doctor for treatment. She will probably prescribe an antifungal medication. If you have an infection on your nipples, the chances are that your breastfed baby has it, too, even if you can't see any white spots. He needs treatment just as much as you do at the same time. Or you may pass the infection back and forth.If your nipples are very red and sore your doctor may prescribe a mild steroid cream to help with healing.
Your nipples and your baby's mouth, and possibly bottom, should be treated at the same time. If you have resumed sexual intercourse, it might be a good idea to get your husband checked as well.
Thrush can take up to a few weeks to cure completely, though the pain should ease after a few days. If it doesn't, go back to your doctor.
As well as taking medicine, there are other things you can do to keep thrush at bay:
- Sterilise pacifiers, bottles, teats and breast pump parts, or clean them in boiling water after each use, to avoid re-infecting yourself or your baby.
- Wash toys in hot, soapy water.
- Wash your and your baby's clothes in hot water, to kill off the fungus. Some mums also add disinfectant liquid or vinegar.
- Use only plain water to wash your nipples.
- Try to keep your nipples as dry as possible, as thrush flourishes in damp conditions.
- Use a separate towel for everyone in the family, and change it daily.
- Some mums find that cutting down on sugary foods and foods that contain yeast (such as bread) helps.
- To ease deep breast pain, you can take a mild painkiller, prescribed by your doctor. This will help until the worst is over and your treatment begins working.
- Garlic is found to be effective against thrush and other fungal infections. You could try whole, peeled cloves of garlic in your cooking.
You could add probiotics in the form of pills or natural live curd to your daily diet. This helps the friendly bacteria to suppress thrush to grow again in your digestive tract. But don't rely on them to fight your thrush infection. You'll need treatment as well.
Some mums find homeopathic medicine helpful, but it is essential to consult a qualified, registered practitioner for treatment. It's also a good idea to speak to your doctor before trying herbal or home remedies.