When breastfeeding, it is very common for babies to get thrush. This article will discuss what causes thrush and how you can treat it in your baby. It also includes tips on preventing thrush from occurring again! Breastfeeding with thrush is not fun for anyone. Let’s discuss more.
What you will learn
What is thrush and what causes it?
Thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth that affects babies who are breastfed. The fungus called Candida albicans and other types can cause thrush, but it’s not always clear which one has caused it as they all have similar symptoms.
Thrush causes white patches to form on your baby’s tongue or cheeks. These patches will be curd-like in appearance and may also appear red if soothed or irritated by drooling from teething.
Other possible signs include irritation with sucking, refusing milk, gagging when feeding, soreness around nipples during breastfeeding, and tears while eating solid foods (which could indicate pain). You should seek medical advice if you notice any of these signs for more than two days.
Signs of thrush
- Curds appearing on your baby’s tongue or cheeks
- White patches in the mouth, throat, and inside of their top lip. Sometimes these patches will be red if there is irritation from drooling
- Difficulty with breastfeeding because of nipple soreness or pain when feeding
- Refusal to eat solids due to tooth sensitivity. Usually, this happens only for a few days but can persist longer than usual due to thrush.
What should you do?
If you are concerned about thrush – don’t wait! Seek medical advice as soon as possible by visiting your doctor who may give you a prescription.
Natural Remedies/Tips
If you’re looking for a solution outside of prescriptions, some things can help.
- Coconut oil as a topical treatment, especially on the nipples and inside the mouth;
- Maintaining good hygiene practices with your baby by cleaning their hands often or wiping down surfaces they come into contact with like toys and pacifiers to avoid reinfection.
- You should also wash pump parts after use in hot, soapy water using antibacterial dish soap (avoid all cleaners containing bleach).
Note: if thrush is not treated it will continue to happen over time leading to increased discomfort in breastfeeding for momma and babe!
Check this handy mouth cleaner for baby.
- Use a probiotic lozenge or drop of breastmilk to soothe the soreness
- Make sure the baby drinks plenty of fluids.
- Apply olive oil or extra virgin cold-pressed organic oils (including those containing lauric acid) straight from the jar onto their gums until relief is felt.
- Avoid applying anything which has been prepared with sugar content such as honey;
other remedies include ;
- Nystatin -can be purchased online at amazon.
- Tea tree oil (mixed with water) and applied to the thrush sore areas or gargled for relief;
- Mixing baking soda in breastmilk and applying it topically to affected gums.
Prevention
How to prevent your baby from getting thrush in the future:
- Avoid gums and candies that are made from sugars in any form such as sucrose, maltose, or dextrose
- Avoid foods that are high in sugar and starch
- Limit the amount of fruit juice and milk your child consumes
- Avoid foods such as orange juice, tomato sauce, applesauce, yogurt, bananas, bread, and pasta.
FAQ
What should you look out for?
If your baby has been diagnosed with a yeast infection, then they may experience some of these symptoms: -sore mouth; -increasing pain when feeding or swallowing; -a white coating on the tongue that is not easily wiped off; -high temperature such as 38 degrees Celsius/ 100 Fahrenheit or higher due to fever-related illness caused by Candida albicans.
How long does it last?
If treated properly thrush usually only lasts about two weeks but there are some cases where it has taken up until six months! Both mum and her little one must get treatment as soon as possible.
Why should you avoid acidic food while breastfeeding??
It is important to avoid acidic food such as citrus fruits while breastfeeding. There are many reasons why this can be harmful, but the primary reason has to do with how breast milk pH changes after feeding. Acidifying foods will cause a decrease in lactase enzymes, which means that mum’s stomach acids (which have been neutralized by her previous meal) may start attacking your baby’s skin cells of their mouth. This will make them more susceptible to thrush infections.
Why should you avoid bread and pasta?
Bread and pasta are not only high in sugar but can also be very acidic. This is because they have to create the dough with a lot of water, which leaves behind all sorts of sugars that will then react with any traces of acidity (which exist naturally) present on your flour.
Why should I avoid fruit juice?
Some fruits can be very acidic due to their high concentration of citric acid.
What about dairy?
Dairy products are also not recommended for babies suffering from thrush, as they often contain a lot of lactose (which is too much sugar). This will only make the baby more prone to infection and discomfort! If you want to give your little one milk, add some water with it so that there’s less lactose in total.
Dairy products made by other mammals such as cows, goats, sheep, or buffalo should also be avoided.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding is an amazing way to bond with your child. It also has some benefits for the mom, like helping the uterus return to its normal size more quickly and reducing post-natal bleeding. Some moms may experience thrush if they are not careful about avoiding certain foods while breastfeeding their baby. If you want to keep nursing but have a yeast infection that won’t go away, talk with your doctor or lactation consultant about what steps might help you manage the problem without jeopardizing your milk supply.