What is thrush and how do you treat it?

What is thrush?
Thrush is a fungal infection that can affect both the nursing mother’s nipples and baby’s mouth. It is caused by the yeast, Candida albicans, and can be passed back and forth between mom and baby during breastfeeding. Thrush can be uncomfortable and painful for both mom and baby, making breastfeeding a challenging experience.

What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of thrush in breastfeeding moms often include nipple pain or discomfort, which can be severe and may persist even after a proper latch. The nipples may become red, itchy, and may develop shiny or flaky skin. In more advanced cases, some moms might experience shooting or burning pain in their breasts.

In infants, signs of oral thrush include white patches in the mouth that can't be easily wiped away, fussiness during feeding, and diaper rash that doesn't respond to traditional treatments.

How is it treated?
When thrush occurs, both mom and baby should be treated to prevent reinfection. Treatment may include more natural agents such as grapefruit seed extract, probiotics and dietary changes to reduce sugar intake. It may also necessitate pharmacologic intervention, using antifungal medications such as oral or topical creams, or gels for moms and oral suspension medication for baby.

In addition to medication, washing and sterilizing items that come into contact with baby's mouth, such as pacifiers, bottles, and breast pump parts, are an essential part of ensuring that thrush stays gone.

At Des Moines Midwife Collective, our Nurse Practitioner Lactation Consultants are not only breastfeeding experts, but medical providers who are able to diagnose, treat, and prescribe when it comes to pesky lactation problems, like thrush. Give us a call to schedule an appointment!