Thrush question

[threefunboys]

Hi,

What does thrush feel like? I am suspecting I might have a mild case. What can I do (at home--I don't think it's bad enough to go to the dr.) to help it?

Thanks!

[pumpkinhead7]

For me, thrush made my nipples feel like they were on fire. They were bright red and I had shooting pains in my breast after a feeding.

Things that you can do at home: Take a probiotic (acidophilus) supplement

Dilute some grapefruit seed extract and rinse your nipples with it. You can also drink diluted grapefruit seed extract

Line dry your bras. Sunlight kills yeast.

Soak your bras in diluted white vinegar before washing in HOT water.

Soak all binkies, pump parts and artificial nipples in diluted vinegar and either boil or steam sterilize.

[threefunboys]

Thanks for the ideas!

[Nipple_nectar]

Yup, the GSE is really a great product! www.drjaygordon.com/development/bf/thrush.asp

That is a link that will help you identify thrush.

[TayNRobbiesMom]

if you only have vinegar, you can rinse your breasts in a mix of water and vinegar after each nursing also. Air out your breasts and IF possible expose them to sunlight (indirect will help too!).

wash hands LOTS. I'm sorry if you have this, thrush sucks...our first case was SO bad that I cried when ds would nurse. It's the most painful thing ive ever felt...BUT then again both my kids were C sections :)

[threefunboys]

Can I get GSE at a "normal" store (like walmart or target) or do I have to go to a health food store?

Thanks again!

(I'm still not sure it's thrush...I'll wait it out a few days and see if it gets better.)

[intokermit]

The thing that really helped me was not wearing a bra while I was at home. Yes, I leaked all over my shirts, but airing them out really helped me get over the thrush faster. For me, the pain when my ds would latch on was toe curling, teeth gritting pain. The hurt so bad, it drove me nuts! One of the ladies on here told me to try putting Lotrimin on the nipples, and if it gets better, it's thrush. The Lotrimin doesn't need to be washed off before you nurse.

[TayNRobbiesMom]

Oh btw, my Doc said it was ok to use vagisil on the nipples, but that does have to be washed off when baby nurses.

[RedheadbyChoice]

ITA with the greeen one. :D

You can use lotrimin on the nipples (generic is called clotrimazole, available at any pharmacy) and it does NOT need to be washed off before babe nurses. I mean, dang, you don't want globs on there, but if you apply after a nursing session, the rest will be absorbed before baby nurses again, no need to wash off the nips.

And yep, if you start feeling better, then you've got thrush. Most importantly, babe and momma need to be treated at the same time.

FWIW, I've not seen GSE at a store like Wally or Target, only a health food store.