My bf baby has thrush! Please help, not sure what to do!

[BRmama]

Hi, my nine month old has thrush and I'm just looking for some natural alternatives to treat it. I know there's something that is natural and has a purple tint to it but I can't remember what is called. My baby has never been on any anti-fungal meds or antibiotics and I'd like to keep it that way. I'm also nursing him. I guess my other question is as far as probiotics go, is it more effective if I take some and then he gets it through bm, or if I put a dab of it on my nipple and let him nurse as usual? Thanks

[BRmama]

Anyone?? I guess my worry is that I never had to deal with it while bf ds2. Ds1 had it but he was ff so I was able to treat his. As far as ds2 now, do I need to do anything with my breasts, like wash the nipple before feeding him, and after? The other main worry is I don't want to have to stress about stopping nursing him. I know how he got it and I got rid of the culprit but now that he has it I don't know if I should do anything to my nipples on top of treating his thrush

Edited by BRmama - 8/19/11 at 11:15pm

[katelove]

Is it oral thrush that he has? The purple stuff is gentian violet and yes you definitely need to treat your nipples as well if he has oral thrush. Otherwise you will just keep reinfecting each other back and forth. 

This is Jack Newman's protocol from treating thrush http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-UGV

Hope he's all better soon.

[BRmama]

Thanks Katelove, yes it's oral. As far as probiotics go, if I take some will it pass through bm for him?  

Thanks

[BRmama]

Okay another question: I read the protocol for dr. Newman and the gentian violet and at the bottom of it he says that you (general) don't need to treat thrush in babies just to treat it. He says that the treatment is for discomfort. Well, so my question is should I let it run its course? Will it get worse if I don't treat it? Thanks 

ETA: He seems to be in very good spirits, he doesn't act like it's bothering him, but he did lose some weight so I don't know if the weight loss is because of the thrush.

[katelove]

Hi again,

Breastmilk contains probiotics already but I'm not sure whether you taking a supplement will increase that or not.

If he's lost weight then I would personally be inclined to treat the thrush in case that is the cause. However, if it's only a little bit and he's otherwise well then, you could make a case for taking a wait and see approach I think. Maybe check his weight in a week and then decide.

[mbravebird]

Thrush can get really uncomfortable, so I'd treat it. Gentian violet can be toxic, though. We had a bad case of thrush that we treated with olive leaf extract (the liquid Barleans kind, just squeeze some in her mouth). It did wonderfully. We treated for the same amount of time and frequency as the traditional prescriptions -- three times a day for at least a week.

I'd give her probiotics directly, mixed with applesauce or yogurt and given by spoon. Unless she's not eating yet, in which case I'd mix it with bm and wipe it in her mouth.