how do you treat thrush?

[freestyler]

I was wondering if anyone has experience getting rid of thrush. I've never had any thrush issues, thank goodness, but a friend of mine and her 6-wk-old have it. What exactly IS it, and how do you get rid of it? She says that the doctor wants to prescribe gentian violet (sp?) but my friend has heard that it has been implicated in oral cancer. Is this true, the oral cancer part? And what is gentian violet, anyhow?

I know nothing about the thrush thing, but I promised her I would ask the MDC women! I was sure someone here could give good advice. Thrush is kind of a yeast overgrowth, isn't it, or am I way off base here? I have heard it responds to a candida-free diet. All info will be appreciated!

[mamas2atti]

Thrush is actually yeast. It is quite common a few weeks after delivery, expecially if mom was given anitbiotics in labor. It has many symptoms in both mom & baby, but can also be symptomless in either. Most common are burning and itching for mom, white patches (bumps) in babies mouths that don't wipe away.

I have heard of a lot of ways of treating thrush. Some people use vaginal yeast creams, some use gentian violet, some use prescribed creams, some take pills. I own a nursing resource center where I have IBCLCs on my staff. If they see a mother with yeast they go the gentian violet route. I personally agree. The most important thing is that mother and baby MUST be treated at the same time or it is pointless-even if one has no signs.

Gentian violet is an "antiseptic for external treatment of abrasions, minor cuts, and surface injuries." I have also heard rumors of oral cancer, but according to the lactation consultants around the world (from lactnet) it is not dangerous if used in moderation and at the right dosage. If a mother has very bad, recurring yeast they might look for another solution, but otherwise it's okay. Gentian violet is very, very cheap (like $4 or less for a 1 ounce bottle which will last through your use, your childrens, and possibly your grandchildrens). It usually comes in a 1% solution, but should be dilluted to a 1/2% solution, mixed with water, before being apllied to mothers nipples and areolas and inside of babies mouth. If mom is having pain, it will usually go away within minutes after application. Downside is, everything in mother and babies path will be purple for duration of use. Mom should wear breastpads so her bra isn't ruined and only yucky baby clothes. Don't plan pictures!

If your friends' doctor is wanting to prescribe it for her, it tells me that she/he is very informed and breastfeeding friendly and she should want to jump for joy!

[freestyler]

Thank you, I'll let her know your advice!!

[dylan27]

more thrush resources

This is from kellymom.com
I just typed in thrush in the search function on the home page.

Go here for lots and lots of info:
http://www.picosearch.com/cgi-bin/ts.pl

Here are the first ten of the links:
kellymom.com :: Q&A: Preventing Thrush
... :: Q&A: Preventing Thrush Home · Books & Supplies · ...
... Concerns > Thrush I have thrush. Can I give baby my expressed ...
... , including oral thrush, yeast diaper rash, nipple/breast yeast, ...
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...ssed-milk.html • Monday, 10 October 2005, 5:32pm GMT • 21.8k


kellymom.com :: Thrush Resources
... :: Thrush Resources Home · Books & Supplies · ...
... Concerns > Thrush Thrush Resources ... more than you ever ...
... to know about thrush Compiled by Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC The ...
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...resources.html • Monday, 10 October 2005, 5:32pm GMT • 15.6k


kellymom.com :il of Oregano for thrush?
... il of Oregano for thrush? Home · Books & Supplies · ...
... Oil of Oregano for thrush? By Kelly Bonyata, IBCLC I do not recommend ...
... oregano to treat thrush... Oil of oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) is ...
... for treatment of thrush (candida/yeast). The recommendations I have ...
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/oregano_oil.html • Monday, 10 October 2005, 6:10pm GMT • 18.3k


kellymom.com :: Q&A: Preventing Thrush
... :: Q&A: Preventing Thrush Home · Books & Supplies · ...
... Concerns > Thrush Q&A: Preventing Thrush By Kelly Bonyata, BS, ...
... Q&A: Preventing Thrush By Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC QUESTION: I need ...
... risk of developing thrush. Is there anything I can do to reduce this ...
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...ng-thrush.html • Monday, 10 October 2005, 5:32pm GMT • 23.4k


kellymom.com :: Thrush Resources
... :: Thrush Resources Home · Books & Supplies · ...
... Concerns > Thrush Thrush Thrush Resources Q&A: Preventing ...
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/thrush/index.html • Monday, 10 October 2005, 5:31pm GMT • 9.3k


kellymom.com :: Natural treatments for nursing moms
... Oil of Oregano for thrush? Plugged milk duct Lecithin Potato Sore ...
... and other herbs Thrush: Links to various natural treatments ...
... you might have thrush . [ top ] Low milk supply associated with ...
... infections or thrush. The antimicrobial property in garlic, ...
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/natural-treatments.html • Monday, 10 October 2005, 6:10pm GMT • 34.2k


kellymom.com :: Nipple blanching and vasospasm
... diagnosed as thrush . If the normal color returns after your ...
... (damaged nipples or thrush ). In this case, the nipple(s) turns white ...
... pain/trauma due to thrush (and not due to the medication used to treat ...
... used to treat the thrush). Treatment options for vasospasm Avoid ...
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...blanching.html • Monday, 10 October 2005, 5:31pm GMT • 23.2k


kellymom.com :: Newman :: Using Gentian Violet
... in the mouth (thrush), or diaper rash. When the nursing mother ...
... not have to have thrush in his mouth. A Candidal infection of the ...
... the baby has thrush in his mouth. The reason to treat is the ...
... to be bothered by thrush. Uncommonly , babies who are treated with ...
http://www.kellymom.com/newman/06gentian_violet.html • Monday, 10 October 2005, 8:27pm GMT • 20.1k


kellymom.com :: Healing broken skin in the nipple area
... improper latch or thrush , a bite , milk blister , etc.). Keep in ...
... and positioning, thrush treatment, etc. as you treat the symptoms, ...
... ). If you have thrush, follow the saline soak with an antifungal ...
... ointment or other thrush treatment . If needed, apply an antibiotic ...
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...lehealing.html • Monday, 10 October 2005, 5:31pm GMT • 22.1k


kellymom.com :: Newman :: Fluconazole
... A baby may have thrush all over his mouth, but the mother may have ...
... baby may have no thrush or diaper rash. The typical symptoms of a ...
... of simple thrush . There have been no complications in the ...
http://www.kellymom.com/newman/20fluconazole.html • Monday, 10 October 2005, 8:27pm GMT • 21.6k