What to do about treating nipples for thrush

[HannahsMomma]

I just got back from the after hours clinic. My dd has a vaginal yeast infection but no thrush in her mouth and I have thrush on my nipples. I was told to use Canesten topical cream for the both of us which has clotrimazole 1% in it. I can't believe this but I forgot to ask if I need to wash my nipples before I nurse. I assume the doctor would have told me to if I needed to. He didn't really have good bedside manner so I really just wanted to get out of there. I also asked him about grapefruit seed extract and he looked at me like I had two heads and said "what the heck is that ?". I tried to explain it to him but I don't really know too much about it myself so I gave up. I just want to clear this up because my nipples are killing me and it's too late to go to the health food store so I think I will use this stuff for tonight anyway. Of course as luck would have it dd wants to nurse a lot all day and it's driving me a little nuts !
AAARRGGHH !!! :
Any help would be greatly appreciated !
~B

[BlueBella]

www.drjaygordon.com has a lot of info about treating thrush with GSE. The canesten on nipples technically doesn't need to be washed off - it should be applied after nursing, and then by the time you nurse again, it should have mostly rubbed off on your clothing. If there is a visible amount on your nipples when you go to nurse then I would wipe it off. I put GSE drops in olive oil (Jay Gordon says to put it in distilled water) and wiped it onto my nipples after nursing - olive oil is antifungal and soothing. Taking a probiotic and reducing sugars, simple carbs, fermented things (aged cheeses, vinegars etc.) and dairy can all help reduce the amount of candida in your system; I took GSE capsules as the thrush was in my breast, not just on the nipples. You can also do the gentian violet (google Jack Newman + candida protocol and you'll get his suggestions). Eventually I took diflucan for a month to put an end to it.

Anyhoo, good luck. Fight the thrush!

ETA: washing cloth dipes - I usually put white vinegar in the rinse cycle, which will help with the thrush, but you can also add the GSE drops to the rinse. I don't think adding soap will help at all. Make sure nothing with poop is washed with your regular clothes, and you should wash bras and towels (anything that is in contact with your nipples/hands) every day in hot water with vinegar or GSE in the rinse. Any bottle nipples/pacifiers/pumps should also be sterilized every day.

[HannahsMomma]

BlueBella, thank you so much. I really appreciate your advice. I am definately going to use GSE. Hopefully we'll get this cleared up soon !
~B

[butterfly~mama]

Ohhh...mama~ I feel for you! My dd developed oral thrush when she was 2 weeks (she was the only one of my children that used a pacifier and she was the only one that got thrush...). My nipples started to get sore as well, but I wasn't sure if it was from the thrush or her frequent nursing. She was a very needy baby; literally wanting to nurse eery 20 min. 24/7. She'd only nurse for 10 min. though...10 on 10 off for the first 3 mos. of her life! Talk about exhausting!! So the dr. prescribed Nystatin for her and said that if my nipples got worse to call my dr. for a prescription,too. Well, the next day I did...She was cured from the thrush in 1/2 a week...and I on the other hand, are you sure you wanna hear this?! I was not fully healed until she was 4 1/2 MONTHS old!! It was excruciating. DH kept telling me that it really would be ok to stop nursing, since I'd cry and my toes would curl every time she nursed. But I just couldn't bring myself to wean, as I could NOT pump for the life of me. So I wish you luck and quick healing. I know it's not fun at all and it definitely takes away from the bonding and pleasure of breastfeeding.

You should wash your nipples w/ a mild,natural soap and warm water before and after nursing. This will help to prevent spreading the infection back and forth between you and her. When you've washed them AFTER nursing her, let them air dry thouroughly. Then apply the cream. And be sure that if your bra or nursing pads become even slightly damp, you change them, as bacteria and fungi love warm, moist, dark environments. Wash nsg. pads and bras in HOT water. Also, if your nipples becomed cracked, be prepared...your bras/pads may stick.OUCH!! I had to pour warm water over my breasts to get them to "unstick"! It was terrible!

I sincerely wish you the best of luck with this. I feel your pain!