I'm Pregnant, Breastfeeding and We Have Thrush! Help!

[Eben'sMama]

I'm 8 weeks pregnant and nursing my DS, 8 months, and we seem to have thrush again. We had it over the summer and it seemed to clear up for the most part, but it is back. We tried GSE, probiotics, Nystatin and Diflucan before we got it under control before. Now, I know that Diflucan is OUT during pregnancy, but I am wondering about Gentian Violet. It's the one thing we haven't tried yet. Is it safe to use while pregnant? Since it's just applied topically, I would think it would be okay. Any advice is greatly appreciated! TIA!

[provocativa]

If you have a kind resistant to lots of antifungals, my advice would be to start making your own probiotics to outcompete the beast. Homemade kefir and yogurt culture way more organisms than the pills. I don't know about the gentian. It sucks to have thrush while pregant, I've been there, puking up GSE, yuck.

[LucyJaynesmom]

I am pretty sure that my doc gave me Diflucan while I was pregnant, but I was at least 32 weeks. I am sure that makes a difference. What has your OB said about it?

[my3peanuts]

I too took Diflucan while pregnant but I was further along & it was only one dose. It usually takes alot more than one dose to get rid of thrush.

I don't know why gentian violet wouldn't be safe...

[CathMac]

Wow, pregnant and nursing and dealing with Thrush. Sounds like you hit the Trifecta.

We are tandem nursing and dealing with Thrush. I'm guessing DD1, the toddler, is the source of re-infection but she is asymptomatic so the Pediatrician won't treat her. Which I can understand.

DD2 has had 2 courses of Nystatin and now we're doing the GSE which seems to be keeping it under control but I still see tiny white patches in DD2's mouth. Unfortunately I recently read on one of these boards that GSE isn't exactly an organic product and any anti-fungal effect may actually come from the substances used to process it. Of course you have to be a chemist or a research geek to understand the label. I've never used the Gentian Violet because of the staining but I've read that it **may** cause cancer.

So I'm debating whether to go back to the Pediatrician and get some Diflucan for DD2.

If anyone has any recommendations on a good source for a more wholesome, if not actually organic, GSE I'd be grateful.

In the meanwhile I'm trying to step up my efforts to bleach my whites, use vinegar for the darks, limit the toys DD2 puts in her mouth, wash everything in hot water and vinegar more often, etc. It finally dawned on me that DD2 chews on her shirt collar so I'm trying to change her clothes more often.

All in all it's a lot of work.

Good luck, ~Cath

[Eben'sMama]

CathMac, thanks for your info. on the suspected link between gentian violet and oral cancer. I was just about to try it, but your info made me do some further research and I have decided to stick with GSE and to cut out sugar and yeasty foods, etc. It turns out that gentian violet is derived from coal tar, which we all know is horribly toxic. I'm not putting that in my baby's mouth! Thanks again!

[CathMac]

Eban's Mama,
Thank you for reminding me I need to cut out sugar and probably junky carbs as well.

Thanks also for the background info on Gentian Violet. It sounds herbal, how did they get a name like that for a coal tar derivative? Yes, I know it's purple but it seems horribly misleading.

~Cath