Oral and nipple thrush - at wits end:( Seeking a homeopathic remedy?

[Dukester100]

Hi, my baby is 6 weeks old and it's my second child. He has had thrush since 10 days old and has subsequently passed it to me. I have seen GPs and a lactation consultant giving conflicting advice and fast learning it is notoriously difficult to treat.

My main issue is that I feel very uncomfortable treating my son with medication/chemicals when it doesn't appear to be working! He has been prescribed nystastin and now daktarin gel (2.5ml) and myself daktarin cream twice a day but my symptoms are not abating and nor are his and I have a very painful right breast when full and during feeding (stabbing pains!). I have been told it could take ages to treat and I find rubbing gel in his mouth worrying particularly at night as it feels like a choking hazard (and can be at that much ml). I am also embroiled in a prescription stand off between lactation consultant and GP about Novogel to dress cracked nipples so currently not applying anything for that.

It is making me rethink breastfeeding as much as it pains me to say it though I suppose I could express and avoid contact and the vicious cycle of thrush but this is not ideal for bonding and impractical.

I think at this point I want to cease daktarin and try some herbal or homeopathic remedies for us both. I do feel inclined to leave it to nature to heal as it is not outwardly affecting my baby and I hope in the coming months his immunity will increase and fight back but the pain in my breast is putting me off no action at all and I worry about thrush spreading, infection and permanent breast damage...

Grateful for any views on seeking alternative treatments or quicker solutions than months of applying gels and creams all day that seem to have little effect and possible side effects in a little ones system :(

I reside in SE25 so if any recommendations for homeopaths or breastfeeding experts with that leaning in the area, that would be great.

Thank you. Emma.

You may need fluconazole:

Print off the pdf from following link and give to your GP:

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/thrush-and-breastfeeding.html

Homeopathy is not a good idea and will not help you, finding a BF expert will. Have a look here for a start, they have a helpline too.

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/other-groups.html

Hopefully someone with ore knowledge will be along soon.

You are doing great btw :)

I think you need fluconazole too - I had thrush v badly with my first daughter and it only cleared when I had fluconazole and she had daktarin. I applied the daktarin with a cotton bud to make sure I got it all around her mouth - she was about 6 weeks old.
I also started taking a probiotic tablet daily and once a day I put a little bit of probiotic powder on my dd's tongue.

You need to make sure you're washing your bras and anything that comes into contact with the milk at more than 50 degrees C.

I second the probiotics, definetly for you and for baby if you can find some suitable. Change breast pads frequently and eating garlic is supposed to help combat yeast infections too.

Yep, I'm with the drugs too. I had thrush with my first and it was only when I begged the GP for fluconazole that it cleared up. The breast feeding network are fab on info about thrush, it's written by a bf counsellor who is a pharmacist.

Bizarrely, homeopathy worked for us with recurrent thrush when conventional medicine failed (I was still doing all the boil-washing bras, towels and sheets, and endless airing of nipples). It was borax we took, but my (vague) understanding of homeopathy is that it's supposed to be a person-specific prescription as much as ailment-specific.
I know lots of people are v reasonably sceptical of homeopathy but as you say, it is at least harmless.

I found olive oil wonderfully soothing, and I think it's also mildly anti-fungal. And steaming hot baths whenever possible. Good luck. You're doing wonderfully.

Sorry op
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/thrush-and-breastfeeding.html

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/other-groups.html

Oh, I also started on probiotics and was starting to consider anti-candida diet when it finally cleared. I know some people also recommend grapefruit seed extract.

In my case, DS had undx tongue tie which probably really didn't help. Suspect it's unlikely this applies to you with a LC on board but wanted to mention just in case.

gentian violet is an old home remedy.

Hi Dukester100, I could have written your post 7 month ago. I didn't want to take drugs for it either. We had daktarin gel and cream but didn't find it very effective. What did work (gradually, not overnight) was a combination of two things: 1. I bought some grapefruit seed extract tablets and some grapefruit seed extract in liquid form. I applied the liquid extract diluted to my nipples after every feed and 2. I cut out ALL yeast and sugar and yeast from my diet. I was difficult but there was a dramatic improvement after a few days and the thrush cleared up after a few weeks (gradually reintroduced yeast and sugar). PM me if you want details on the extract.
I hope that whatever you try works, having thrush is horrible and painful, you have my sympathies.

We supplemented the drugs with grapefruit seed.extract as a wash and I took zinc, because they were two 'alternative' recommendations. Good.luck,.OP, congratulations on the new baby

Thanks all for your kind responses. I will definitely consider probiotics and grapefruit seed extract and am considering reducing sugar and cutting out yeast. I am rather partial to a biscuit at the moment though!

Having looked at images of nipple thrush online I am not even sure I have a severe case but I do have lightening of the pigmentation of areola which led the LC to diagnose thrush. I have my PN check with GP this week and I'll ask him to swab both of us, just to be sure. My pain does not seem to tally with the advice given on the breastfeeding network either - it's pain during the first minute or so of feeding not after feeding but they do generally feel uncomfortable pretty much the whole time.

I am also wondering if thrush is in the milk ducts whether breast milk then carries thrush to the digestive tract too and then the posseted milk carries it all over the muslin cloths which I do use for more than one feed...

As mentioned I am seeing the GP this week so might almost start over again with a treatment plan as really it's the LC that has seen more of us and unite frankly it's all got very confused between the private and NHS world, advice and what treatment is available (commissioned).

Btw my son did have a frenulotomy two weeks ago for a moderate TT which believe it or not was not too much of an issue in feeding (he has gained 8oz + a week since birth) but did fall off latch a fair bit. My daughter had one too that did affect feeding and I became quite paranoid about it this time. I am glad we did it though as I was concerned about speech problems in later life.

I woke up this morning feeling rather depressed about it all but remembered there are other mums and babies with more concerning ailments so I am willing myself to remain positive and know in a few months this (hopefully) won't be an issue!

Emma

Sorry, I forgot mention Fluconizole.

Did you get any side effects? What was the advice about transfer to baby?
Did you continue treating baby while on it and did it reoccur in either of you? Is there anything you need to do afterwards to rebalance - does it strip your body of anything important??

So many questions!

Thank you.

I looked into Grapefruit seed extract a while ago, and read enough to be very reluctant to use it - it seems that the only reason it's anti-microbial is the synthetic preservatives added during commercial production.

This wikipedia article summarises all that I'd found out through other sources en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grapefruit_seed_extract.

This is the problem I have with unregulated natural remedies - you have no idea what's really in them.

The flucanazole does get into your milk which is good as it treats you both IYSWIM

Has anyone used Weleda Calendula cream for treatment of nipple thrush? The LC mentioned it had anti fungal properties and may work...
Thanks

I think the only side effect I had from fluconazole was a slightly dicky tummy (bit gassy) and it had no noticeable ill effects on baby at all. I did continue to treat baby with the Daktarin gel and probiotics as while some does get into your milk I'm not sure it's actually enough to kill the bugs on its own. No recurrence or after-effects. It's a bit rough on the liver so you shouldn't drink booze while taking it, otherwise can't think of anything that might need rebalancing.

We use calendula cream when DD has nappy rash. It helps with mild cases, but didn't have any impact on her oral thrush.

If you are having stabbing pain you need flucanazole. Is there a change in nipple shape or colour after a feed?