Mastitis and on antibiotics - want to take probiotics to avoid thrush

[foxessocks]

Can anyone recommend good probiotics? I can see Holland and Barrett sell them but it says to consult gp first if breastfeeding (which I will do if need be) and the yogurt ones I've heard aren't actually very good.

I got nipple thrush and dd got oral thrush after a course of antibiotics when my dd was a similar age to my ds now (6 weeks) I just feel like this is going to go the same way and I'm desperate to avoid it because the thrush went on for months last time as despite medication for it it kept coming back.

Anything else I can do to avoid it?

Just bumping at a more reasonable hour!

It's fine to take probiotics when breastfeeding.

Kellymom has some useful info on probiotics

Thanks pop I'm going to make a trip to Holland and Barrett later I think as the tablet ones are probably better. Thanks for the link - it says the baby can take some too but he seems too young!

Argh GP was very unhelpful and said she only recommends the probiotic yogurts. I asked her if I could take the tablet probiotics when breastfeeding and she said she didn't know but didn't look it up or anything!

I'm going to get some yogurts and night get tablets too , has anyone taken them when breastfeeding?! A lot of the breastfeeding websites seem to recommend them.

Im taking them and giving 3 week old DD oral drops as I've been on antibiotics for a UTI. I did the same with DS on advice of the pead when DS was diagnosed with allergies at 6 weeks old.

if your worried may be call the breastfeeding network for advice?

Optibac make special probios for breastfeeding mamas

Viridian are a good brand of pre/probiotics

But there is no point in taking any until 3 days or so AFTER you have finished your AntiBs - they kill ALL bacteria, so you will be throwing your money down the pan

For nipple thrush, cleaning the area with vinegar could help though & it wont harm your baby

Oops, missed a question

They are perfectly safe when breastfeeding

After visiting 4 different G.Ps, I finally got prescribed Fluconazole, as recommended by my Dsil who is a nurse. It DIDN'T WORK!! I was desperate and had tried everything else. I went to H&B and bought Acidophilus and it cleared it up almost immediately. I was in agony for months with nipple thrush whilst bf, but I was determined not to let it beat me. This supplement saved me and I carried on bf with no further problems.

Right. Bit confused now! I went to H&B and got acidophilus with pectin?! Haven't taken any yet. I also got some probiotic yogurt drinks and some live natural yogurt!!

To be clear I haven't got thrush at the moment I'm just trying to prevent it.

So as per a pp I should only take the probiotic after I've finished the antibiotics?!

Now wondering if I should look into some of the brands above instead...and something for ds to take maybe. Argh so confusing.
.what is the breastfeeding network is that something I can call or email for advice maybe? Never done that before but willing to do so!

So as per a pp I should only take the probiotic after I've finished the antibiotics?!

I'm afraid so, the AntiBs will just kill the "good bacteria" in the pre/probiotics too, so it will be a waste taking them until 3 days or so after you have finished your course of AntiBs

I recommend Optibac too. My GP told me to use it when I was on antibiotics with mastitis too. I also give the child one to one of my dc who suffers weird tummy episodes whenever she's ill, they work well and fast!!

Right, got it, thank you - going to google Optibac!

Vinegar wash then optibac powder on nipple before a feed for baby to consume

is the vinegar wash to prevent or to cure thrush though? I don't want to have to put vinegar on my nipples unless it's necessary!

I have looked on the Optibac website - is there any other shops that stock it or can you only get it on their website?

I'm not sure whether to take the Acidophilus I could from H&B now...I got it because it was the one that was on special offer so it is called Mega Acidophilu with Pectin 3 billion friendly bacteria...maybe that's too high a dose? I can't find anything online about whether it's okay to take or not. The normal acidphilus seems fine to take but I seem to have bought a higher does one because it was cheaper and I like a bargain - oops!

So not sure whether to just ditch the Acidophilus and go for the Opitbac instead or take the H&B one first then get the Optibac for later. I stupidly took the seal off the H&B one too so now I've got to keep it in the fridge and presumably will have to use them sooner rather than later? (Maybe I'll see if dh wants them!)

is the vinegar wash to prevent or to cure thrush though? I don't want to have to put vinegar on my nipples unless it's necessary!

Both!! Dilute the vinegar if you are too sore

I remember doing both a vinegar wash and reducing sugar in my diet to prevent nipple thrush. It's so awful, hope you avoid it.

The high dose PBs sholud be fine, they just replace the good bacteria in your gut so your that its all in balance again.

Thrush etc exists in your body always, just the good bacteria keep it in check & stops it over growing & becoming a problem. The AntiBs kill the bacteria that cause an infection, but also kill the good bacteria, so the thrush has nothing stopping it over growing & causing a problem.

Replacing the good bacteria after the antiBs are out of your system helps rebalance everything & stop the thrush/candida growinh, so high dose is fine - it normally exists in your body anyway

Thrush is caused by a fungus and being on antibiotics can cause it to happen. Your doctor would need to give you an anti fungal medicine.

The breastfeeding network is a help line you can call that has a pharmacist that has specialist breastfeeding knowledge.

I wound get the baby some as they are more prone to thrush and more likely to get it.

Thanks everyone! I'm going to order some of the optibac tomorrow and will keep hold of the h&b stuff too in case I need it if I can't afford anymore optibac later!

I'll do the vinegar thing too although I'm out of the house a lot as I have a toddler too so might be tricky to do!

I had also seen about reducing sugar in diet which I will do (this will definitely be the hardest thing ! I need cake and chocolate in my life right now !)