Thrush back in last week of pregnancy - any tips for getting rid fast?

[pairofpancakes]

I was treated for thrush two weeks ago, when I was 37 weeks. It turned out I'd had it for months, but didn't realise (I have very rarely had it). I thought I just had excess discharge due to pregnancy.

I was prescribed Canesten pessary and cream, and after a week or so it seemed to have got a lot better. But now I feel like it's come back - I feel swollen, irritated and occasionally itchy, with more discharge again, and perineal massage has been an impossibility. I'm due in five days!

I'm off out to pick up a repeat prescription now. The midwife (or assistant) I spoke to on the phone this morning also advised going on an Atkins-style diet now in the run-up to the birth. I know about reducing sugars, cutting down on carbs (especially refined carbs), etc, to help treat thrush and other candida overgrowth, but the Atkins diet? Really?! In the last week of pregnancy when you need to feel as energised for labour as possible (not foggy-headed from an extreme diet and candida die-off)? I thought that was bordering on irresponsible advice to be honest.

I'm prepared to go no/low sugar and to only eat whole grains, not refined carbs - that's just eating well, but still balanced. Do I really go more hardcore than that? Is there anything else I can do to help get rid of the thrush fast, ideally before baby arrives, alongside the pessary, cream and diet?

Thanks for any advice.

Me too! Just so you know you are not alone, wonder if it might be the hormones changing conditions in the knicker region? I wouldn't go full Atkins sounds a bit scary to me, to be messing around with dramatic changes so close to due date, but reducing sugars a tad might help. My midwife (home birth) has made me stock up on lucazade and carb rich snacks for labour so I am imagining carbs are quite important around now.
Just out of interest is it a girl you are expecting? Never had this problem with the boys but this is 2nd daughter and 2nd thrushy pregnancy!
Good luck for the birth and congratulations

Ooh and I heard natural yogurt helps, applied to the area. It is meant to rebalance the good bacteria. Not tried it myself yet though.

I had this. I had some discharge anyway during the last week or two of my pregnancy and found wearing panty liners really irritated me. I ditched them in favour of frequent knicker changes, which might help. I just used Canestan HC cream too (but mine was mild).

I heard about the yoghurt too - natural bio applied to the area is supposed to gobble up the bad bacteria....wouldn't hurt to try!

Tea tree oil and lavender baths have worked for me this week.

Everything I read when I suspected I had it recommended visiting the GP but they didn't have any appointments until next week (rang last week)

I've had a bath every night and I feel totally back to normal.

This is also a great combo for post-birth

You've got to love lavender and tea tree oil! Good for treating nits and now good for treating thrush!

That's terrible timing, poor you.

One thing I would add to the other suggestions is to boil wash your knickers, otherwise you can reinfect yourself, as thrush is very hardy and can easily survive biological detergents and lower wash temperatures.

Thank you all so much for posting. I really appreciate your advice and support, and knowing I'm not alone.

Well, I went to the GP surgery, thinking I'd be ordering a repeat prescription I could pick up later today, and was told it wouldn't be ready for 48 hours. That would mean starting treatment Wednesday night. I'm due Saturday. What a crap service in the circumstances.

So I popped to the pharmacy and managed to persuade the pharmacist to let me have the pessary and cream over the counter - for nearly £20! Bloody annoying when I could have had it free, but better to start treating tonight than in two days.

I agree 3littlebadgers - now doesn't seem the time to start an extreme diet, and like you, I thought (healthy) carbs were pretty key to energy levels during labour. For lunch I've had vegetable soup with granary toast and cheese and a herbal tea - that's got to be about right, surely? Interesting what you say about expecting a girl - I am, and my first DC was a boy and I didn't have thrush at all that pregnancy. It was a long time ago though ... Good luck with your birth too.

I can't get on with panty liners either - they're not breathable. I am needing something for the discharge though, so I fold up a bit of loo roll on each loo trip and lay it in my knickers - more comfortable and breathable. The nutty midwife/assistant I spoke to this morning suggested going knickerless in the day and in bed. Erm, how does that work with the discharge then; with sleeping with a pillow between your legs?!

Interesting tip about the lavender and tea tree oil baths. I have both those oils in - how much do you put in? How long do you soak for? That sounds like a great idea. I'll have a soak tonight.

Will get some yogurt in for calming my bits too. Have Actimels in for adding good bacteria from the top end. And the laundry tip is good too - will a 60-degree wash not wreck my knickers though? They're all cotton. We do everything on 30/40 normally.

Thank you all again.

I do my knickers at 90 degrees, including lacy ones. Was convinced they wouldn't survive, but they've stood up to it for years. Most are from M&S, but even the odd fancier, be-ribboned, more expensive pair have survived intact. That alone knocked my recurring thrush on the head, though I'm also careful about sugar. I wouldn't cut carbs though, you'll need the energy for labour. I'm sure if you just make sure you're not drinking loads of juice/mainlining Haribo, you'll be fine.

I have the little bottles with the droppers on and just shake shake Shake Shake Shake for 10-20 seconds. No idea how many drops, but it smells lush!