Recurring Yeast, I hate you. How do I keep you away?

nahokulele

Ok, so as you know from my post a couple of days ago, I have been at my wit's end and considering throwing in the towel, or CD in this case, ha.  Your responses though have been encouraging and I'm going to give it another try.

So, for those of you who battled yeast on an ongoing basis, I have some specific questions I'm hoping you can help with.  Several of you have been so helpful with all of your yeast tips and tricks!  Megan10.06--it sounds like you've been handling it well all throughout with cloth.

The 2 pedi's I've seen have only recommended a combo of Triple Paste, Lotrimin and Hydrocortisone.  They have not prescribed DD with Nyastin--maybe b/c for DD it's never a severe case, but it pops up every few days...those darn little red bump clusters. So I always need to use fleece liners since I'm putting on non-CD safe creams. I know some of you out there do the same.

1) What is your wash routine to keep yeast at bay (diapers, fleece liners), and if it does crop up again, how does that change your wash routine for the fleece liners and/or diapers?

2) Do you store your dirty fleece liners in a separate bin from your diapers so that you don't have to continually treat diapers for yeast, just the liners?

3) Any tips on how to keep yeast away? We already do naked tummy time twice a day and use a hair dryer at diaper changes. Should I be applying probiotics somehow to her bottom?  Do I need to alter my diet (I already stay away from obvious dairy and *try* to avoid a lot of processed sugars).  She is EBF and only takes a bottle when I'm not home, which is infrequent.  She will start solids in about a month.  

I would like to CD DD--I just can't stand the wastefulness of disposables, but at least with disposables I don't have to worry about constantly treating fabrics.

Thank you so much for hanging in there with me ladies, I'm looking forward to your advice!!!!! 

ToastieSimons

We haven't had a yeast rash problem since CD, however DS had it one time.  our pedi instantly prescribed nystatin cream, he said nothing else works at actually killing the yeast, it simply cures the rash from the yeast.

Also, I would consider probiotics.  It will help keep her poop more balanced and less likely to house the yeast.   DS is older but he gets yogurt daily and you can also buy powdered baby probiotics (we like the baby bifidactyl it's in the refrigerated section at our health food store).

also, since you said you're having problems with yeast in disposables too, have you had her checked for thrush? 

emolee84

Be sure to bleach your diapers to kill all the yeast. If LO takes any bottles you can get an infant probiotic powder to mix in a bottle. If not then get yourself some good probiotics (if you have a natural/health food store look in a fridge case. I've used udo's choice in the past and am now using some that's in a white bottle with a rainbow on it...can't remember the name). If you take them at least some should be passed on to LO through your milk. 

You could also try using coconut oil on her rash. It has properties that can help kill the yeast.  If you use cloth wipes try making a wipe solution with tea tree oil in it (there are alot of recipes out there if you do a web search for them) 

nahokulele

ToastieSimons:

ith yeast in disposables too, have you had her checked for thrush? 

Well, we went to the pedi on Tuesday and she didn't mention thrush. I don't have any symptoms myself for that either. 

nahokulele

emolee84:

You could also try using coconut oil on her rash. It has properties that can help kill the yeast.   

We tried unrefined organic coconut oil last week and she reacted badly to it.  

ToastieSimons

nahokulele:

ToastieSimons:

ith yeast in disposables too, have you had her checked for thrush? 

Well, we went to the pedi on Tuesday and she didn't mention thrush. I don't have any symptoms myself for that either. 

DS has had thrush twice.  Each time the only symptom he had was his breath smelled like a loaf of fresh baked bread, yeasty. 

Megan.10.06

I know I've answered some of this in the previous post, but you've got some other stuff on here too    Ask your doc for Nystatin.  As soon as the yeast creeps up, it will knock it out in a day.  Just tell them about using cloth diapers and lotrimin is not a combination that works - it is the same basic stuff, they shouldn't have an issue prescribing it to you. Since you can't use coconut oil, check out Thirsties Booty Love.  It's an olive oil base.  Or, mix your own with Olive oil, pure beeswax, and tea tree oil.  You'll have to grate the wax and heat the mix to make it, but it could be worth the effort for you. If you use a small drop of nystatin, rub it in, then top it with your CD safe cream, I just use a flushable liner.  If it shifts, then the cd safe is what will touch the diaper.  Haven't had a problem.

I rarely use fleece liners with yeast, unless it opens, and then I use Triple paste.   Then I wash them quick in the sink with Dawn to get the bulk off, since the stuff is bulletproof - then just wash them with towels.

 

1) What is your wash routine to keep yeast at bay (diapers, fleece liners), and if it does crop up again, how does that change your wash routine for the fleece liners and/or diapers?

My wash routine is warm prerinse, followed by a HOT wash - my water heater is always turned up - and double cold rinse.  I use about 1-2 tbsp of bleach in the dispenser mixed with water every time.  I also ass a few drops of tea tree oil. 

When we have an outbreak, I up the bleach to 1/4c. I also sub out my regular Tiny Bubbles detergent for BioKleen detergent, since it contains GFSE.

2) Do you store your dirty fleece liners in a separate bin from your diapers so that you don't have to continually treat diapers for yeast, just the liners?

When I use them, I just hang a grocery bag on the door under my wet bag and throw them in there.  

3) Any tips on how to keep yeast away? We already do naked tummy time twice a day and use a hair dryer at diaper changes. Should I be applying probiotics somehow to her bottom?  Do I need to alter my diet (I already stay away from obvious dairy and *try* to avoid a lot of processed sugars).  She is EBF and only takes a bottle when I'm not home, which is infrequent.  She will start solids in about a month. 

Natural fibers all the way.  I have almost completely destashed my MF in favor of bamboo.   Also, bamboo fitteds during the day when I can change him often, so his butt breathes freely while still diapered.

I would add probiotics to YOUR diet.  And when she starts food, give them to her too.  Culturelle makes flavorless packets, and you just mix them in anything - food, juice, whatever you pick.  I give them to Owen all the time, especially during an outbreak.  I never had to alter my diet, I just added probiotics.  

The best defense is a good offense - We had another yeast rash this week and it only lasted 2 days.  This is the 7th time we dealt with it, and I'm not sure if I can even count this as a time even though the doc confirmed it  

nahokulele

Megan.10.06:

...Ask your doc for Nystatin....check out Thirsties Booty Love.  It's an olive oil base.  Or, mix your own with Olive oil, pure beeswax, and tea tree oil.  You'll have to grate the wax and heat the mix to make it, but it could be worth the effort for you.....Natural fibers all the way.  I have almost completely destashed my MF in favor of bamboo.   Also, bamboo fitteds during the day when I can change him often, so his butt breathes freely while still diapered....Culturelle makes flavorless packets, and you just mix them in anything - food, juice, whatever you pick....

Megan, thank you for all of these awesome pointers!!  

hispenguin

nahokulele:

1) What is your wash routine to keep yeast at bay (diapers, fleece liners), and if it does crop up again, how does that change your wash routine for the fleece liners and/or diapers? Bleach, along with GFSE is what we use when we have an outbreak of yeast. I have a TL and I use 1/2 cup of bleach and for the initial treatment 1tsp of GFSE.

The last outbreak was stubborn so this is what I did to everything, liners, wetbags, extra inserts, wipes, everything:

Wash diapers like usual, after the wash run another hot cycle with bleach and GFSE, then I read that sometimes detergent build up on diapers can hold on to the yeast so after the bleach and GFSE I did an RLR strip. I had a ton of suds, so I think for me there was some truth in this.

2) Do you store your dirty fleece liners in a separate bin from your diapers so that you don't have to continually treat diapers for yeast, just the liners? I usually switch to sposies when treating yeast, but generally I do keep my fleece liners separate. I put them with a load of towels that I don't mind bleaching and bleach to strip all the yuckies and cream off.

3) Any tips on how to keep yeast away?   I've always found that Monistat cream worked the best at treating the rash on DD's bottom, the prescription stuff did nothing. I do naked time tons. DD has been known to run around without a diaper for hours during the day when she has a rash. Baking soda baths, and the hair dryer to dry her are all staples. I also add 15 drops of GFSE to her wipe solution to deter yeast and avoid anything with lavendar oil for her bottom as it can make yeast worse. DD is on solids so I give her yogurt daily, but the last outbreak I started giving her a powdered probiotic twice daily as well. If you're BFing I would recommend this for you.

Hang in there!!! I was ready to pull my hair out, but the wash routine I explained did the trick for us, and she's had THREE rashes since then (teething related) and it did not turn into yeast, so there is hope!!

nahokulele

hispenguin:

Hang in there!!! I was ready to pull my hair out, but the wash routine I explained did the trick for us, and she's had THREE rashes since then (teething related) and it did not turn into yeast, so there is hope!!

Thank you for the tips and support!