Have to throw out expressed BM with thrush? Repost from BF

Re: Have to throw out expressed BM with thrush? Repost from BF

• iteachk member

  September 2011

  I just found out LO and I have it yesterday.  I'm no expert, but my good friend had it constantly during the 18 mos she BF her youngest.  She says yes, you need to throw it all out and stop pumping.  She also told me to wash (and continue washing) all blankets, clothing, etc that touches your breasts and LOs mouth in hot water & vinegar until it is gone.  Also boil pacifiers, bottle nipples, etc, & throw out any vitamin drops, gas drops,etc that have come into contact with your LO's mouth recently.  And change your nursing pads after each feeding.  GL!

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• genekelly member

  September 2011

  I was just reading about this on kellymom yesterday b/c I'm worried that I might have thrush and not sure how long I've had it for.  LO doesn't show any physical signs although he can be a bit fussy at the breast.  I've also been building a freezer stash but I'm not going to toss it.   Many of the recommendations were to not freeze it but several alternatives were 1) heat the milk to scalding temp and that should kill the yeast 2)only use small portions of the frozen milk diluted with milk that wasn't collected while you had thrush so that you reduce the conc. of any yeast organisms 3) don't worry about it b/c of the protective factors that breast milk has, the yeast might not reactivate after thawing.  I'm not tossing my frozen milk but will probably try to treat it with one of the first two methods before using it.  HTH!
  

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• kxp004 member

  September 2011

  rayandbrit:

  DD #2 and I have had thrush off and on since she was born (she's 41/2 weeks now). I have also been pumping for the past 3 weeks to build up a freezer stash. Clicking around online I found that they advise you to throw out any expressed BM obtained while you had/have thrush. This is making my stomach turn, I've worked SO hard for this stash. Anyone have any experience with this? Also, if this is true should I abstain from pumping until it's completely cleared? That would be terrible! I sanitize after every use... Any advice helps, thanks!!

  WOAH! Don't throw it out just yet...straight from Kellymom.com---click for more info

  Using milk frozen during thrush treatment

  Milk frozen during thrush treatment can be given to baby without a problem while you are still being treating for thrush.

  Many sources recommend that mothers do not freeze expressed milk for later use when they are being treated for thrush. We do know that freezing deactivates yeast, but does not kill it (Rosa 1990), so there is a theoretical risk that milk expressed during a thrush outbreak could reinfect baby at a later date. However, there have been no studies that tell us whether or not this defrosted milk is really a problem.

   

  Also, this is what I always post when someone asks about thrush b/c my LO and I had it soooooooo bad....

  For pain while nursing:

  1) Take Ibuprofen at the presciption strength 800 mg every 6 hours---take less if the pain is less

  2) Pump instead of BF---but depending on the pump you have, this could infect your pump (i.e. Playtex) and result later in another thrush outbreak; however, I believe the hospital ones have a "shield" against it ****It is very possible that your pump could get infected even if you sterilize... best suggestion is the vinegar wash I posted furthur down the list***

  3) If you decide to keep BF, you can use a nipple shield--it will still hurt, but be slightly less

  For treatment:

  1) Most OBs are slow to prescribe Rx's for thrush, but if you do get one for yourself, use it all! I have been prescribed diflucan... also, most Drs prescribe the dosage for a vaginal yeast infection instead of a breast yeast infection so you actually are getting a lower dose---as such, it is suggested you use other forms to fight the thrush as well... make sure you get an antifungal---antibiotics can actually make it worse (200 mg for first day and 150 mg for every day after is the "correct" dosage for thrush)

  2) Try gentian violet--a messy purple liquid that you paint your nipples with once daily; it will treat you and baby... if you don't notice less pain in 72-96 hours, stop using it... THIS WILL stain your baby's face, along with everything else, purple, but it's washed off all of my clothes and it won't take long for the purple baby face to fade (or you can smear olive oil on his face and hands which helps prevent staining)

  3) Take 250 mg Grapefruit Seed Extract orally once daily---there is a way to apply diluted drops directly to your nipples but they will dry out faster, so you will need a really good nipple cream---also don't do the direct nipple approach while using gentian violet

  4) You will need to clean EVERYTHING (throughout your entire treatment) that comes into contact with your nipples or baby's mouth.... clothes, pacifiers, bottle nipples, pump parts, blankets... there are a couple of ways to do this, but I've been doing a distilled white vinegar wash---*******1 tbs vinegar to every cup water---let the small things soak in the solution and then wash them off afterwards otherwise baby may not like the taste.... for clothes add 1 cup of vinegar to your wash cycle and use HOT water if clothes won't "bleed"*******

  5) It's been suggested to me by my LC to use monistat (if my MW/OB okays it) on your nipples but you have to wash it off thoroughly before BF or Pumping

  6) Change your nursing pads OFTEN!!!!! ***OFTEN meaning every session and if you can tell they are wet---if you think you need to change them, then you probably do***

  7) Cut sugars and yeast out of your diet temporarily---yep, no more yummy chocolates, yeast breads, candies and sweets

  8) Take probiotics and eat yogurt

  9) See if you can get your MW/OB to prescibe Jack Newman's All Purpose Nipple Ointment (link here)---this may be slightly difficult since it is a compound and will need to be made at a pharmacy, not just ordered

  

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• rayandbrit member

  September 2011

  thank you everyone so much for your responses!!! I am leaning toward keeping it, but alternating it or diluting it with unaffected expressed milk? Thank you also for those of you who offered suggestions for thrush treatment, I will try anything!!

  DD #1 4 years old (09/22/09)
  DD #2 2 years old (08/17/11)
  DD #3 born 08/29/13

  
  

  
  

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