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Common breastfeeding concerns: Thrush

When you begin breastfeeding, it’s natural (and very normal) for new moms to worry about everything.

“Is my baby getting enough to eat?”

“Am I getting a blocked milk duct?”

“Maybe I’m overly paranoid, but could my baby possibly have thrush?”

Thrush? You may be wondering what it is, let alone how you would deal with it. In short, thrush is a common and harmless , to a healthy term baby, yeast infection. It’s most common in babies younger than two months, but older babies can get it too. Thankfully, thrush isn’t dangerous, but it can definitely make your little one fussy and uncomfortable during breastfeeding. Yeast thrives on moisture and sugar (found in milk), so the breastfeeding environment provides perfect conditions for it to grow. Add to that, some babies (and some moms) are simply more susceptible than others to yeast.

How a baby gets thrush

Babies can get thrush from several different culprits. If you or your baby has recently been on antibiotics, both of you are more at risk for developing thrush. If you’re taking hormonal contraceptives or you have a chronic illness such as diabetes, it can increase your risk for thrush, as well. Thrush is typically passed back and forth between mom and baby. Unfortunately, once you or your baby has thrush, it tends to stick around and not go away. So, both of you will likely need to be treated even if only one of you has symptoms.

Symptoms

The telltale sign of thrush is white patches on the inside of your baby’s lips or cheeks. They can also be found on the tongue or roof of the mouth. The patches look like cottage cheese or thick milk and can be painful to the touch. Some babies with thrush aren’t bothered by it at all. Other babies may cry when nursing or sucking on a pacifier or bottle. Sometimes, a baby may refuse to nurse at all. There are usually four ways to tell if your baby has thrush. If you see a thin white coating on your baby’s tongue and you can wipe it off, it might just be milk residue.

Treatment

Sometimes no treatment is necessary, and the thrush will clear up on its own in a few weeks. That said, it’s a good idea to talk to your baby’s pediatrician and your own doctor about ways to treat the infection. Treatment usually includes medication to prevent it from coming back. Do you need to stop breastfeeding during treatment? No. Breastfeeding can and should continue. It’s easy to become discouraged and consider weaning. After all, you may be in pain and your baby may be in pain. But that will not necessarily make the thrush go away, and you’ll still need to treat the problem. If nursing becomes too painful, pumping for a few days may be a good option. It’s hard to watch a hungry baby in pain when they eat (not to mention, exhausting!), but it usually won’t last long. Try not to become discouraged. Comfort your baby and follow the pediatrician’s instructions for pain relief and medication. And know that this breastfeeding challenge and new mom worry will soon be a thing of the past. Did you or your baby ever have thrush? If so, what were the first signs you noticed? Do you worry about thrush when you (or your baby) are taking an antibiotic?