How to tell if you have thrush while breastfeeding?

Understanding Thrush While Breastfeeding
Thrush, a common yeast infection caused by an overgrowth of Candida, can significantly impact breastfeeding mothers and their infants. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of thrush is crucial for effective management and treatment, ensuring both mother and baby can continue their breastfeeding journey comfortably.
Symptoms of Thrush in Breastfeeding Mothers
For breastfeeding mothers, thrush can manifest in several distressing ways. Painful sensations in the breasts and nipples are often the first indicators. This pain may be sharp or burning and can occur during or after breastfeeding sessions. Additionally, mothers may notice itching or a rash on the nipples and areolas, which can be quite uncomfortable.
Another symptom to watch for is unusual changes in the appearance of the nipples. They may appear shiny or have a red, inflamed look. In some cases, mothers might also experience cracked or bleeding nipples, which can exacerbate the pain and lead to further complications.
Symptoms in Infants
It’s important to note that thrush can also affect infants, leading to a cycle of discomfort for both mother and child. Infants may exhibit signs such as fussiness during feeding, pulling away from the breast, or refusing to latch altogether. They might also develop white patches in their mouths, which can be mistaken for milk residue but are indicative of thrush.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosing thrush typically involves a combination of observing symptoms in both the mother and the baby. While some healthcare providers may recommend swabbing to confirm the presence of thrush, many rely on the clinical presentation of symptoms.
If thrush is suspected, it is essential to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Treatment often includes antifungal medications for both the mother and the baby to eliminate the infection and prevent recurrence.
Continuing to Breastfeed
One of the most reassuring aspects of dealing with thrush while breastfeeding is that mothers can continue to breastfeed during treatment. It is crucial, however, to maintain proper hygiene and follow treatment protocols to minimize discomfort and prevent the spread of the infection.
Conclusion
In summary, recognizing the signs of thrush while breastfeeding is vital for both mothers and their infants. Symptoms such as breast pain, itching, and changes in nipple appearance, along with signs in the baby like fussiness and oral white patches, should prompt a consultation with a healthcare provider. With timely diagnosis and treatment, mothers can continue to enjoy the benefits of breastfeeding while managing this common condition effectively.

How do you rule out oral thrush?

To diagnose oral thrush, your doctor or dentist may:

1. Examine your mouth to look at the lesions.
2. Take a small scraping of the lesions to examine under a microscope.
3. If needed, do a physical exam and certain blood tests to identify any possible underlying medical condition that may be the cause of oral thrush.

What does thrush on breast feel like?

Nipple thrush pain is often described as burning, itching, or stinging and may be mild to severe. The pain is usually ongoing and doesn’t go away with improved positioning and attachment of your baby to the breast. Your nipples may be tender to touch and even light clothing can cause pain. Breast thrush pain can vary.

How to tell the difference between thrush and milk tongue?

It can be challenging to distinguish between the two. To tell the difference, a parent or caregiver can try gently wiping the white film off the newborn’s tongue using a warm, damp cloth. If the white coating wipes away, it is likely milk residue.

What does thrush look like when breastfeeding?

Signs of thrush in the nursing parent may include:
Flaking and/or shiny skin on the nipple or areola. Nipple skin and areola may be red on lighter skin and darker brown, purple or grey on darker skin. This can be more difficult to see on darker skin tones. White patches/tiny blisters on the nipple or areola.

What does early signs of thrush look like?

Slightly raised patches that look like cottage cheese. Redness, burning or soreness that may be serious enough to cause a hard time eating or swallowing. Slight bleeding if the patches or spots are rubbed or scraped. Cracking and redness at the corners of your mouth.

How do you treat thrush while breastfeeding?

Thrush in breastfeeding women is usually treated with a cream that you sparingly spread on and around your nipples after feeds. You’ll need to wash your hands thoroughly after treating yourself. Some women may need to take antifungal tablets to clear the infection.

Will breast thrush go away by itself?

Thrush is a yeast infection that can lead to very damaged, cracked, and painful nipples, a nursing strike, or early weaning and it needs treatment to clear up. While you can take care of some breastfeeding issues on your own, this isn’t one of them.

What can be mistaken for breast thrush?

Sometimes, nipple thrush pain is quite similar to other health issues – some of the most popular issues that get mistaken as a yeast infection are:

• Vasospasm/Raynaud’s Phenomenon.
• Micro-fissures due to suboptimal attachment.
• Tongue tie in baby.
• Nipple eczema.
• Bacterial infection (staphylococcus aureus possibly).

How to tell the difference between mastitis and thrush?

Thrush will generally always be bilateral, while subclinical mastitis will usually be unilateral. The breast pain associated with thrush happens after or between breastfeeds. Breast pain caused by subclinical mastitis is usually most intense when a mother has a milk ejection reflex (MER) at the beginning of a feed.

How to tell if it’s thrush or milk tongue?

After washing and drying your hands, dampen a clean piece of gauze with lukewarm water. Wrap it around your finger and gently wipe your child’s tongue. If the residue comes off easily, your child likely has milk tongue and not thrush.